Chapter 354
During the war, Cui Zhao and his elder sister, Mrs. Ping'en Hou, moved to a small courtyard in Beicheng. Of course, the pomp of the past was gone. They even had to live in the same hospital with the concubines and concubines. They looked down on each other and looked at each other with cold eyes. Really not in the mood to fight, to keep calm.
The Huns' offensive was getting stronger and stronger, and Jincheng was about to fall for a while. The female relatives were so frightened that they couldn't eat their food and cried all day. Even under such circumstances, Cui Zhao's body recovered little by little, and he was able to walk on the ground normally, and his expression was calm. , It seems that the Huns outside the city are not taken seriously at all.
The female relatives who lived in the same hospital were all puzzled by this, and then they became a little scared, and they became more and more convinced that this daughter of the Cui family was unusual.
The female relatives of the palace quietly moved away, and would rather live with ordinary people than dare to approach Cui Zhao.
Only Mrs. Ping'en Hou knew that the so-called fate was nonsense and was concocted by her own hands, but she also did not understand why the third sister's health was getting better and better.
Cui Zhao understood.
Since the Xiongnu besieged the city, the more critical the situation, the less pressure to force her to approach the emperor. When the situation was at its worst a few days ago, Mrs. Pingenhou even complained about Laojun, thinking that it was all because of her grandmother's partiality, which made the two of the Cui family suffer. A daughter and a son are trapped in Jincheng.
Without the pressure of the family, Cui Zhao's mood suddenly became relaxed, and his body naturally gradually improved.
She finally understood that she didn't like the emperor, and she didn't want to seduce the emperor. In comparison, life and death were less important.
So she wants to see the emperor and explain everything clearly.
Cui Teng didn't know why, but his sister wanted to die, so he had to pass the word on her behalf.
Seeing hope again, Mrs. Pingenhou was overjoyed, and kept saying: "As expected of the daughter of the Cui family, it's time to meet. The so-called adversity sees the truth, and it's the easiest time to gain His Majesty's favor."
Han Ruzi deliberately chose to summon Cui Zhao in the morning to avoid too much gossip, and the eunuchs and guards were also present.
Cui Zhao entered the house under the guidance of his brother Cui Teng, but Mrs. Ping Enhou was not allowed to stay outside and waited for news.
Cui Zhaoying bowed down, got up and glanced, and finally saw the emperor.
Han Ruzi had been to Cui Mansion, but he had never met the queen's sister, so both of them were a little curious.
Han Ruzi could see a bit of the queen's shadow on Cui Zhao's face, but Cui Zhao thought that the emperor was really young, but he had a calmness that the champion Hou didn't have.
This person should be the emperor, and sister Cui Nuan should be the queen.
Cui Zhao thought about it, his heart became more calm, and he said, "I will pay tribute to Your Majesty. I heard that the Xiongnu has put forward the conditions, and the concubines are named to be relatives. The concubines are not rude, and they are willing to go to the Huns to form a friendship between the two countries."
The listeners were all surprised, especially Cui Teng. He didn't know his sister's intention until then, and he hurriedly said: "Sister, don't worry, you rejected the Huns yesterday, and they won't insist on it. , Your Majesty said..."
Cui Zhao smiled slightly to his brother, "Brother, you don't need to persuade, although the peace talks between the Great Chu and the Huns will not fail because of me, but the two countries have been estranged for a long time. Send me to have a kiss, even if you can't speed up the peace talks, at least one less dispute."
Cui Teng was stunned, "Well, then, there's no need to send you there. You don't even have the surname Han—there are several daughters of the king, so just pick one and call it the princess."
Cui Zhao shook his head with a smile, "Since the Xiongnu named my sister's name, and I volunteered, why bother to replace the king's daughter?" Then he turned to the emperor, and said sternly: "I hope your majesty will have mercy, and the concubine will do what you want."
Han Ruzi thought for a long time, then waved his hand to signal the eunuchs and guards to retreat, leaving only the Cui brothers and sisters.
"You are the queen's sister, just like my sister, tell me why you made such a decision?"
Cui Zhao knelt down, bowed his head and said nothing, as if he was brewing a speech. After a while, his shoulders twitched, but he was crying, "Let the second brother speak."
"Me? I don't know anything..." Cui Teng looked blank.
Cui Zhao just wept, Han Ruzi didn't know how to persuade him, so he could only stare at Cui Teng sternly.
The younger sister cried, the emperor stared at him, and Cui Teng felt a little nervous, so he could only say, "Could it be because of Mrs. Ping'en Hou?"
Cui Zhao nodded and shook his head again.
Cui Teng was upset, but he didn't dare to attack in front of the emperor, scratched his head, and said with a smile, "Actually... it's not a big deal, it's just... Mrs. Ping'en Hou wants... to dedicate the third sister to His Majesty... "
Cui Teng's voice became smaller and smaller, and finally it was almost inaudible.
"What did you say?" Han Ruzi leaned forward.
"The third sister is willing to be His Majesty's concubine." Cui Teng lowered his head and said, suddenly raised his head, and said loudly, "This is not my idea, I also just found out a few days ago, it is all behind the instructions of Mrs. Ping Enhou, She is the worst, and she has made up all kinds of rumors and talked about the third sister... in a very unbearable way, so as to attract your Majesty's attention. "
When the rumors were at their peak, Han Ruzi did notice it, but he never thought that these rumors were going to reach his ears. After a while, he suddenly understood Cui Zhao's good intentions.
Cui Zhao is the wife of the champion Hou. Her husband died in the battle for the throne. If she marries the emperor, she will be accused by thousands of people, and the world will think that she poisoned the champion Hou. Moreover, she also understood the love between her sister Cui Nuan and the emperor. If she entered the palace, she would inevitably compete with the queen for favor. If she could not enter the palace, she would be oppressed by the Cui family.
Of course, Mrs. Ping'en Hou couldn't decide for Cui Zhao, but Lao Jun and Cui Hong were the real masters behind everything.
It was difficult for Cui Zhao to ride a tiger, so he simply "riddled a tiger" to the Huns. It doesn't matter who you marry, the key is to stay away from right and wrong here.
Han Ruzi understood Cui Zhao's difficulties, but he couldn't agree, and said harmoniously: "I will make the decision for you, in short, I will not go against your will, and there is no need to marry the Xiongnu."
Cui Zhao raised his head and wiped the tears from his face, "Because I am the champion Mrs. Hou?"
Han Ruzi was slightly taken aback. This is indeed a reason, and it is a very important reason. After all, the champion is a clan son who is qualified to compete for the throne. He can't just send his widow to the Xiongnu after he died less than a year ago. If you don't know it, you will think that this is the emperor's intention to retaliate.
Cui Zhao took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to his brother. Cui Teng took it in his hand inexplicably, opened it and glanced at it, his face changed slightly, and handed the piece of paper to the emperor.
This is a leave of absence.
Cui Zhao smiled miserably and said, "Champion Hou thought he would become emperor, and he had to make a clean break with the Cui family in advance, so his concubine has nothing to do with Champion Hou. Sending his son to Deng's family is considered a renunciation of righteousness."
Han Ruzi returned the divorce letter to Cui Teng. He didn't recognize the handwriting of the champion, so he couldn't tell whether it was true or false. He sighed, "Then you don't need to marry the Huns. I will choose a Ruyi man of the same age for you."
The emperor said that he was close, and with the power of the Cui family, Han Ruzi believed that it was not difficult.
Cui Zhao kowtowed, and then said, "Your Majesty is kind, everyone knows it, and your concubine is grateful, but can Your Majesty choose a relative for your concubine, and can you wash away the stigma on your body?"
Han Ruzi was stunned again.
Thinking about it carefully, Cui Zhao's reputation is really bad. At first, marrying Champion Hou was considered a snobbery of the Cui family. She forcibly squeezed out the original champion Mrs. Hou, and ended up with a saying of "hard life". Instead of helping, he added fuel to the fire, claiming that only the emperor can restrain his daughter.
Cui Zhao was just an ordinary woman. She had no choice but to grit her teeth to bear all this. Marrying the Xiongnu was a relief.
Han Ruzi pondered silently. From Cui Zhao, he also saw a pride hidden in his heart, more similar to her sister Cui Xiaojun.
"Sister..." Cui Teng said blankly. To be honest, he didn't care much about this half-sister, but he still felt sad to see her so resolute toward her family.
"Second brother, don't worry."
"I'm not... angry, I just don't understand..."
"Second brother is a good person. Only the second brother in the family cares about me. He has never regarded me as a tool for power struggle. The second brother's kindness will always be remembered in my heart."
Cui Teng blushed, and his sister's gratitude made him even more ashamed.
Cui Zhao also said to the emperor: "Your Majesty and the Queen's sister are in love with each other. No matter where you are, your concubines will pray for the safety of Your Majesty and the Queen's sister in front of the Bodhisattva. I also ask Your Majesty to be considerate. It's a human being, not a beast. The matter of marriage and relatives has existed since ancient times, even in the Great Chu. The ministers and concubines are shy and recommend themselves, and I hope your majesty will approve."
Han Ruzi was as at a loss as Cui Teng.
In a room in the front yard of the palace, Mrs. Ping'en Hou is full of hope waiting for the good news, the siege of Jincheng is expected to be solved, and her sister Cui Zhao was summoned by the emperor again. Contempt, son Miao Shuang's future is also guaranteed.
Not far from here, in the surviving half of the hall of the palace, the East Sea King and other Chu officials are continuing to negotiate with the Huns.
Jin Chunzhong, on behalf of Da Shanyu, made concessions to almost every condition, but was very insistent on two things. One was to provide a safe passage for the Huns to return to the grasslands, and the other was to send a "princess" and a relative.
Deng Cui's eastward expedition was a draw for the Huns. Da Danyu had carefully weighed it before, and felt that the Chu army in Mayi City was hesitant, and there was no general in charge, so there was no need to rush to destroy it. Arriving, Mayi City suddenly went to a chariot general, and Chai Yue's Chu army was more difficult to deal with than he expected.
The Huns' retreat route to the north has been cut off, and the south is in a muddy state. Naturally, the more they wait, the more urgent it is.
As for marriage, it is only the last resort for the Huns to keep their face. Da Shanyu is very interested in the legendary "woman with a hard life", but it is not absolutely necessary. The King of the East Sea has already asked Jin Chunzhong to agree, as long as Da Chu gives the Huns the gift Just be a "princess".
Liu Jie, the supervisor of the Central Division, hurried over and whispered a few words to the King of the East Sea.
The King of the East Sea was stunned for a while, and said to Jin Chunzhong: "The daughter of the Cui family, Cui Zhao, is the sister of the Empress. Your Majesty just recognized her as her sister, and named her the Princess of Pingjin. She will marry the Huns and be relatives."
Jin Chunzhong was also taken aback, "The... daughter of Taifu Cui's family?"
"certainly."
"It's... it's really nice, and Da Chanyu must be very happy."
"But His Majesty also said that it's okay to be in a relationship, and that the generations should not be confused. Da Chanyu claims to have a grandfather-grandfather relationship with the emperor, and the princess of Da Chu can only marry the grandchildren of Da Chanyu."
"Ah? This... I have to go back and ask for instructions." Jin Chunzhong was a little flustered by the unexpected news.
Negotiations continued, and it was, after all, a trivial matter for emissaries from both sides eager to reach a peace deal.
For Mrs. Ping'en Hou, this was a big event. She wanted to ask Cui Teng and Cui Zhao for clarification, but she couldn't get in. The eunuch politely asked her to return to her residence, and Princess Pingjin sent her back. He lives in the palace and is taken care of by his elder brother Cui Teng.