Chapter 56: Moving into the East Palace
"Huh?" Sun looked at Fang in confusion when she heard that.
She was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law, who not only came from a good family but was also a generous person.
However, Fang had just married into the family, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law did not communicate much, so she didn't quite understand her daughter-in-law's personality.
"On one hand, my mother-in-law wants my aunt to marry into the Qi family because the Qi family has a good status and the young master of the Qi family is of noble birth but hardworking and ambitious. On the other hand, it is also because she thinks that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also thinks highly of the young master of the Qi family. With the marriage between the two families, my aunt can have a good home, which will also be helpful to His Royal Highness. Is what my daughter-in-law said right?" Fang asked.
When Sun first mentioned this matter to Concubine Zhu, there was a hint in this regard, and it was not difficult to guess.
"Yeah." Sun nodded, but did not deny it. Instead, she asked, "Since you have seen it, why do you say that I shouldn't mention this?"
"My daughter-in-law has heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is intelligent. If His Royal Highness has this idea, he will arrange it even if my mother-in-law doesn't mention it. What if His Royal Highness doesn't have this idea, and my mother-in-law brings it up, wouldn't it make it difficult for His Royal Highness?" Fang said.
She also knew how she married into the Zhu family.
Therefore, she felt that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had his own plans in this regard.
There was nothing wrong with Sun wanting her daughter to marry into a good family, but she shouldn't have told Concubine Zhu about this.
Just now, Concubine Zhu was obviously persuaded by Sun. If Concubine Zhu asked His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to do this matter, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had other arrangements, he would definitely think too much.
"Oh, I'm really confused. What should I do?" Sun said anxiously.
"Mother-in-law, you don't have to worry. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really has his own plans, he will definitely not agree. As long as you don't mention this matter in the future, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince probably won't care." Fang comforted.
"Yeah, yeah, I won't mention it anymore." Sun nodded repeatedly.
Although Mrs. Sun was somewhat intelligent, her family background was not high and her vision was still somewhat short-sighted.
She felt that what her husband said made sense, so she told Concubine Zhu about it.
Now that Fang has explained the pros and cons so clearly, how could she dare to mention it?
……
After school, Zhao Xing went to pay his respects to Queen Cao as usual and chatted with her for a while.
Coming out from Queen Cao, preparing to return to Yongning Palace.
As soon as he came out of Renming Palace, a eunuch came up to him and said that Concubine Zhu asked him to come over.
Although Concubine Zhu was his biological mother, he was nominally adopted by Empress Cao.
Even though she was his biological mother, it was not easy for him to visit her every day.
Basically I go there once every three to five days.
When Concubine Zhu sent someone to invite him, he didn't pay any attention and thought that she missed him, so he went to Yonghe Palace.
……
"Your son greets your mother," Zhao Xing said with a salute.
"Fuer, please sit down and talk."
Concubine Zhu looked at her son with a smile and said, "I haven't seen you for a few days. You look a lot taller now. I wonder if the clothes I made for you will fit you well."
"Mother, I'm sure it will fit me perfectly." Zhao Xing said.
"You are sweet-mouthed."
Concubine Zhu smiled and said, "By the way, your aunt and Yu Ge'er's new wife came to the palace today to express their gratitude. The Empress Dowager allowed them to come and sit with me. Your aunt mentioned Zi Jie'er's matter to me."
"What's wrong with my cousin?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Sister Zi is fine. It's just that she will be fourteen after the New Year, and it's time to arrange her marriage. Your aunt has chosen a family in mind." Concubine Zhu said with a smile.
"My cousin is not yet an adult. Isn't it too early?" Zhao Xing asked in surprise.
"No girl would really wait until she reaches the age of 15 before choosing a man. Usually they would start looking for one a few years in advance. Only after she reaches the age of 15 would they talk about marriage," said Concubine Zhu.
"Which young man does my aunt like?"
How could Zhao Xing understand all this? Although he had two older sisters, they were already married when he was born.
This is also the reason why he and his two sisters have almost no feelings for each other. The age gap is there, and they only see each other a few times a year, so it would be strange if they had feelings for each other.
"Your aunt has fallen in love with Qi Heng, the only son of Duke Qi and Princess Pingning." Concubine Zhu said with a smile.
Zhao Xing frowned slightly when he heard this. Although the Zhu family was an in-law, they had already married into the Fang family, and he did not want the Zhu family to marry into the Qi family again.
His uncle is not very useful, but his cousin, after observing him for more than a year, is a good person.
Zhao Xing was also planning to promote and use him in the future. If the Zhu family were to marry into the Qi family again, their power would be too great.
"Mother, this matter may be difficult to handle. Princess Pingning only has this one son and she treasures him very much. Many noble families have wanted to marry him to their son, but none of them agreed." Zhao Xing said.
"It's because it's difficult to handle that your aunt told me about this. I can hear that your aunt wants you to help. I also think that Qi Heng is a good person. You can find a chance to ask him." Concubine Zhu said.
"Let me give it a try, but I cannot guarantee whether it will succeed or not," said Zhao Xing.
"Yes." Concubine Zhu nodded and said with a smile: "If you ask for it, the Qi family will not refuse."
Zhao Xing shook his head slightly when he heard this. Only then did he feel the gap between his mother and Queen Cao.
Queen Cao selected several concubines for him, but never thought of letting women from the Cao family enter the palace.
It’s not that Empress Cao didn’t care about her family, but she was clearly aware that women from the Cao family were not suitable to enter the palace, and the Cao family was not short of wealth.
But Concubine Zhu was different. She was devoted to gaining benefits for her natal family.
To put it bluntly, it is short-sighted.
After chatting with his mother for a while, Zhao Xing said goodbye and went back.
As for what his mother mentioned, he didn't take it to heart at all.
The Duke of Qi's Mansion is already in decline.
It was because the Duke of Qi married Princess Pingning that he got the lucrative job of the Salt Transport Commissioner of Jingji Road.
Because of Princess Pingning, the Qi family was already close to the royal family and there was no need for marriage.
Even if they wanted to form an alliance, it would be impossible for the Qi family and the Zhu family to form an alliance.
……
Time flies, and it’s the end of the year in the blink of an eye.
After the Lantern Festival after the New Year, Zhao Xing moved out of the imperial palace and moved into the Eastern Palace.
The East Palace is located on the east side of the Imperial Palace and covers an area of more than 200 acres.
The Eastern Palace is just a general term, which is composed of several palaces. It can be divided into two parts. The first half is where the Crown Prince and his ministers work.
The second half is the residence and gardens of the crown prince and concubines.
The East Palace is elegant and spacious, and having just been renovated, it looks even more luxurious than the dilapidated imperial palace.
After Zhao Xing moved into the Eastern Palace, the number of palace maids and eunuchs serving him increased to more than two hundred.
After all, it is more than 200 acres.
The guards also became the left and right armies.
The military system of the Song Dynasty was rather chaotic, but generally there were 500 men in one battalion, and five battalions formed an army.
In other words, Zhao Xing's guards became 5,000 people.
After Zhao Xing moved into the Eastern Palace, his study was moved from Zishan Hall to Wende Hall in the Eastern Palace.
For Zhao Xing, the advantage of moving to the Eastern Palace is that he can go out at any time. Unlike in the palace, it is not only very troublesome to go out, but the palace gates are closed early every day.
Thanks to mangochacha, Huashiqingcheng, Gaojijiaojiao, Xiaomingv587, Wodenggurenjiu, Yu Chong'a, Shuyou2023...6796, and Shuyou633257 for their monthly ticket support in Youjian Inn.
(End of this chapter)