Flowers on the other side [Comprehensive Red House]

The British duchess has been restless since her daughter entered the palace.After the temple sacrifice, the empress sent Cao Huachun to call her into the palace, and she was immediately so excited that her eyes were red, her lips moved and she couldn't speak.

Mrs. Shizi hurriedly sent her maid to serve tea to Cao Huachun, apologetically apologizing.

"Don't be surprised by Cao Neixiang, my mother doesn't sleep well these days."

How could Cao Huachun dare to act as a big man in the British government, the emperor sent him to the queen, how clearly he explained, if he is not good enough to serve him, he will be sent to Qingling to guard the late emperor.Look at Wang An and Wei Chao's master and apprentice, they are willing to retreat from the roles of palm print eunuch and pen eunuch to the Qianqing Palace to be the supervisor, not to mention that the work is more comfortable than Liu Shimin, just look at the emperor's trust in Wang An's master and apprentice, it is absolutely The first copy of the inner court.

Look at the emperor now only let the supervisor of ceremonies handle some unimportant papers sent by the cabinet. The ministers of various ministries and the cabinet have urgent and important matters, and they all report to the emperor directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.This also made Cao Huachun faintly feel that it was the emperor's suggestion and permission to do so.But if this continues, the supervisor of ceremonies will gradually lose his authority, and even be completely reduced to a servant who used to only serve the daily life of the Tian family.

With this understanding, when the emperor asked him and Fang Zhenghua who would be willing to go to Kunning Palace as a supervisor, he immediately asked for his willingness to go to Kunning Palace.So he didn't dare to trust the big one in the British government.

He respectfully stood up and said to Mrs. Shizi: "It's flattering to call me Xiaocao. Those who can be called nephew, the Mansi Ritual Supervisor is Wang An Wang Neixiang, and Liu Shimin Liu Neixiang. The emperor allows them Self-proclaimed 'Chen'."

The British Duchess drank two sips of tea, and with such relief, her emotions calmed down.Following Cao Huachun's intention, he changed his address.

"Eunuch Cao, sit down and drink some hot tea to drive away the cold. Alas, I'm old. I haven't entered the palace for a few years now. When I heard that I was going to enter the palace, I suddenly became flustered. It's really embarrassing. How is your majesty?"

In fact, calling Cao Huachun an eunuch is beyond the standard, but it is also a title acceptable to both parties.

"Your Majesty is very nice. A few days ago, I had a fist fight with the Emperor."

Alas, he really didn't listen to the teaching.Compete with anyone.

The British princess stood up anxiously and asked, "Are you hurt?"

Cao Huachun misunderstood, and replied with a smile: "The emperor is coaxing the empress to play a joke. How could he be willing to let the empress get hurt. The old lady will know when she enters the palace to see the empress."

"Where is the Son of Heaven?" The British princess didn't dare to directly ask if the Son of Heaven was injured, seeing that Cao Huachun's answer was irrelevant, she had no choice but to ask by name.

"My lord?" Cao Huachun was stunned for a moment when asked, the lord acted like an adult teasing a child during the whole competition.Could it be that the Duke's wife thought that the empress's martial arts were better than the emperor's?

"It's not hurt. The emperor is teaching Western learning to the empress every day. The empress said that the old lady should come into the palace and bring a few nephews with her, and also invite the wives to come with her."

The British princess frowned slightly, "Is this okay?"

Cao Huachun quickly replied: "It was suggested by the emperor. It is a pity that I can't accompany my mother back home. Tomorrow, the British government will be summoned to have lunch in Qianqing Palace. If the family is reunited, it will be regarded as a return home."

Happily, the British princess recited Buddha's name directly.

Cao Huachun came out of the main hall of the British princess, and returned the purse he had just received to Mrs. Shizi.Seeing Mrs. Shizi's stunned expression, she hurriedly explained: "The emperor is not allowed to accept any money. If Mrs. Shizi is sympathetic, I will reward some of the New Year's gifts that our family prepared for the young masters. Three or five Maybe the emperor will let our family keep it for fun."

Mrs. Shizi hastily ordered someone to bring over a plate of gold and silver carpentry for the Chinese New Year.

Cao Huachun did it himself, picked out a pair of golden pigs and silver pigs that were only half the weight, and picked four gold and silver pigs of the same size, and distributed a pair to each of the little servants who came with him.

"This is in line with next year's zodiac sign, and it's exquisite and cute. I think these few sons will be rewarded by Cheng Engong's mansion. The emperor will give the Duke's mansion face and allow our family to stay for a thought."

Mrs. Shizi also wanted them to take a few more.Cao Huachun quickly refused.

"Don't dare to lie to Madam Shizi, our family still wants to take good care of the empress. Let the emperor know that our family dared to bring such a plate of pears back to the palace, then we have to go to Qingling immediately to accompany the late emperor."

Mrs. Shizi looked at the purse in the maid's hand.

Cao Huachun lowered his voice and said, "All those who died in the past two years were those who dared to accept the money from the adults. The adults who dared to give money were also reprimanded. Mrs. Shizi felt sorry for our family's difficulty in the palace. Don't prepare for these things in the future." gone."

Cao Huachun made it clear, so he naturally had his own plans.Since the palace cleared out nearly [-] eunuchs and court ladies, each person's monthly schedule has been increased several times, and the annual rewards are also generous, and no one dares to extort filial piety when they go to work everywhere.

With fewer people, there are fewer things to do.

One radish and one hole, no one dared to use tricks to evade mistakes, but things were clear and easy to do.

If it is so mediocre to reach the age of retirement, the monthly regulations and annual festival rewards saved alone will be enough to provide for the elderly.Why take money from foreign ministers at the risk of being shot and sent to guard the mausoleum?

On the second day, the British father-in-law and his wife brought their three daughters-in-law and six grandchildren to tidy up early. The British father-in-law and his son were going to work in the Yamen Yingmao.The female relatives went out with the man, and arrived in the Forbidden City to wait before the palace gate opened.

Several boys were sitting in the carriage of the British Duchess, staggering sleepily.The British princess watched the nanny tightly wrapping her sleeping grandson, and couldn't help worrying that she would have to carry the child in against the northwest wind soon, so what if it caught the wind and cold.

Alas, my daughter is still young, so I can't think of such a thoughtful idea, why should I bring my little nephew into the palace.

Finally, when the gate of the palace opened, the butler who was waiting beside the carriage of the British Duke and Duchess saw Cao Huachun who came all the way to greet him, and hurriedly reported to the inside of the carriage.

"Madam, Eunuch Cao has come out."

The British Duchess hurried out of the car.The butler went over to carry the third child from the first room and the two children from the second room, watched the two older children get out of the car by themselves, watched the third wife who came up from the car of Mrs. Shizi, and took the sixth young master from the nurse's arms. .

"Old lady, old lady." Cao Huachun was out of breath as he ran, "It's my fault that Xiao Cao didn't agree on the time yesterday, and asked old lady to wait in front of the palace gate. Please get on the sedan chair first."

Cao Huachun also brought a warm sedan chair.Let the British princess say that she just can't play, and it's okay to go to Kunning Palace.But seeing the third daughter-in-law hugging her sleeping grandson, she thanked Cao Huachun, "Please take the trouble to prepare the sedan chair."

Cao Huachun hurriedly bowed and replied, "Little Cao should do it. It was my mother's order."

When the British lady heard that her daughter had ordered it, she paused and turned to tell the third daughter-in-law, "Hand me the child."

"Thank you mother."

Being able to fall asleep in a warm sedan chair is better than braving the northwest wind. No matter how tightly wrapped, a child who is only over one year old may die prematurely in a single wind and cold.

Mrs. Ying carried her youngest grandson into the warm sedan chair, and Mrs. Shizi also stuffed the youngest son of the second room into it.

"Sit obediently with grandma and don't make any noise to wake up your brother."

The second wife smiled gratefully at the sister-in-law.

Cao Huachun patted his forehead and said, "I blame Xiao Cao for being negligent."

He immediately stuffed the two five-year-old children into the warm sedan, "Standing inside is also sheltered from the wind." Then he told the two strong eunuchs who were carrying the sedan chair: "Carry it carefully."

The palace road is clean and tidy, so you don't have to worry about slipping or stumbling when you walk.Carrying the British princess and her four grandchildren, the weight is not heavy, that is, it is about the same weight as a grown man and a big fat man.But the two powerful eunuchs seemed to be carrying rare treasures, being cautious.

The queen rushed to greet Cao Huachun when the palace gate opened, and waited impatiently at the gate of Kunning Palace.Seeing Cao Huachun approaching with a warm sedan chair from a distance, he raised his foot and wanted to go there.

Li Dong grabbed her sleeve and said: "Your Majesty, I'd better go back and wait in Kunning Palace, otherwise the old lady will come down from the warm sedan chair to salute your Majesty."

Zhang Yan stamped her feet, immediately turned and walked back.

"Let them carry the warm sedan chair to the main hall of Kunning Palace."

Lidong quickly added a sentence: "At the entrance of the main hall. Lichun, you wait here."

Lidong is now a female official of Kunning Palace, ranking fifth.The eight servant girls brought into the palace all followed her lead.The female official sent by the inner court to assist the queen in managing the Kunning Palace, after seeing Lidong's wrists, also knew the depth, and dared not compete with Lidong again.

Zhang Yan just took off her big clothes and finished, when Li Chun's voice of saluting and greetings came from outside the door.

Standing beside Zhang Yan, Lidong stretched out his hand to hold her shoulder, "Your Majesty, wait a little longer."

The door curtain was lifted, and a gust of cold wind came out from both sides of the screen that blocked the door.The British princess walked in first, looked at the daughter sitting on the couch in front of her, walked a few steps, and received the daughter who was full of arms.

"Mom, I miss you."

The British lady put her arms around her daughter and stroked her back. After giving birth to three sons, she always had such a daughter. She always watched her before her eyes. She hadn't seen her for more than half a month after marrying her. She was still the first mother and daughter. It's been so long since we've been apart.

"Okay, okay. The temple sacrifices are over, and if I miss my mother in the future, I will send someone back to the house to deliver the letter."

Zhang Yan secretly wiped away the moisture from the corners of her eyes, and let go of the British princess.

The British princess patted her daughter on the back, "The empress is returning to her seat, and the ministers and wives have not yet performed the grand ceremony to meet the queen."

Lidong had made arrangements a long time ago, and now all those standing in the main hall of Kunning Palace were brought in by the British government.Zhang Yan glanced around and helped the British princess to sit down.

"Mother doesn't need to salute me, this palace is all brought from the house, please sit down quickly."

The charcoal fire in Kunning Palace bakes the whole hall warmly and exudes a fruity fragrance.After all, Mrs. Shizi did not dare to neglect, and brought her two younger siblings and five boys to kneel down to salute.

"Sisters-in-law, get up quickly. My mother is sitting here, and I don't say that my elder sister-in-law is like a mother. But when you married into the mansion, I was only just able to leave. These three sister-in-laws have worked hard to take care of me and tolerate me over the years. naughty."

Zhang Yan stretched out her hand to pull up the two little nephews, and hugged the sleeping sixth nephew from the arms of the third wife.Lichun led the three wives to their seats, Lixia and others went over and took the young masters to sit on the side.

"Sister-in-law three, did you not freeze him?" Zhang Yan lifted the swaddling quilt to look at her little nephew, who was sleeping and didn't know where he was, and who didn't know he was sold, and gently pinched his flushed face, while still remembering Shaking his head, he denied the self-defeating words Mrs. Shizi said.

"No. Fortunately, the empress prepared a warm sedan chair for the mother, and the mother hugged him, and these little ones also squeezed in with the mother."

"Oh, I didn't think well, I should prepare a few more warm sedan chairs."

"That's all right." The British lady hurriedly stopped her daughter, pointed to her little grandson and said, "If it wasn't for this, I wouldn't even want to sit in a sedan chair. Put him down to sleep, he's used to being hugged, and he won't be able to sleep well in the future."

"Okay. Listen to mother."

Zhang Yan stood up and carried her little nephew to the east side hall, "Mother and sisters-in-law are also coming. The former emperor also said that he wanted to bring the little boy to roll on our bed, and next year there will be a—— "

She stopped talking and didn't continue talking. The old lady will understand what she means, no wonder she said she wanted to bring all her nephews with her.Among other things, the Zhang family has a lot of little boys, and they are all descendants.

Zhang Shize will be ten years old in the next Chinese New Year, and he has already followed his father and grandfather to meet the guests.Seeing that the little aunt wanted him to be a "bed press boy" too, she blushed and refused to say anything.

But the little ones in the back were stripped of their big clothes and shoes by Li Chun and others, and stuffed them into the bed.

"Everyone have a good sleep."

Lichun and the second young master were familiar with "beating", suppressing the second young master's struggle, the third young master and the fourth young master obediently lay down in the warm bed, and the fifth young master had already squinted his eyes happily.

Lidong turned his face and asked Zhang Shize, "Are you really not going to sleep?"

Zhang Shize shook his head.

"Then do you stay here and watch them sleep, or go to the Imperial Garden with Li Xia?"

Zhang Shize hesitated for a moment, thinking that his aunt must have something to say to his grandmother and mother.He hesitated and asked: "Little aunt, can I go for a walk in the palace?"

"Go. Lichun, don't play wild, let Cao Huachun lead people to follow."

"Yes, ma'am."

After Lichun entered the palace and suffered several punishments, he finally remembered the palace rules and etiquette.

The British princess watched her grandchildren fall asleep, and followed her daughter back to the main hall.

"Your Majesty, are you used to being in the palace these days?"

Zhang Yan nodded, "Very good. The emperor went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to deal with political affairs, and I attended classes and practiced martial arts with the princesses, princesses, and brothers Xin Wang and Lu Wang."

"Princess also practices martial arts?" The British princess felt very strange.

After the death of Empress Xiao Duanxian (Emperor Wanli's empress), Mrs. Gaoming was never summoned in the palace.Even for the concubines left behind by Shenzong and Guangzong, it was very difficult for their relatives to enter the palace to visit them, and they often failed to get permission once in ten times.That is to say, we meet two or three times a year, knowing that each other is still alive.

The entire inner court is almost completely separated from the outside world.

"Yes. But they are all grown up and can't learn much. The emperor said that it would be good for them to keep fit. But they learned western skills earlier than me, and they learned mathematics better than me."

The British duchess really did not expect her daughter to go to school every day after entering the palace.She couldn't help but continued to ask her daughter's words.

"Who will teach you?" About ten people.

"Basically, they are all bachelors from the Hanlin Academy and old eunuchs from the Neishutang. Those old eunuchs are amazing, and they taught all the people in charge of the ceremony. Master Xu, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, even gave us a lecture."

Shizi's wife and sister-in-law looked at each other, very confused about the daily life of the queen's sister-in-law.

"Your Majesty, don't you need to deal with palace affairs?" Mrs. Shizi couldn't help asking.

"Use it. Watch the palace affairs with the emperor when you are resting and bathing, and accompany the emperor to have a meal with the princess and King Xin in Qianqing Palace. There is a lot of homework every day, and sometimes you can't finish it even holding the lamp. I asked for leave today, and I will make it up tomorrow."

The British princess sighed in her heart. These days, the newlyweds went to school with their sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and cousins.The work of the housekeeper and director should be done together when the man is resting and taking a bath.Whose bride is like this?The important thing is that this man is still the emperor.

Can my mother not worry about her daughter?

"Are you going to class by yourself?"

Zhang Yan shook her head, "The emperor arranged for me to go to class."

Seeing her mother's worried expression, she hurriedly explained: "The emperor said that there are ready-made rules and regulations for things in the palace and who should do what. What was done in the past is how it is done now. Kun Ning Both the Qianqing Palace and the Qianqing Palace have their own eunuchs in charge, so I just need to check to see if they are doing a good job. Besides, there are Lidong and the other female officials helping me.

Concubine Liu is still in charge of Renshou Palace, and Concubine Li Zhuang is also in charge of the East Sixth Palace.The emperor said that I don't need to worry about those two places. "

While talking, Zhang Yan glanced at Lidong and the others, "Go down and rest, I will call you if there is anything to do."

Lidong immediately took the lead to salute and retreated.

Zhang Yan twirled an orange in her hand, and said in a low voice: "Mother, the emperor said that those in Renshou Palace are all pushing their noses to show their faces, so let me ignore them. The women in the Sixth East Palace are also the same. They all look at the Palace of Compassion and Peace, and they don't even look at whether they have the Queen Mother's life.

He's not interested in making himself uncomfortable.Not short of their food and clothing, they are worthy of their fathers and grandparents. "

The British Duchess slapped her daughter on the back angrily.

"Say anything out there."

"Oh, mother, I'm afraid that you and your sisters-in-law will be worried."

Mrs. Shizi hurriedly interrupted and asked, "Your Majesty, how is the Son of Heaven treating you?"

"Very good. Give me the West Sixth Palace. Hmph."

Hmm, what do you mean?I never heard that the emperor released his concubines in the Sixth West Palace.

The second lady smiled and asked the young lady: "But someone in the West Sixth Palace is making things difficult for the empress?"

Zhang Yan smiled, "The West Six Palaces have all become the emperor's warehouses, and they are filled with items copied from various palaces. There is also Chengguo's mansion. I mean, the emperor still has many warehouses. The Jiazi library, the B library, etc., are all handed down by the emperors of the past dynasties."

The British lady couldn't help but slapped her daughter on the back again, and then reluctantly stroked her daughter's back.

"When did you become greedy for money! Is it because the palace doesn't give you money? Or is the dowry given to you by the mansion not enough?"

Zhang Yan pouted.

"Where is it? I'm talking about our mansion, even if my father has a private treasury, my mother also controls the majority of the mansion. I only have a small part of the palace here."

"The mansion has already been handed over to your sister-in-law as the housekeeper. I only have my own dowry there. Even the Queen Mother didn't take care of all the warehouses in the palace. If you leave it all to you, don't you feel tired? Learn your lessons well , if it is not as good as the princesses and princesses, it would be shameful."

Zhang Yan said unconvinced: "The emperor said, I only need to be first in two subjects. I promise to be the first in martial arts. There is another one, alas, mother, this other one is difficult. "

She broke open the oranges and distributed them to the three sister-in-laws, "Second sister-in-law, help me think about it."

The second wife had a reputation as a talented woman when she was in her natal family, and the flexible second brother is the most talented couple in the Duke's mansion.Seeing that the sister-in-law asked her head, the second lady smiled and suggested: "Play the piano? Play chess? Paint?"

"Playing the piano is impossible. Lu Wang's piano skills are too high. The master who taught the piano was from Jiaosifang. He didn't dare to guide Lu Wang. He even asked Lu Wang for advice. Lu Wang is also the best at chess. Not to give up the pieces to King Lu. The two brothers of King Lu took both the piano and the chess.

In order to win the first place in one subject, Xin Wang has worked hard on the subject of painting for two years. "

The third lady suggested, "Ask the emperor, see if the emperor can help you choose?"

Mrs. Shizi looked at the sister-in-law who was worried about her homework, and then at the sister-in-law who was actively advising the sister-in-law, and she exchanged glances with her mother-in-law. If it wasn't for the fact that the Zhang family boys came to press the bed, both of them should be suspicious How did the emperor and queen live.

Seeing that the little girl was really embarrassed, the second lady said: "What about calligraphy? I know that my mother doesn't like to practice calligraphy, but my mother has practiced martial arts for a long time, and her wrist strength is far superior to that of ordinary people. If you can calm down and practice calligraphy, you will get twice the result with half the effort."

Mrs. Shizi hurriedly said: "That's right. Your Majesty can practice flying knives well, and her fingers are flexible, so naturally she can practice calligraphy well."

The third wife also said: "Choose calligraphy. Regular script, running script, cursive script, official script, with so many different fonts, the empress will definitely have the best one. If not, I will get another first place."

The British lady sat with her daughter in her arms, and listened to the three daughters-in-law giving advice for her daughter. She felt in a daze that she was still in the British mansion, as if the daughter was not married and the husband had not returned to the mansion to say that the emperor had chosen his daughter to be the queen.

At that time, every winter, my mother and I would just sit and chat in her room like this, with the grandson sleeping on the hot kang behind us.

But the warm and fruity fragrance filling the hall, the faint incense on her daughter's body, and the bird embroidery pattern under her hands all remind her that her daughter is now the empress of Ming Dynasty, and no longer a delicate girl in the British government.

She looked at her daughter whose face was so delicate that it could shine, her eyebrows and eyes were stretched, and her frown and smile were full of the brilliance of a little woman. She didn't need to ask much to know that the affairs in the boudoir were harmonious, and the emperor and the woman got along very well.

She also knew from her daughter's words that the old concubines in the Sixth East Palace and Renshou Palace could not embarrass her daughter.

There are no trivial matters, and there are no elders who are harsh and difficult, so why don't you just look forward to having a son next year?

At the beginning of Sishi, several children in the inner hall woke up.The third lady rushed to take care of her youngest son.Before she was dressed, the little guy stretched out his hand behind her.

"Auntie, hug."

The third lady turned her head and saw the Empress Empress coming in, she smiled and hurriedly dressed her son with both hands: "Your Majesty, you see, Xiao Liu still remembers the Empress. Wait until the third sister-in-law urinates for him before giving the empress a hug."

Li Qiu took a court lady with great insight to move the children and grandchildren bucket in time.Several boys stood by the bed and poured water into the carved pail. Only the second young master blushed from holding back his neck and tightened his belt, refusing to let go in front of all the women.

Lidong quickly pulled him out of bed to put on his shoes, "Second Young Master, come with Lidong."