Chapter 6: Want to exchange fame and fortune for peace (1)

During the seven years of Daxi's reign in Zhangxuan, Zhenxi General Ling Hongxiang defeated the Xiongnu and returned triumphantly. Emperor Zhangxuan awarded him a great reward and ordered him to command the three armies. For a while, there were rumors everywhere in the imperial city that the Ling family had overwhelmed the sky-
As a courtier, Wenzhi Prime Minister, General Wu and General, and the younger son known as the "No. 1 Merchant in the World" is among the people, and the daughter is the queen... Then, there is a lot of traffic in front of Lingfu gate, and there are princes, nobles and Daguan every day Dignified visit. When I heard the news, I was worried, but I couldn't see my father and brother, so I couldn't sleep well for a few days.
When Haoyue saw that I was worried and didn't even think about tea and rice, she was also worried about me. Every day, she made some delicate and delicious food. But I just can't eat it. I always think about how to get in touch with my father and brother and warn them to be careful. When I was troubled, I just went to Yanboting with the piano alone, trying to drive away the waves in my heart.
One early morning, I hardly slept all night, and arrived at Yanbo Pavilion early, feeling confused.
"Little sister, your piano sound is still so touching." A voice sounded, so familiar, I turned around in amazement, it was the second brother!
"Second brother." I yelled softly, my eyes blurred.
"Chen, see Empress Empress." The second brother smiled and bowed down.
"Second brother, there is no one here, so why bother." I quickly helped the second brother.
"No, no, it should be. You are a queen now, and I am a courtier." The second brother looked at me carefully, frowning, "Sister, you are thinner."
Tears flowed out of my eyes, and my second brother hurriedly wiped it for me, as if he coaxed me every time I cried when I was young.
"What's the matter, sister, are you having a bad time in this palace?" The second brother's face changed, "Who dares to bully my sister?"
"Second brother." I broke my tears and smiled, "Your sister is a queen, who would dare?"
The second brother also laughed, "I'll just say, with our Ling family's reputation, which palace concubine dares to embarrass you? Not to mention, you are the queen."
The elder brother smiled and sat on the marble-carved round pier in the pavilion, "Sister, why didn't the dinner party come that day? Is the wind and cold gone?"
"Much better, second brother." I also sat down with a smile, but I was very surprised, "how can second brother enter the palace?"
"When you got married, I was still fighting in Western Xinjiang, and I didn't see you that day. When the class teacher returned to court, he asked the emperor to see his sister."
I nodded and said nothing.
"Is the emperor good to you?" my brother asked.
I didn't know how to answer, and smiled non-committal: "Very good."
You can only answer this question with lies.
"That's good." My brother laughed and stood up, "My younger sister, Guoxuetianzi, which man can not love? Who else in our Ling family dare to underestimate?" His face was proud.
"Second brother." I pulled his sleeves and let him sit down. "The emperor really let you lead the three armies?"
"Yes. Your brother deserves it." His expression is so energetic and confident.
"When? It was at the dinner that day."
The second brother looked at me strangely.
"Why didn't the second brother give up?" I lowered my head and asked gently.
"What? I deserve it." The second brother looked at me puzzledly, "Sister, do you know that I almost can't come back this time? You can't see the tragedy on the battlefield." The emperor is carefree in the capital, but my brother fought for this carefree. How many wars for so many years, how can I not win the battle? Otherwise, how can this capital be so peaceful. You I don't understand, you don't understand."
The second brother shook his head, helpless.
"Second brother, maybe Weier does not understand the smoke on the battlefield. However, now that your second brother is promoted, the power of our Ling family will also increase. If this continues, the emperor will not worry about the frontier, but will Worried about Ling's family. You know that the emperor has always been in a bad relationship with his father. I only got better after I got married in the palace, but this is not a long-term solution. If the minister is more powerful than the master, how can the master be better? Want to get rid of it?"
I stood up, looked at my second brother's uncertain face, took a deep breath, and decided to show it out, "Second brother, sister knows that you are not reconciled, but for the glory of our Ling family, you have to take this three armies The commander resigned!"
The second brother did not express his position, nor said anything.
I continued: "Second brother, do you really think that my sister is in this palace like the outside world says? My sister is a queen, but it's been so long. My sister doesn't even know what the emperor looks like. She eats every day. Haoyue and the others did it in the small kitchen, and the emperor hated our Ling family at all."
"What did you say?" The second brother stood up awkwardly. "You said you haven't even seen what the emperor looks like?"
I nodded casually, and said with a smile: "Second brother, my sister doesn't care. This is actually good. I don't have to be involved in court battles. Isn't it good? My sister is so quiet, and this kind of life is the best for my sister. If our Ling family is good, my sister will be content."
I shed tears, but gave my second brother a smile, "Second brother, my father is very old, so don't talk about my situation in the palace, just say everything is fine."
The second brother was silent for a long time, and finally nodded, "Little sister, for our Ling family, I have wronged you." The second brother suddenly bowed down, and I hurriedly went to help, but the second brother did not move, "Brother did not think long enough. My father didn't expect it. Little sister, just accept my worship."
"Brother, get up quickly." I lifted my brother up hard, "Go to Kunning Palace and have a drink, brother."
"No, my little sister, I will go back and write the resignation now." He gave me a warm smile.
I nodded, "Second brother, you are the one who is actually wronged."
I went back to Kunning Palace alone, feeling a little cool, for my second brother and myself. This farewell, when can I see them again? Today, I didn't even ask my father and mother whether they were good or not, how was the eldest brother, and whether the third elder brother believed in him, so he hurriedly let the second brother go.
I was leaning against the tall laurel tree in the Kunning Palace, gently stroking the rough bark with my hand, slightly painful.
"Miss, you are back, have you seen the second son?" Haoyue saw me in the palace and hurriedly greeted me.
I nodded and said nothing.
"Miss, why are you crying?" Haoyue took out the Sipa and wiped it for me, her eyes filled with distress.
"It's okay, Haoyue, I'm just a little homesick." I smiled reluctantly, "Go in, I'm a little hungry." After that, I walked into the hall.
Haoyue's voice sounded again, bewildered, "Miss, where is your Jasper Mulan hairpin?"
I reached out and felt that there were only a few hairpins on the bun. My heart felt tight, the Jasper Mulan hairpin was given to me by my mother before entering the palace, or was it her dowry back then, how can I lose it?
I calmly said, "Haoyue, you quickly bring Xiaofuzi Xiaoluzi and the others, and Xinlan Yumei and others to find them. It should be on the Jiuqu Promenade." I thought to myself, it must have been my brother who just bowed down abruptly. I fell while helping him.
This morning, I only rolled up a bun loosely and decided to wear a few hairpins. After looking at it, I felt that it was too simple and not as good as the dress of a court lady, so I took out the jasper magnolia hairpin to wear. Never thought, I always cherish what I don't wear, and lose it when I wear it.
Seeing Haoyue take them out, I walked slowly to the small pond, sat on the bench, and let out a breath. The hairpin must be found, no one will go there at all, and it will only take a while. My brother’s matter is also resolved. I think my brother has understood what I mean and will pass it on to my father, so that our Ling family won’t be in a big crisis for the time being.
I fiddled with the water in the pool, there were koi swimming around with my fingers, and a few boldly chewing on my fingers. I laughed, and it seemed that my unfavored queen was tired of these precious koi, and no one would feed them anymore.
I turned around and went back to the palace, found some steamed buns in the small kitchen, ran to the pool, carefully tore and rubbed them into small balls, and fed them to the koi.
I didn't care if the white feather yarn skirt was wet by the pool water, sitting on the floor, holding the pool water with my hands, teasing the koi that came from food, happy as a child.
Forget all your worries, forget the glory of the Ling family, forget that I am the queen, and even forget that this is Kunning Palace.
The hairpin was not found, which made me sad for a long time. The Huang Jing also brought the news I wanted. The second brother really listened to me and resigned from the title of commander-in-chief of the armed forces. For this, the emperor gave him money and a mansion, and even called him loyal.
It seems that my guess is correct. The emperor didn't really want to hand over the three armies to the second brother. It should be just a trial. The Ling family finally escaped, my heart relaxed, and my appetite was restored within a few days. Haoyue was very happy, and there were new tricks in her daily food. It's just that hairpin, how could it disappear in a while? Someone should have picked it up. This at least shows that Yanboting was still there. For this reason, I asked Xiao Xizi and Xiao Rongzi to hang white feather curtains on Yanbo Pavilion.
One day, I was embroidering a picture of a desert like smoke. Huiju walked in and waited for a while before saying: "Manny, it is rumored in the palace that Concubine Liu is pregnant." She paused and said, "I also said the emperor. I am very happy, I have given her a lot of treasures."
I just started embroidering. The material was the scenery of the Western Regions that my second brother told me before. At this time, I was surrounded by threads of various colors. When I heard this, my hand stopped for a moment, and I smiled and said, "The emperor can be fortunate to her for half a month. It is not surprising that I am pregnant. And jewelry," I continued to embroider on my hand: "The emperor is rich in the world, and there are countless rare and precious treasures. Concubine Liu is pregnant with the first child of the emperor's ascension to the throne. I feel strange that she has not been promoted."
"Miss, if this Concubine Liu can really give birth to the emperor's heir, then our life will not be better." Haoyue said worriedly.
I didn't stop the flying needle in my hand, but showed an indifferent smile, "Do you think we will live worse than now?"
Haoyue pursed her lips and said nothing, but her face was slightly embarrassed.
I didn't say anything, knowing Haoyue's worries, my thoughts returned to two days ago.
I went to Yanbo Pavilion that morning and returned to Kunning Palace at noon. As soon as they entered the palace gate, all of them were downcast, and their usual smiles disappeared.
Haoyue led me back to the Xi Nuan Pavilion, and Xin Lan served the Eight Treasures of Red Date Tea, but she didn't back down, just hesitating at the door.
"What's the matter?" I took a sip and found that the tea was slightly hot, and frowned slightly. Xinlan is very cautious in the tea water, the temperature must be just right. So, it can only show what happened in the palace.
"Hui Niangniang, Concubine Liu is here today." Xin Lan whispered.
I said "um": "So what?"
"Lady Concubine Liu," Xin Lan was interrupted by the incoming Huiju before she finished her words.
"The empress Liu said that the empress has been in the palace for so long, and she has not come to pay a visit. She came here specially today." Huiju removed the tea from the table and replaced it with a biluochun.
Haoyue glanced at Hui Ju in surprise, "How is it possible? She suddenly knows how to be so polite?"
I glanced at Haoyue: "How do you speak!"
Haoyue was busy silently.
I smiled gently at Huiju: "I see, you all go down, I want to rest."
When they all retreated, I stopped Huiju who was walking to the door, "My palace is a little hungry. Go and prepare some snacks."
Not long after, Huiju brought four small pieces, and I picked up a piece of bergamot and handed it to her, "Let’s talk, what's going on today?"
"It's nothing, Niang Niang." Hui Ju took the crisp and said softly.