Chapter 446
A group of wives rushed into the palace, openly or secretly begging the Empress Dowager Cining for mercy. After all, only one person's words moved her, "Your Majesty sent our son out of the Great Wall today, what if we have a prince in the future?"
Empress Dowager Ci Ning moved. For ordinary emperors, this is not a problem. The prince should enjoy special treatment, but she knows her son. He is not an ordinary emperor. It is very likely that in order to show fairness, her own son will also be sent to the hospital. dangerously.
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning sent these women away. After thinking for a long time, it was useless to intercede directly with the emperor, and she could feel that her influence on her son was getting weaker and weaker, and speaking at this time would only be counterproductive.
After thinking about it, the Empress Dowager Cining found a way and immediately summoned the Queen, Hui Concubine Tong Qing'e and another pregnant concubine.
When the people came, the Empress Dowager Ci Ning asked the two pregnant women about their daily lives, made many suggestions, took care of them, and finally ordered the two concubines to be sent away, leaving Queen Cui Xiaojun alone.
"Oh, it's these two people who are pregnant. If we can give birth to a prince, the two of us will benefit the most."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." Cui Xiaojun was always uneasy in front of her mother-in-law and did not dare to speak more.
Empress Dowager Ci Ning looked at her, and vaguely saw the appearance of Concubine Cui, her heart was not happy, but her face did not show, "I understand the queen's mind, let's break it down."
"The Queen Mother..." Cui Xiaojun was startled.
That was a long time ago. When Marquis Juan was vying for the throne, the palace was in chaos and everyone was facing death threats. The only safe place was the palace of the Empress Dowager Shangguan. Queen Cui Xiaojun went to ask for help, but was ruthless by Wang Meiren at that time. stopped outside the door.
This is the chasm between the two, which makes the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at odds with each other. Cui Xiaojun thought that the Empress Dowager Cining would never mention it, and she did not intend to break it.
"At that time, His Majesty was vying for the throne with the King of the East China Sea. The Cui family was the backing of the King of the East China Sea. It was a last resort for me to beware of the Queen."
Cui Xiaojun saluted and said in a low voice, "The Queen Mother doesn't say anything, I also understand that the Queen Mother thinks of Her Majesty, and I have never complained."
Empress Dowager Cining nodded and smiled, "We are all pitiful people, we are all thinking about Your Majesty, but we don't think too much about ourselves. Alas, things change with time, and now the world is finally at peace, no matter what, Your Majesty has forgiven the East Sea King and Cui family, why should I embarrass your majesty? So I have to say 'sorry' to the queen, I did something wrong at the time."
Cui Xiaojun immediately knelt down and said, "The Queen Mother must never say these two words. The Queen Mother understands that I am wholeheartedly thinking of her Majesty. I am grateful and have nothing to do with it. Given the situation inside and outside the palace at that time, the Queen Mother's choice was normal. , I would do the same instead."
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning motioned the Empress to get up and smiled: "Today I broke this matter, and the Empress is so reasonable, a stone in my heart can fall to the ground."
Cui Xiaojun also smiled, "It's my fault that made the Queen Mother worry."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a few words, and the relationship became much closer. The Queen Mother said: "I said earlier that it was the two of them who were pregnant, but it was the two of us who benefited the most. Does the queen understand what it means?"
"Understood." Cui Xiaojun paused, "As long as there is a prince, the queen mother and I will have support in the future."
"Well, no matter who gave birth to the prince, he is the son of the queen. If you want to call you 'mother queen', you will also be raised by the queen."
Cui Xiaojun looked up at Empress Dowager Cining and was really surprised.
There are indeed many precedents for handing over the son of a concubine to the queen for upbringing, but it is not necessary. This usually means great trust in the queen and great expectations for the prince.
"The Queen Mother..." Cui Xiaojun was a little excited. She had not been pregnant for so long, she had given up hope a little, and of course she was willing to raise a prince herself.
"Well, if the queen can have one... Forget it, don't mention it. I will suggest to your majesty to send the prince to Qiuxin Palace."
"But Concubine Hui and..."
Empress Dowager Ci Ning waved her hand, "It's not that I want to drive them out of the palace, just go to Qiuxin Palace every day to stay for a while, just treat them as two mothers taking care of a child."
Empress Dowager Cining rarely released her kindness, and Cui Xiaojun really hoped to have a child, and of course she would not object to such an arrangement.
After chatting for a while, the Empress Dowager Cining finally came to the point, "Your Majesty sent a group of noble sons to the Iron Shattering City, the original intention was good, but the distance is long, and it is not safe outside the fortress, it is inevitable that there will be an accident. It has become a routine, what should I do when the prince grows up? Also participate in the march?"
Cui Xiaojun also knew the emperor and knew it was possible, but she knew better that the emperor needed support, not opposition.
"It's better to travel ten thousand miles than reading ten thousand volumes of books. This is the case with honor, and the prince... Maybe it should be the same. It's not good to stay in the deep palace for a long time."
Empress Dowager Cining smiled and said, "If the prince was your child, the queen would not think so."
Cui Xiaojun had to change his mouth, "The queen mother said yes, I didn't suffer from pregnancy, it's easy to think."
"It doesn't matter, when the queen raises the prince herself, she will soon understand the feelings of a mother." Empress Dowager Cining paused for a while, "Can the queen persuade her majesty to take back her life?"
Cui Xiaojun couldn't refuse, he could only say, "I will try my best."
It was a difficult task, and Cui Xiaojun reluctantly took it, but he didn't know how to speak to the emperor.
In the evening of the next day, the emperor returned to the palace.
After staying outside for a few days, Han Ruzi was more excited, stayed up late at night, and told the Queen about the past few days, "I still don't quite understand, how dare those noble families use 'substitute soldiers' under my nose? Am I the emperor who is not strict enough?"
Sitting on the bed, Cui Xiaojun looked at the babbling emperor tenderly, and said with a smile, "It has nothing to do with Yan Li or not. They didn't expect that His Majesty would be so observant that he would pay attention to such trivial matters."
"Small thing? Xungui can inherit the title because their father and grandfather have made great military exploits for the Great Chu. Now the descendants can't even touch the sword. It's so unworthy. How can I have the face to meet my ancestors a hundred years later?"
Han Ruzi walked to the bed and said with a smile, "I'm also confused. What do I tell you? The scenery outside the city is beautiful. After a while, let's go out of the city together."
"I'm not interested in landscapes, I'd rather listen to His Majesty talk about honorable things."
The Cui family is also honorable, and Han Ruzi always forgets the relationship between the queen and the Cui family, "What did the general say?"
"Your Majesty thinks too much. My father has just recovered from his injuries and his health is not very good. He can only take a walk in the house every day, and he doesn't care about outside affairs, so he will not intercede for others. Besides, my father has been in charge of the army for many years, and he still Don't you understand the importance of training?"
None of Cui Hong's sons and grandsons are in the "Children Army", so there is really no need to care.
Han Ruzi smiled, "I always thought that those honorable people would not be so calm, and everyone felt like they were interceding. I did think a little too much."
Cui Xiaojun patted his side, let the emperor sit down, and said solemnly: "I really want to intercede, but it has nothing to do with my father."
Han Ruzi was very surprised, "You also think I'm doing something wrong?"
"Your Majesty is doing the right thing, but the means are not right."
If it was someone else who was talking, Han Ruzi would have already preempted it, but he would not use this trick against the Queen, "What's wrong, let's hear it."
"Your Majesty let the 'Children's Army' march, not just for military training?"
"Of course, those two thousand people are not real soldiers. I just want to teach the noble family a lesson, let them understand that when the Great Chu is in trouble, everyone can do their best, and no one can hide behind and wait for others. Come to the rescue, especially these people, they should shoulder more responsibilities."
"Is Da Chu in trouble right now?"
In Han Ruzi's view, the "difficulties" of Da Chu are quite a lot, but they can't be called "now". "You want to say Xiao Sheng?"
Cui Xiaojun nodded.
Former Zuo Cha censor Xiao Sheng was a typical court official who cared more about his own promotion than the interests of the court and the well-being of the people, but he, after being captured by the Huns, would rather throw himself into the river than commit suicide. The enemy succumbed.
"Xiao Sheng is a loyal minister, but he is not the one that Great Chu needs most." Han Ruzi held the Queen's hand, "Although Great Chu is weak, it has not yet reached the point of being irreparable, so there is no need for so many loyal ministers who have been martyred."
Cui Xiaojun sighed, as she had expected, it was impossible to persuade the emperor to change his mind.
Han Ruzi stared at her, "Who is the queen begging for?"
"No, I really don't think the march is beneficial, but after listening to His Majesty, I think it makes sense. Let's rest early, and we will have to get up early for court tomorrow."
Han Ruzi didn't ask any further and went to bed, but he kept thinking about this in his heart.
The next morning's court meeting was nothing major, mainly to reward Yun Mengze's Chu army for his meritorious deeds. Huang Pugong and other generals were already on their way back to the court, and the reward should not be delayed.
Each department has drawn up a plan, and Han Ruzi thought it was very good and passed it on the spot. When he was about to rest at noon, Han Ruzi took the initiative to mention the "Children Army" who was on the march, "Is a nephew of Lord Yuan also in the 'Children Army'?"
Yuan Jiuding hurriedly said: "There is one, who has been spoiled since childhood, and should have suffered a little."
"He didn't use a 'replacement soldier', at least he had the heart to endure hardship."
Yuan Jiuding breathed a sigh of relief, "But he also has one at home, I never knew..."
Yuan Jiuding blamed himself in various ways, and Han Ruzi didn't say anything after hearing it, and announced that he would disband the dynasty. In the afternoon, he would not come to the Qinzheng Hall, but to listen to Qu Zixi's sermons in Lingyun Pavilion.
The minister had no intention of begging for mercy. Otherwise, someone would take advantage of the situation at the beginning of the emperor, and Han Ruzi ruled out one possibility.
After lunch, Han Ruzi summoned the King of the East Sea at Lingyun Pavilion.
King Donghai, Cui Teng and others were waiting for the order outside the cabinet, and they were there as they passed. The king of Donghai was summoned alone, which attracted a lot of jealous eyes.
There are some things that Han Ruzi can only ask the East Sea King for help.
"What is Madam Ping'en Hou busy with recently?" Han Ruzi asked.
The King of the East Sea trembled in his heart, thinking that something had been revealed, "I don't know, why did Your Majesty think of her?"
When Han Ruzi was still the Marquis of Tien, he had met Mrs. Ping'en Hou, and heard from her that the wife of life was also a force in the court.
"Please inquire for me, has Mrs. Ping'en Hou entered the palace recently? If it is not her or someone else, you should also inquire."
The King of the East Sea was a little embarrassed, but his connection with Mrs. Ping Enhou was not revealed, which made him feel a lot more at ease, "This is simple, I will ask the princess to help, you will know when you ask."
Han Ruzi guessed from the embarrassed look of the empress that most of the pleas last night were related to her mother.
He has to figure out a way to resolve the troubles between his mother and the queen.