Chapter 124 Daoye, it's you
Some people say that Emperor Jiajing was just like the Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi, stubborn, self-righteous and cruel.
For the women in the harem, their shared men can’t be said to be good, but they can’t be said to be bad either.
Of course, for Concubine Lu, she is an exception.
Emperor Jiajing had three empresses before him. The original wife, Empress Chen, died, the second empress was deposed, and the third, Empress Fang, who took advantage of a palace coup to execute Prince Yu's biological mother, passed away last year.
Some people say that Emperor Jiajing was unlucky in marriage.
"Nonsense." Concubine Lu Jing took the teacup with her well-maintained white and delicate hands, drank a mouthful of the lung-moistening soup, and said softly: "Empress Chen is jealous. Your Majesty just looked at the hands of other concubines, and she became furious and immediately attacked. When your Majesty was angry, she couldn't stand the fright. Who do you think is to blame?"
Chen Yan said: "What women in the harem fear most is jealousy."
"Who wouldn't be jealous? But I can suppress it." Concubine Lu Jing said calmly, with a trace of vicissitudes between her brows. "The second one is even more speechless. She was asked by Empress Dowager Zhang to intercede for the two uncles of the emperor."
Chen Yan was startled, and Concubine Lu said sarcastically, "You can't believe it, right?"
Chen Yan nodded, "Yes! That person is a mortal enemy of Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty couldn't touch that person, so he had to control her two brothers so that he could control the situation. Our Empress Zhang was so excited by the words of Empress Dowager Zhang that she interceded for them, which angered Your Majesty."
The feud between Empress Dowager Zhang and Emperor Jiajing could last for three days and three nights.
First, it was a favor. Empress Dowager Zhang and Yang Tinghe and others jointly decided to choose Zhu Houcong as the emperor. What a favor from the emperor!
Then came the revenge. From the moment she entered the capital, Empress Dowager Zhang was like a stubborn old lady. She joined forces with Yang Tinghe and others to force Emperor Jiajing to bow his head.
Love and hatred are intertwined...
"Whoever dares to interfere in the feud between those noble ladies will die!" Concubine Lu Jing felt that Empress Zhang was unlucky. "The third Empress Fang was unlucky."
Chen Yan was puzzled.
Concubine Lu took a sip of the soup; it tasted sweet and very comfortable.
"That year, when the palace coup occurred, several palace maids wanted to kill the emperor, but it was Empress Fang who made the prompt decision. Even though she accidentally killed Prince Yu's biological mother and others, she managed to stabilize the situation in the end."
Concubine Lu Jing thought of Prince Yu’s biological mother, who was also a timid person, and she silently recited a Buddhist name.
"Your Majesty values friendship. With this friendship of saving the Emperor, Queen Fang just needs to not commit suicide. Plus, she is very scheming. Who in the harem can surpass her? Even I can't!"
Chen Yan sighed: "What a pity."
"You're just pretending." Concubine Lu pointed at her and said with a smile, "I only came forward after she left. Otherwise, even if His Majesty favors me, I wouldn't dare to be proud at all. After all, there's the lesson of Prince Yu's mother!"
Even Concubine Lu Jing was afraid of Queen Fang's cruelty.
"Your Majesty." A palace maid came in and said happily, "Your Majesty has arrived."
Concubine Lu put down the teacup and stood up to greet her.
Emperor Jiajing was dressed in a Taoist robe and was surrounded by people.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Concubine Lu squatted down.
"stand up."
Emperor Jiajing waved his hand.
"Although it's a clear and cool autumn day, the sun is still shining and Your Majesty doesn't even hold an umbrella." Concubine Lu said angrily.
"That umbrella is too big, it's used to do whatever it wants, I don't like it."
Emperor Jiajing walked in. Concubine Lu was startled and glanced at Huang Jin.
Huang Jin was silent.
Emperor Jiajing sat down, and Concubine Lu asked someone to get some soup that could moisten the lungs and brought it to him personally.
Emperor Jiajing took a sip, and his thin face looked more comfortable. Concubine Lu Jing then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know that the fourth son has made great achievements now."
"What's wrong?" asked Emperor Jiajing.
Concubine Lu Jing said: "Yesterday, I heard the fourth brother muttering something... destroying the royal court and destroying this breakfast."
"Oh!" Emperor Jiajing said, "Does he still want to join the army?"
"No way." Concubine Lu Jing didn't dare to admit it.
The late emperor would often appoint himself as some commander-in-chief or general, and would issue an edict himself to lead the army into battle.
Therefore, it was a taboo for the royal family to join the army.
"It's just childish." Concubine Lu Jing sighed, "It's just that the fourth child is getting older, and I'm thinking about finding him a few teachers. Some can help him cultivate his character, and some can help him strengthen his muscles."
"Let me take another look!"
Emperor Jiajing sat for a while and suddenly asked, "Has anyone come to the palace to see you frequently recently?"
After Empress Fang passed away, the ministers also suggested that the empress be enthroned, but the memorials were suppressed. It was obvious that Emperor Jiajing had no intention of enthroning a empress.
In the absence of Empress Fang, Concubine Lu Jing was implicitly the master of the harem, and those noble ladies could only turn to her for connections.
Concubine Lu pondered for a moment, actually trying to figure out what Emperor Jiajing meant by this.
Could it be that a minister has angered His Majesty?
Concubine Lu Jing smiled and said, "There have been quite a few people coming here recently, including Lu Bing's wife, and Prime Minister Yan's old wife, etc. What's going on?"
Emperor Jiajing shook his head.
I thought of Lu Bing.
Lu Bing's father was a guard in the royal palace, and his mother was the wet nurse of Emperor Jiajing. It was this relationship that made Lu Bing so powerful.
But the reason why Lu Bing was able to survive for many years and have a good ending was not just because of his connections with those above him. He was also very good at maneuvering and used the means of marriage to his full potential. This was the real reason why the Lu family survived.
Lu Bing's several marriages were typical marriages of alliance, and his second wife was Huang Jin's niece.
The marriages of Lu Bing's children were typical marriages of alliance.
Through marriage, the Lu family connected with a long list of high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
If the emperor wants to take action against the Lu family, he has to think about whether it is worth it.
Concubine Lu Jing didn't know the purpose of Emperor Jiajing and was just waiting for orders.
Emperor Jiajing said dimly, "Lu Bing's dead wives...too many of them died."
Uh!
Concubine Lu was stunned, and after thinking about it carefully, it was true.
It seems that Lu Bing has lost two of his wives, and the third one is now sickly.
"I heard that the eldest son of Duke Chengguo is going on a blind date?"
Emperor Jiajing stood up and left.
After seeing off Emperor Jiajing, Chen Yan smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty's nonsense words really put the Empress in a difficult position."
Concubine Lu did not sleep well that night, thinking about what Emperor Jiajing said.
She knew that Emperor Jiajing was not very interested in women nowadays, and the reason why she could monopolize his favor was because of her insight and her ability to guess Emperor Jiajing's thoughts many times.
The next day, someone delivered a letter to the palace.
"My Lady, Commander Lu's family requests an audience."
Concubine Lu thought for a moment, "Please come."
The sick woman came, and after some greetings, Concubine Lu Jing sighed, "If you are not feeling well, just take care of yourself."
The woman raised her head and looked at the ordinary-looking girl. "My lady, isn't the eldest daughter in the family grown up? It's time for a girl to get married. Aren't I worried?"
"Oh!" Concubine Lu narrowed her eyes, "But you want His Majesty to grant you a marriage? Who is the other party?"
Lu Bing is the uncle of Emperor Jiajing, so he should be given this face.
The woman smiled and said, "The eldest son of Duke Chengguo."...
"I have raised my daughter very well."
Lu Bing and Yan Shifan were drinking, but unexpectedly they did not bring Shen Lian with them this time.
"Why, are you anxious?" Yan Shifan said with a smile, "My second child is only one year old, and you're thinking of sending your daughter here?"
Lu Bing and Yan Shifan once made a verbal agreement after drinking that their second son and second daughter would be married.
"I'm talking about the eldest daughter." Lu Bing raised his glass, took a sip and said, "Duke Cheng is too close to Jiang Qingzhi."
"Zhu Xizhong's eldest son is still unmarried, so you have a good idea." Yan Shifan nodded, "Who says it's not true? But Duke Chengguo seems to be a playboy, so he may not agree to this."
Lu Bing smiled and said, "So my wife entered the palace today."
"You want to ask His Majesty for a marriage? Good idea." Yan Shifan said with a smile: "The family of Duke Cheng now lives on the emperor's favor. Once His Majesty asks, how dare he refuse? Once the marriage is successful, we will gain a great general, and Jiang Qingzhi will lose a backer. Kill two birds with one stone!"
"Just wait for the news." Lu Bing said lightly.
"Are you sure?" Yan Shifan asked.
"Your Majesty is a man of great affection!" Lu Bing said with a smile.
"Yes! Your Majesty is a man of love." Yan Shifan suddenly pointed at him and laughed out loud.
……
"Yan Song gained your trust by flattering your majesty for many years and obeying your orders. Your majesty values friendship and will not touch him easily."
Xia Yan came to the Jiang family, "So don't think about His Majesty slapping Yan Song to death. If His Majesty is this kind of person, I would also advise you to leave early, after all, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger."
"I never thought that Yan Song would be driven away." Jiang Qingzhi stood in the courtyard, listening to the birds singing on the roof, but he did not notice that Duoduo had climbed onto the roof at some point, ready to go.
"I heard that Lu Bing is interested in finding a marriage for his eldest daughter." Xia Yan said, "The other party is the eldest son of Duke Chengguo."
Jiang Qingzhi was stunned. "That's a good idea, but Old Zhu won't agree to it."
Historically, Zhu Xizhong agreed, but at this moment, Zhu Xizhong and Jiang Qingzhi were brothers.
If he agrees, it would be like stabbing his brother in the back.
"When I came out, I saw Lu Bing's woman." Xia Yan didn't say much, patted Jiang Qingzhi on the shoulder, "I'm old now, and I like to walk around when I have nothing to do, to see the fireworks, to see the market... I can never see enough!"
After Xia Yan left, Hu Zongxian said, "My Lord, Lu Bing is saving the country in a roundabout way!"
"More than that." Jiang Qingzhi said, "Lu Bing is good at planning for his own future. You can see that his several marriages were all for a purpose. The same is true for his children's marriages."
"Then, if he succeeds in marrying Duke Cheng..." Hu Zongxian praised, "Not only can it weaken the Lord's arm, but it can also find a powerful backer for the Lu family."
"After all, he is Zhu's eldest son and the future Duke of Chengguo." Jiang Qingzhi looked very calm.
"My Lord, aren't you worried?" Hu Zongxian said, "It is said that Lu Bing's woman is seriously ill, but she dragged her sick body into the palace, most likely for this matter. Once His Majesty nods, Duke Chengguo will not be able to refuse."
Jiang Qingzhi said: "I believe in Your Majesty!"
Although he said that he believed in His Majesty, Jiang Qingzhi was unsure.
This is like removing the fuel from under the cauldron, and it kills two birds with one stone.
"Lu Bing, I still underestimated this man." Jiang Qingzhi felt that he had underestimated the heroes of the world.
Unexpectedly, Lu Bing would take a different approach and take action on his children's marriages.
Emperor Jiajing was a sentimental person, and the relationship between him and Lu was one that was as close as bones connected.
It was difficult for him to refuse Lu Bing's request.
Damn!
Meow!
Duoduo fell from the roof onto Jiang Qingzhi's shoulders.
Jiang Qingzhi touched Duoduo on his shoulder and was prepared to lose his brother Lao Zhu.
A bird fell to the ground from Duoduo's mouth.
Bloody.
……
Concubine Lu Jing looked at the woman whose sickly face could not be concealed even with makeup, and was just about to say that it should not be difficult to report the matter to Emperor Jiajing.
But in a flash, she suddenly thought of something.
What kind of person is Emperor Jiajing?
If you have no objection to this marriage, why would you need to tell her?
Yes.
Once her mind was opened, Concubine Lu connected many clues together.
So why didn’t Emperor Jiajing express his opinion directly?
The emperor, who valued affection, did not want to oppose directly.
So, leave the rejection to her.
Yes!
After all, he is his brother… Concubine Lu Jing sighed, “To be honest, I am also very optimistic about this marriage. However…”
The woman was startled. “Is there something wrong?”
Concubine Lu Jing said: "Your Majesty has already found a marriage for the eldest son of Duke Chengguo."
……
After sending the disappointed woman away, Chen Yan said, "My Lady, could it be that His Majesty...didn't mean this?"
Concubine Lu said after a long while, "Let the fourth child learn from his uncle and stop playing tricks, okay?"
"Yes." Chen Yan took her leave. After she left, the palace maid who followed her asked, "What does your Majesty mean?"
Chen Yan looked at the woman who was staggering in the autumn sun and said, "I understand. In your majesty's heart, Chang Wei Bo is more important than Lu Bing."
……
"Your Majesty, Commander Lu's wife has left, and she looks quite disappointed."
A eunuch came to report.
Emperor Jiajing closed his eyes and said, "I understand."
……
The next day, the unaware King Jing came to the Jiang family and said unintentionally, "My mother said that Lu Bing wanted to find a marriage for his eldest daughter. It seems that he is the eldest son of some powerful nobleman. My mother declined."
After saying this, he found that his uncle was in a daze.
"Cousin."
Jiang Qingzhi blinked, "What?"
"Uncle, is there something wrong?"
"All right, all right."
How could Concubine Lu Jing dare to make the decision on such matters?
Jiang Qingzhi walked out of the study and looked towards the West Garden.
"Master Dao, is that you?"
(End of this chapter)
