Yu Shu had only been in the Imperial Study for an hour when the Empress Dowager somehow got the message and sent her chief palace maid to Tai An Hall to ask for Yu Shu.
"Reporting to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager was just about to summon Yu Da into the palace. Coincidentally, she heard that Yu Shu was here and sent nubi to deliver the message."
Yu Shu sat on the chair bestowed by the Emperor, her hand holding a cup of herbal tea, pretending to be deaf and mute. It was a great taboo for the inner palace to pry into the affairs of the previous court. But the Emperor of Yan was filial and didn't mind Empress Dowager Wei's transgression.
"Oh? What does Muhou want to see Official Yu for? "The Emperor of Yan asked curiously. He was a bit worried that Jiang Qiya hadn't given up. The Empress Dowager was desperate for her daughter and couldn't do anything to Xue Rui, so she had turned to Yu Shu.
"Reporting to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager must be summoning Yu Da for advice on the matter of choosing a consort in the inner palace."
The Emperor of Yan made a sound and turned his head to say to Yu Shu: "If that's the case, go to the inner palace and listen to the Empress Dowager's orders."
Yu Shu finally stood and said: "This subject will leave first."
She wasn't afraid of Empress Dowager Wei finding fault and leisurely followed behind the palace maids. It hadn't even been two months since the Yan moved the capital to Jing. The inner palace was empty. There was only Empress Dowager Wei and Jiang Qiya, mother and daughter. There wasn't even a high-ranking consort. When the Emperor of Yan was in Ning Dong City, he had a few concubines, but none of them were favoured. After entering Jing, he was bestowed a beauty without a word and lived in a side hall.
Empress Dowager Wei was the woman with the highest status in the inner palace. Of course, she lived in the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful. Yu Shu was a frequent visitor to the back palace. She had seen many women in the palace, no matter if it was Noble Consort Xue who had been favored the most in the six palaces, or Empress Rui who was scheming and scheming, or Empress Xia Jiang who had captured the emperor's heart, or Rui Shu Fei who thought she was clever. Putting aside personal grievances, she had a trace of sympathy for these women who had bloomed and then withered.
Empress Dowager Wei was an exception. She hadn't experienced the struggle for favor or the fight for the throne. She had used her son's hard work to obtain this honor. To be able to raise a founding emperor, this in itself showed her ability. So even if she didn't know the dirty tricks of the hougong, she definitely wasn't a woman to be trifled with.
Yu Shu set a position for Empress Dowager Wei in her heart. When she entered the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful, her expression didn't change. She was brought in front of Empress Dowager Wei and respectfully gave a full bow.
"This subject Yu Shu kowtows in salute to the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Wei reclined on the couch and swept a glance at her. She didn't make it difficult for her and called out, "Grant me a seat." As early as five or six years ago, the two had met once. It was interesting. That time, it was also to choose a fei for the Yan Emperor. But last time, it was a wang fei, this time, it was a houfei.
Yu Shu took two steps back and sat down. She put her hands flat on her knees and looked straight ahead. She did not raise her head to look at the Empress Dowager who was sitting on the seat. No one could find anything wrong with her every move. In reality, in terms of the rules of the palace, even Empress Dowager Wei didn't know as much as she did.
"Aijia called you over to ask you to advise the Emperor on how to choose a fei. As you can see, the hougong is such a large place, but only aijia and my daughter live here. It is pitifully cold. The Emperor has been busy with the affairs of the country these years and has never had any interest in women. Even now, he doesn't have an heir. Aijia cannot sit and do nothing. It is time to hold a general election to expand the Yan hougong. More importantly, it is to choose a satisfactory Empress for the Emperor. "
Yu Shu thought about how the Yan Emperor hadn't said much when he heard about the fei selection in the Imperial Study. She knew that while he wasn't enthusiastic, he wasn't against it. She responded: "Niangniang, don't worry. When this subject returns today, I will make arrangements and order the Kun Ling Bureau and the Ministry of Rites to handle this matter."
The Emperor's fei selection had always been handled by the joint efforts of the Kun Ling Bureau and the Ministry of Rites. Yu Shu, as the Celestial Commissioner, only needed one word from her and there would naturally be people who would do their best.
But Empress Dowager Wei furrowed her brow and said in displeasure: "Aijia wants you to personally handle it. This is the first fei selection after the Emperor ascended to the throne. How can there be any carelessness? Aijia will say the ugly things first. If you fail this time, aijia will hold you accountable. "
Seeing the situation, Yu Shu could see that the Empress Dowager was taking the chance to make things difficult for her. She stood and said: "This subject receives the Empress's decree."
Empress Dowager Wei looked at her and didn't show any dissatisfaction. She was very calm. She had called Yu Shu over not just for the fei selection, but also to see this Cheng Yaojin that had come out of nowhere to steal her dragon son-in-law. She understood that a forced melon wouldn't be sweet, but no one could stop her, as a mother, from venting for her daughter.
Empress Dowager Wei smirked coldly inside and gave a look to Chen momo who was standing at the door. She heard a report come from outside: "The Palace Bureau has sent a few new palace servants to serve. Does Empress Dowager want to take a look?"
"Tell them to come in." Empress Dowager Wei nodded. She had someone bring tea for Yu Shu, not in a rush to let her leave.
After a while, there was a summons from outside the hall. The momo guarding the door led in a few slim palace maids. In total, there were eight of them. After two steps, they all knelt down in greeting, their heads lowered, not daring to look around.
Empress Dowager Wei examined them, but couldn't tell if she was satisfied or dissatisfied. Chen Momo came forward to explain: "These were originally from the palace. Last time, they weren't willing to leave so they stayed. Luckily, they understand the rules so they were sent here first."
Empress Dowager Wei said: "Aijia doesn't need so many people here. Since they aren't willing to leave the palace, then arrange another place for them to go." As she spoke, she seemed to have a sudden impulse. She casually nodded and ordered: "The two on the left, send them to Marquis Cheng En Fu. The two on the right, send them to General Dai's fu. As to the four in the middle, send them together to Ping Wang Fu to serve."
Yu Shu hadn't even looked at the palace maids on the ground. Hearing this, she turned to look at Empress Dowager Wei. Coincidentally, she also looked over. She smiled at Yu Shu and teased: "It's lucky that you are a woman. Otherwise, you could have taken two back. These beauties, only men know how to be protective of the fairer sex. "
Yu Shu pressed up the corners of her lips in a smile that wasn't a smile. It was impossible to see any emotion on her face. Empress Dowager Wei knew that she had an engagement with Xue Rui but still provoked her like this. These "beauties" were Empress Dowager Wei's way of showing off her authority. This tactic wasn't brilliant, but it disgusted people and made her unhappy.
"Take them away. Clean and dress them and send them out of the palace." Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, those palace maids couldn't even say "no." They obediently gave their thanks and bowed as they retreated.
From beginning to end, Yu Shu didn't look at them once and missed the resentful eyes that one of them had raised her head to look at her.
"Aijia is tired. You should also leave the palace. Don't forget what I told you. Quickly draft the rules." Empress Dowager Wei's goal was achieved. She closed her eyes and leaned back on the pillow, too lazy to say anything else.
Yu Shu bid farewell in a low voice and quietly left the palace. When she reached the outside of the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful, she turned her head and saw the group of palace maids that hadn't gone far. She turned and slowly walked on the palace path with her hands behind her back, thinking inside — —
She knew Empress Dowager Wei wasn't easy to provoke, but the Empress Dowager didn't know that she wasn't easy to provoke.
*
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*
When Xue Rui took the initiative to hand over the military power, the Emperor of Yan not only conferred him the title of Prince, but also gave him the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Glory. He was in charge of editing the Great Yan Code. A series of titles fell on his head as if they didn't cost anything.
His Highness King Ping deserved to be the number one favorite of the Emperor, causing a group of people in the court to be envious, jealous, and hateful. There was also another group of people who tried their best to curry favor with him, hoping to be able to rely on him and enjoy the shade under his big tree.
Those officials who were good at currying favor asked around about King Ping's preferences, hoping to cater to his preferences. It was rumored that His Highness King Ping liked to drink wine. Some people gave him the fine wine that they had collected for many years, and some even gave him the recipe for making wine. Rumor had it that His Highness King Ping was not interested in women, but some people did not believe it. If he was not interested in women, then it must be because he was not attractive enough. Anling City had no shortage of beautiful women of all kinds, and there must be one that could move King Ping's heart of stone.
Xue Rui's King Ping's Mansion was still under repair, so he was temporarily staying at the Steadwave Mansion. The main entrance was completely surrounded by the carriages that came with gifts and gifts, causing him to be annoyed to the point that he directly summoned the newly appointed commander of the Golden Guards to reprimand him. As a result, the entrance of the Steadwave Mansion became quiet the next day. If anyone blocked the entrance again, they would be captured and interrogated by the patrolling guards in the city.
At dusk on this day, Xue Rui brought along a thick pile of files as he returned to the Steadwave Hall. The revision of the laws was imminent, and fortunately, the previous Dynasty already had a perfect code that he could use as a reference. Otherwise, if he had to spend eight to ten years on it, then he wouldn't take on such a difficult task.
It was the end of summer, and the weather was much cooler at night. The iceberg in the study was removed, leaving behind a big blue and white fish tank. The water hibiscus in the tank bloomed and wilted, and the green leaf bed produced small and exquisite lotus heads that looked like they were carved out of jade.
Xue Rui had just taken a shower. He was bare-chested and only wore a pair of mid-length pants as he lay on the deck chair. He played with the Mu Jiang Fan that Yu Shu gave him in his hand. He usually kept it in the fan's sheath and brought it with him wherever he went. Even after all these years, the fan was still ninety percent new. Only the amethyst pendant hanging on his head shone brightly after he rubbed it.
This Mu Jiang Fan was made from a hundred-year-old peach tree root. It was indeed a treasure that could ward off evil. He fought on the battlefield and killed countless souls, but he did not lose his mind because of it. Not a single wronged soul or evil spirit dared to disturb him in his dreams. It was mostly because he always carried this fan with him.
After a short rest, Uncle Gui was reporting on some miscellaneous matters outside a screen. He picked the most important ones first. That was right. After Xue Rui returned to the capital, as soon as he settled down, he went to the Southern Woods Lumber Shop to fetch Uncle Gui back and let this loyal old servant take care of the house on his behalf. Uncle Gui had been looking forward to Xue Rui's safe return, so there was no reason for him to refuse.
Xue Rui thought long term. He and Yu Shu were both important officials of the court. In the future, after they got married, they would have to live together. He had to arrange at least two trustworthy servants to take care of the affairs of the estate for them. Otherwise, if he had to ask them to take care of every little thing, it would be hard for him to live in peace.
He chose Uncle Gui, and Yu Shu would choose another person. The two sides would keep each other in check to prevent one person from becoming the strongest. It was a very safe plan.
Uncle Gui specially put the four beauties bestowed by the Empress Dowager at the end. He saw the figure lying on the screen suddenly sit up straight. He could imagine the annoyance on his Prince Yu's face. He had been on guard day and night, but in the end, he couldn't prevent it. If this matter reached Miss Yu's ears, she might be very angry.
Uncle Gui shook his head in his heart. All those years ago, Xue Rui had no choice but to flee, and he'd only asked Yu Shu to bring him a message and a Violetjade Bat. He could only stay in the capital to guard his Master's belongings and the future Mistress of the clan. So he'd taken Yu Shu to be his Mistress since a long time ago, and he knew how difficult it had been for her in these past few years, so he was biased towards her in his heart.
"Send them back to where they were sent from." Xue Rui was in a bad mood. He was waiting for the emperor to bestow a marriage, so why was the Empress Dowager messing around?
Uncle Gui helplessly persuaded, "Those are the people bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Do you want to defy the decree? This old servant has already sent them to the side compound, they won't be an eyesore. When the wang fu has been repaired, we can move there and leave them here, is that alright? "
He didn't know that this Dingbo Hall was the territory that Xue Rui had taken in order to gain Yu Shu's favor. He was preparing to give it to her as a betrothal gift. Leaving those women behind, wasn't that like turtles taking over a magpie's nest?
"This is bad." Xue Rui lay back down once again and folded the Mujiang Fan in his hand leaf by leaf, then he slowly said, "Send someone to find out which family the Empress Dowager has sent people to. Divide these palace maids equally and send them to them as well. Say that it's the Empress Dowager's grace, and this Prince has presented Buddha with borrowed flowers."
The Empress Dowager had sent these palace maids not purely to sow discord between him and A Shu, but to test his bottom line. If he accepted them to keep the peace, it was tantamount to submitting to the Empress Dowager's authority and helping her grow. If he took a step back today, in the future, she might force him to take ten steps back, a hundred steps back.
He respected the Empress Dowager as the Emperor's birth mother. It was fine if they could live in harmony, but if the Empress Dowager took things too far and stretched her hand into the court, he wouldn't be able to tolerate it.
Uncle Gui had watched Xue Rui grow up from a young age and understood his temper too well. He looked like a well-mannered person, but in reality, he hid a rebellious streak. In the past, there had been Old Master Xue above his head that didn't let him do anything. Now that he had leaped over the dragon's gate, who could stop him?
"Ai, this old servant will go arrange it now." Uncle Gui swallowed the words back into his stomach and turned to go to the front yard. He sent two spies out to investigate. In the time it took to eat a meal, he came back. It turned out that other than sending people to Ding Bo Hall, the Empress Dowager had also sent people to the Marquis of Cheng En and General Dai's fu.
This Marquis of Cheng En, Wei Xihan, was Empress Dowager's cousin. After the Yan Emperor proclaimed himself Emperor in Ning Dong City, he had been one of the first officials of the previous court to actively respond. He had just been a qian hu in Su Zhou. Due to the Empress Dowager's nepotism, he had received some military service in the troubled times. This person wasn't good at fighting but his luck was very good. If it wasn't that the Empress Dowager's paternal family didn't have anyone to support, he wouldn't have had the chance to bask in her glory.
As to Old General Dai, he was the brother of the old Dong Jing Wang in the past. In front of the Emperor, he could call himself an elder. It was often said that a tiger father wouldn't have a dog son. Old General Dai's son was also a fierce general. This person's personality was forthright. His age was a few years older than Xue Rui and they had some friendship.
That night, Uncle Gui arranged for the four palace maids to stay in the guest room. The next morning, he had them freshen up and prepare to send them away. These pitiful beauties, who had dreamed of flying to the top of the tree and turning into phoenixes last night, only realized that something was wrong when they were sent to the back door of Ding Bo Hall and sat in the horse carriage. They immediately cried and threw a tantrum, refusing to leave. How many of these women who came from the palace were really stupid? If they stayed here, they would still be palace maids bestowed by the Empress Dowager and could put on airs. Once they left this door, they would become women that King Ping didn't want and would really become playthings.
"We are all under the Empress Dowager's orders to leave the palace to serve His Highness. You've eaten the guts of a leopard. Hurry and let us off the carriage! Aren't you afraid that if word gets out, His Highness King Ping will be implicated? "
One of the women had a veil over her face and was shouting outside the carriage while the other three were crying. When Uncle Gui heard it, he walked to the side of the carriage with a sullen face and said, "You people who came from the palace don't even know the difference between superiors and inferiors. Is His Highness someone that servants like you can casually talk about? Whoever says another word of nonsense will have their tongues cut off to prevent others from gossiping and ruining the Empress Dowager's virtue. "
The crying in the carriage stopped abruptly. Only the palace maid who stood up for them refused to stop. She said in a fierce manner, "I want to see His Highness. Otherwise, I'd rather bite my tongue and commit suicide right now. Let's see how you're going to explain this to the Empress Dowager!"
Uncle Gui did not expect there to be a thorn in the side. If it was any other occasion, he would have praised her for having a backbone. However, if she really had a backbone, she would have committed suicide by biting her tongue long ago when they were sent out of the palace. She had waited until now to put on a show. It was all because she coveted the glory and splendor of their Highness that she was reluctant to leave.
"Then you can end it here," Uncle Gui choked her and turned to order the servants, "Come, prepare a mat, we'll collect the corpse later."
Just as he finished speaking, there was a "dong" sound from inside the carriage as if someone had crashed into it. Immediately after, there was a scream — — "Niangniang! Niangniang, don't! "
Uncle Gui suddenly turned his head. He was not deaf, he had just heard someone shout "Niangniang". He quickly ordered the guards to open the carriage door. He saw the situation inside. A palace maid was hugging another fainted and crying loudly. He moved closer to listen. Wasn't it "Niangniang"?
This matter was not a joke. Uncle Gui did not dare to be negligent and immediately sent the women in the carriage back through the back door. After a round of interrogation, the truth was revealed. It turned out that this "Niangniang" who had fainted was a concubine in the harem of the previous dynasty's Emperor Chongzhen!
This matter was not a small matter. Uncle Gui hurriedly sent someone to Dong Hua Gate to report to Xue Rui, asking him to return to the fu to make a decision. At the same time, an imperial edict arrived at the gates of Dingbo Hall. Accompanying it was the Celestial Commissioner who had been ordered to announce the edict.
Today, Yu Shu had gone out riding a large horse and had specially changed into a purplish-red brocade robe. She wore a crane feather crown on her neck and a pair of green silk boots on her feet. The flame between her brows had been carefully painted with cinnabar. Her two sword-like eyebrows slanted to her temples. She was not as delicate and charming as a woman, but was a hundred times more beautiful than a man.
Behind her were two teams of guards with swords. They swaggered through the streets and stood in formation in front of the gates of Dingbo Hall. Those who did not know would think that she had come to pick a fight.
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