It’s Better to be the Empress Dowager - Chapter 116

When Master Tang returned to the palace, the night was already very deep. She didn’t have time to change her clothes, so she went to see Zhao Zigao first.

Zhao Zigao was already asleep. He didn’t see his mother all day today, so he cried aggrievedly. The nurse finally coaxed him to sleep, but Zhao Zigao didn’t sleep well, with his eyes half-closed, making a puff from time to time, with his small fist stuck in his mouth, looking very pitiful.

Master Tang saw that the heart had melted, and she gathered around Zhao Zigao’s bed, softly coaxing him to sleep. Zhao Chengjun looked for a long while, his hands began to feel uncomfortable again: “Why did he sleep with his hands?”

According to Zhao Chengjun’s thoughts, he wanted to pull Zhao Zigao’s hands out, but Master Tang glared at him with a murderous look, and threatened in a low voice: “You dare! It’s so late, he finally fell asleep. He is still a man. Child, just hold it if you want, what do you care about?”

Okay, Zhao Chengjun has nothing to say, and silently endures it. Zhao Zigao seemed to feel the breath of his mother, slowly stretched his eyebrows under the slap of Master Tang, and fell asleep completely.

Master Tang relaxed, she squatted for too long, her legs were numb when she got up, and her body almost fell. Zhao Chengjun supported her from behind, and was about to say something, when Master Tang quickly covered her mouth with his eyesight, “Hush!”

Zhao Chengjun raised his eyebrows, very helpless, using his eyes to signal that he understood. Master Tang carefully let go of his hand, and softly asked the maid-in-law: “Haosheng will take care of the little princess. If he wakes up, he will call me immediately.”

“Yes.”

After Master Tang arranged his son’s affairs, he walked outside with confidence. She returned to the main hall where she lived with Zhao Chengjun, sat on the couch, and immediately felt relieved.

Too tired, she used to envy those princes, grandsons and nobles who could go to the palace to celebrate the New Year. Now thinking about it, it’s like having a good meal in her own home. Zhao Chengjun saw Master Tang pale with exhaustion, came over and held her hand, and asked, “Is it tired?”

“Yeah.” Teacher Tang said, tilting his head, placing his head on Zhao Chengjun’s shoulder, and asked, “Feel it, whether it’s heavy or not.”

Zhao Chengjun laughed, raised his hand and held her temple, spinning slowly. Zhao Chengjun said: “Although today is a normal day, after all, what you wear is regular clothing, which is not grand. When you wait for the congratulations tomorrow, you have to wear a full set of big shirts, and the Jiu Di crown on your bald head will be four or five kilograms, which is tired. .”

Master Tang’s eyes were dark, and his neck seemed to have begun to hurt. Master Tang asked: “Does this happen every year on Yuan Day?”

“Yeah.” Zhao Chengjun replied, “but I haven’t been in the capital for ten years. I don’t know what Chaohe is like now.”

Master Tang sighed and couldn’t help but said: “Why bother? It’s obviously Chinese New Year, but it’s like a punishment. The emperor is tired and his subjects are tired. Everyone is comfortable and rested at home. Isn’t that good?”

“The rules handed down in ancient times can’t be changed.” Zhao Chengjun sighed, “Who will let them be monarchs and ministers in their position to seek government? Since they have enjoyed the worship of the people, they must naturally perform their duties as the monarch and courtiers. “

In fact, Tang Shishi only complained about one or two. Tomorrow morning, she will still get up and participate in the court meeting. Yuanri Dachaohe is the most important etiquette of the year. Many officials in the seventies and eighties walk tremblingly, and they have to hold on to participate in the celebration. This is an honor for the people of the world, even if they are tired to death, it is regarded as an honor.

Zhao Chengjun glanced at the time and said to Master Tang: “It’s not early, you go and change your clothes first, go to bed early today, I’m afraid there will be trouble tomorrow.”

Master Tang was helpless to answer, and Waste Li got up from the collapse and went to the clean room to remove makeup and take a bath. After Tang Shishi had cleaned it up, it was already ugly.

Master Tang’s hair was still half wet. She was lying on the bed and rubbing her hair. Zhao Chengjun came from behind, took the napkin in her hand, and asked, “Isn’t it dry?”

Master Tang looked back and saw him, leaning on Zhao Chengjun with confidence, and said, “Well. My hair is so long, how can it be so easy to dry.”

Zhao Chengjun had just gone to take a shower, and now he has changed his shirt. He originally planned to wipe the hair of Master Tang, but Master Tang leaned on him without a formality. Zhao Chengjun couldn’t start, and said helplessly, “Sit down, the hair is still dry.”

Tang Shishi didn’t care, she lay in Zhao Chengjun’s arms, closed her eyes, and the more she lay, the more comfortable she was. Zhao Chengjun couldn’t lift her hands like this, so she could only put her on her lap, and wipe her hair gently.

Master Tang closed his eyes and said, “I met the queen today.”

“Ok?”

“It’s nothing, just a little sigh.” Master Tang sighed, “She is the same age as me, and she is also the front and back of the palace. Now she is only twenty years old, and she has become this look.

Zhao Chengjun thought of the confusion of the Emperor and Empress, and said lightly: “She didn’t do anything wrong, but to blame her mother and grandmother. It is obvious that you can marry a good family outside the palace, but you must enter the palace. She is six years older than the emperor. The emperor was only seven years old when he got married. It’s ridiculous what a seven-year-old child can understand.”

When the empress was married, Yao Peier was thirteen years old and the emperor was seven years old. At that time, everyone thought this marriage was too trivial, but the Queen Mother Yao insisted on going her own way, insisting on holding her family, and the cabinet could only give in. The emperor and the queen are both children, and the round house is naturally not round, but everyone did not take it to heart. This kind of thing will come naturally, and you will understand when the emperor gets older.

Such a wait is seven years. Now the queen is twenty years old and the emperor is fourteen. At the age of fourteen, he has reached the age of knowing personnel, and it is especially early for the royal boys to know. But between the emperor and the queen, they fell into a strange circle.

The emperor still regarded the queen as his sister, but began to favor other court ladies. The imperial concubine was a little court lady who was promoted by the emperor within three days. The queen Yao Peier gradually became a joke in the palace.

Zhao Chengjun said that no one was wrong in this matter, but the Queen Mother Yao and Nanyang should be blamed. A 13-year-old child shouldn’t be married, because the interests of the adults have hurt the girl’s life.

When Master Tang heard this, he opened his eyes to Zhao Chengjun and said with a smile: “You are also seven years older than me. Speaking of which, the difference between the emperor and the queen is greater.”

Zhao Chengjun’s expression remained unchanged, and he said seriously: “How can this be the same?”

Master Tang held back his laugh, closed his eyes again, not looking at Zhao Chengjun’s expression. Zhao Chengjun held his wife’s black hair like silk and satin. His beautiful and charming wife was lying on his lap. Zhao Chengjun’s heart gradually became soft and asked: “Don’t you like it?”

Master Tang pretended not to understand: “What do you like?”

“What do you mean.”

“Naturally I like it.” Tang Shishi said pretentiously, “Although the queen is gentle and kind, pitiful and amiable, the emperor is too young after all. Fourteen-year-olds are not suitable for indulgence. For the sake of the emperor’s future body and heirs, at this age It is not advisable to indulge in the harem.”

Zhao Chengjun slowly narrowed his eyes, and Tang Shishi knew that he was not asking this. He quietly looked at Master Tang, Master Tang pretended to close his eyes, but his eyelashes trembled quietly, apparently peeking at Zhao Chengjun’s reaction.

Zhao Chengjun nodded and said, “You are right. You must restrain yourself when you are young. These things are suitable for you to do after you get older.”

Zhao Chengjun said to scratch Master Tang’s waist, Master Tang chuckled, got up quickly, and said, “Okay, I have to congratulate you tomorrow. It’s time to sleep.”

Shishi Tang was afraid of itching, and while hiding behind him, he tried to push away Zhao Chengjun’s hand. How could Zhao Chengjun let her escape, he held Master Tang’s wrist and pushed her onto the bed with a little force. Teacher Tang’s hair was messy scattered on the quilt, and before he could react, a figure was pressed in front of his eyes.

Master Tang blushed, pushing the palm of her hand on Zhao Chengjun’s chest, and stopped saying: “I have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Originally, I did intend to let you sleep well.” Zhao Chengjun smiled, his eyes seemed to be burning, bright and compelling, and there was nowhere to avoid burning people. “But now it seems that you have a lot of energy. .”

On Yuan Festival.

On the banks of the Qinhuai River, there are ten miles of lights. The young girl accompanies the light by the river, and the lotus lantern is shaking and drifting away. At this time, a flower boat is passing by, and the lotus lantern is slanted by the water wave brought out by the oars, and finally it is dangerously stable and trembling. Floating away.

The lights are romantic, and thousands of households live in the shadows. Today’s Qinhuai River seems to have been sprinkled with gold powder, cold and colorful, charming and proud.

Standing on the most scenic part of the Qinhuai River, there is a Moon Tower, which is the Royal Forbidden Garden. Lan Yuelou was put under martial law by Jin Yiwei a few days ago, and today’s defense has reached its peak. The curious literati and guest sitting on the flower boat, saw the brightly lit and brilliant pavilion on the opposite bank, Gong E, dressed in gold jade clothes, ran around, thinking that he had seen the heavenly palace in a daze.

The Queen Mother Yao was in high spirits, and later accompanied the emperor to visit the Qinhuai River to celebrate the festival and have fun with the people, accompanied by many imperial wives. This is the first time that Tang Master saw Jinling’s Shangyuan Festival. The winter of Jinling is different from Xiping Mansion and Linqing. Wu Nong’s soft words and the combination of Tianshui have a special flavor.

Empress Dowager Yao saw Master Tang looking at the boat lanterns downstairs, and smiled: “Prince Jing, the lantern festival in Jinling is different from Xiping Mansion, right?”

“Yes.” Master Tang replied with a smile, “The concubine only hates that she has fewer eyes, so she can’t even see it.”

Queen Mother Yao heard a big laugh. A female family jokingly next to her, jokingly said: “Couldn’t the prince treat the princess badly in the northwest and not let the princess go out to look at the lights? Otherwise, how could the princess think that the eyes are not enough.”

Today’s Lunar New Year’s Day, the feeling of a family banquet was stronger. The Queen Mother and her family were watching the lights upstairs. The emperor accompanied the emperor’s grandmother to show her filial piety. Zhao Chengjun heard it and glanced at Tang Shishi, then smiled faintly: “She was pregnant during the Spring Festival last year. I was worried that she would not be allowed to go out in case. Unexpectedly, she remembered her hatred until now.”

Everyone laughed together, and Master Tang pretended to be angrily: “The prince, the concubine didn’t say anything, you should sue the wicked person first. The prince is not kind.”

Zhao Chengjun smiled, and looked at her indulgently and said, “Okay, I have too much control. After that, you can see what you want.”

Although the Queen Mother was still smiling, the light in her eyes slowly faded. Husband and wife can’t hide from others. Although Tang Shishi is complaining about Zhao Chengjun, he has a friendly tone and a natural attitude, which shows that the relationship between husband and wife is very harmonious.

With so many female families present, who would dare to speak to her husband like this in public? Only Teacher Tang had no hesitation.

The Queen Mother originally hoped that her own person would be favored, so she could spy on the news from Zhao Chengjun’s side. However, Tang Shishi really has a deep affection with Zhao Chengjun, and the Queen Mother Yao is not happy anymore.

Queen Mother Yao turned her head and saw that the emperor was lying on the railing, surrounded by a group of eunuchs, pointing to the lanterns downstairs, and having fun. The Queen Mother looked at Yao Peier again, sitting in the room blankly like a wooden person, without seeing her move for a long time.

The Queen Mother Yao is indescribable. She waved to the emperor with a smile, summoned the emperor from the railing to her side, and then shook Yao Peier’s hand, shook the emperor and Yao Peier’s hands together, and said: “The Ai family has no more than two people in their lives. It’s the emperor, and the other is King Jing. Now your uncle King Jing marries a wife and has children, and you have a family and a business. You have a grief for the family but you have a worry about the two of you. Your cousin of the King King’s family is about to be one year old. Concubine Jing came to the palace. You hug more so that you can give birth to a great-grandson to the Ai family as soon as possible.”

The emperor was a fourteen-year-old boy who was full of energy and blood and rebellion. How could he be patient to listen to these words? He withdrew his hand from the Queen Mother Yao and said perfunctorily: “I see.”

I know, I know, for the past seven years he has said that he knows, but he has never fulfilled it! The Empress Dowager Yao endured her anger and continued to smile: “Emperor, you can’t just talk and do nothing, fool the old lady of Aijia. You should learn more with your Uncle Jing, don’t be busy all day long and don’t do business properly.”

The emperor became the throne at the age of seven and lost his parents’ company before he was sensible. There were also a large group of womb eunuchs waiting for him, and his temper had long been accustomed to arrogant indulgence. He heard the Queen Mother Yao say that he “doesn’t do proper work”, he immediately lowered his face, and said stiffly: “I do not do proper work. I don’t know what the queen dowager thinks is proper work?”

After the emperor finished speaking, he turned around and went out without waiting for Queen Mother Yao to speak.

The atmosphere in the attic was embarrassing, and Yao Peier couldn’t sit still even more embarrassed. After a while, Master Tang smiled and said, “The emperor is upright, and the child is temperamental. This is a anger with the empress dowager.”

The Queen Mother reluctantly smiled, and said along the steps: “He, he has to be mad at home.”

Master Tang replied: “The empress dowager’s words are unreasonable. The emperor was close to the queen mother, and he would say these angry words to the empress.”

With Master Tang taking the lead, and others also persuaded, Empress Dowager Yao’s complexion gradually improved. Sitting in such a bright light, Yao Peier felt as if she had shrunk into a mustard seed, and she couldn’t find her small ones.

Zhao Chengjun’s eyes swept around, and everyone’s expressions and movements were in full view. He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

After a while, the emperor came back and apologized to Queen Mother Yao under the persuasion of the eunuchs, who were half persuading and begging. In front of everyone, Queen Mother Yao didn’t show the emperor’s face, just smiled and said: “You are young people. It is too depressing to accompany the old lady of Ae’s family upstairs. The Ae’s family does not hold you back. The emperor takes Jinyiwei and goes. Look at the lights nearby. But don’t go far, pay attention to safety.”

When the emperor heard this, his brows were overjoyed, and he was too busy to respond. After he responded, Queen Mother Yao glanced at Yao Peier and said: “Queen, you go too.”

The emperor’s face was slightly smiled, Yao Peier actually didn’t want to go, but when the Queen Mother spoke, she didn’t dare to disobey, so she stood up and said, “Yes.”

After the Queen Mother Yao opened this mouth, she did the show to the end, so Zhao Chengjun and Tang Shishi also went. The lively pavilion was half empty in an instant. Zhao Chengjun carefully guarded Tang Shishi and went out without noticing that one person was missing from the royal palace team.

Zhou Shunhua avoided King Jing’s guards, hid in the shadows for a while, and walked up to the attic again. She has a low status, except for festival celebrations, she can’t find the opportunity to meet the Queen Mother Yao. Today’s Spring Festival is Zhou Shunhua’s last chance.

After all, the Queen Mother Yao had reached her age, and after dismissing the idlers, she closed her eyes and leaned on the soft couch to rest. Madam Feng knelt and sat on the footrests, gently beating the Queen Mother Yao’s leg.

“It’s a rare time for the empress to be happy, why did you send everyone away?”

“It’s not easy for the emperor to go out of the palace once. Let them be happy for a while.” After that, the Queen Mother rubbed her eyebrows with a headache. “The emperor and the queen…Ah, they are really sad.”

When it comes to the queen, Madam Feng dare not say much. This is the family affair of the Queen Mother, no matter how troublesome it is, it will not be the turn of an outsider to interrupt.

Grandma Feng continued to beat the Queen Mother Yao and said, “Don’t worry, the emperor is getting closer to the queen. You will be able to hold your great-grandson next year at the latest.”

The Queen Mother sneered, obviously not agreeing. Queen Mother Yao closed her eyes and said leisurely: “No matter, the Aijia can hold on for a few more years, and there is still time. I just don’t know how much the chess piece of Master Tang can play.”

Empress Dowager Yao closed her eyes to think about King Jing, and she was thinking about it, when suddenly there was a loud noise outside. It seemed that someone wanted to come in and was stopped by the eunuch.

Queen Mother Yao opened a gap in her eyes, and said unhappy: “Who is it?”

Madam Feng signaled to the maid. After a while, the maid came back and said with her head down: “It is the concubine Zhou side of the Jing Palace. She said that she has something very important to report to the empress dowager.”

“Is it her?” The Queen Mother raised an eyebrow, quite surprised. “What is she here for? Nothing, let her in.”

The maid promised. After a while, Zhou Shunhua walked in from the outside and bowed down to the Queen Mother Yao as soon as he entered the door: “The concubine is impolite, and the crime deserves ten thousand deaths. Please convict the queen mother.”

Zhou Shunhua went and turned back, definitely not to plead guilty, and the Queen Mother announced her to come in, nor was it to listen to her making the same stereotypes. Queen Mother Yao asked: “Didn’t you go downstairs to watch the lights with Princess Jing? Why are you back again?”

Zhou Shunhua put his hands on the ground, leaned his forehead tightly on the hands, and said: “The concubine body shouldn’t disturb the empress dowager’s rest, but this is a big matter. There is really no way for the concubine body to break into the place where the mother is resting. . Please see the queen mother for her concubine’s loyalty, and spare her life.”

“Oh?” Queen Mother Yao sat up from the collapse, slowly supporting her hands, and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Princess Jing’s matter.” Zhou Shunhua said, and kowtowed again deeply, “The Queen Mother clearly observes that Tang Master and Teacher has two hearts, which is unbelievable.”