The three marriage envoys and the three son-in-law candidates entered the palace. Actually, the three son-in-law candidates had already arrived at the palace early in the morning to wait. Yang Ling and the other two rushed over from their respective homes and gathered at the eastern gate before entering the palace together.
Yang Ling had the right to ride on a horse and sedan in the palace. The Marquis Of Shouning and Zhang Heling, as members of the imperial family, also had the same privilege. However, Bi Zhen's rank was slightly lower and it was inconvenient for the two of them to leave Bi Zhen and ride on a horse alone. After entering the palace gate, they walked with the three son-in-law candidates.
Behind the procession was a small sedan and inside it was Yang Ling's wife, Gao Wenxin. As a wife, she could enjoy the same treatment as her husband. Naturally, she could also sit in the palanquin in the palace. As soon as she entered the palace, four maids dressed in palace attire came up to her and bowed, "Greetings to Duke Wei."
"Dispense with the formalities." Yang Ling brushed his sleeves and walked to the side of the sedan. He gently said: "These four palace maids will lead you into the inner palace. The Empress Dowager's illness is hard to recover and I am afraid that it will not be easy to treat her. Asking you to come forward is also a token of my sincerity. If you are not confident, do not make any promises. "
Gao Wenxin pursed her lips into a smile and said sweetly, "I know, Master. It's not Wenxin's first time seeing a patient. I know what to say."
Yang Ling nodded and put down the sedan curtain. With a wave of his hand, the four generals put down the sedan and bowed before retreating out of the inner palace gate. Eight eunuchs ran up and carried the sedan pole. The sedan leisurely moved and under the guidance of the four maids in palace attire, it went straight to the inner palace.
Zhang Heling said with a smile: "This time, Empress Dowager's illness is really too serious. The imperial physicians in the palace are helpless. Duke Furen's medical skills are superb and I hope that you can cure Empress Dowager's illness."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "I don't dare, I don't dare. My wife is just a young lady in her twenties. How can her diagnosis be compared to the imperial physicians in the palace? All of them are experts in medicine. Yang is just doing his best for the Empress Dowager."
Zhang Heling shook his head and said with a smile, "That's not necessarily the case. The imperial physicians in the palace are not mediocre. It's just that this group of Xing Lin's national experts have been in the officialdom for a long time and have all become shrewd people. What saving the world and saving people? When they treat patients, they only seek to not make mistakes and do not seek to be meritorious. Muddleheaded, they would rather be scolded by others for not having good skills than to stand out. What imperial physicians and imperial physicians want is that reputation and reputation. The real money is all from the private shops they open outside."
Zhang Heling was familiar with the inside story of the Palace, naturally what he said was based on facts. Finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something. Hastily he waved to Bi Zhen and called out, "Hey, Bi Gong-gong."
Bi Zhen quickly ran over and greeted: "Imperial Uncle, what can I do for you?"
Zhang Heling said, "Yesterday, Imperial Duke told you to call two imperial physicians early in the morning to treat that woman surnamed An. Has she been cured?"
Bi Chun did not go to find anyone at all. Yang Ling was the chief selection officer, and the Imperial Uncle and Bi Chun were his assistants. He had to arrange some specific affairs of the marriage selection for these two people. The Imperial Uncle was the Emperor's uncle and had more seniority than him. It was not convenient for Yang Ling to assign him to do anything. Besides, Bi Zhen was a eunuch, so it was convenient for him to move around the Palace. Yang Ling told him to wait for the three candidates to arrive in the morning and bring two imperial physicians to see An Ye.
It was a pity that Yang Ling did not know much about the rules of the Palace. He thought that since the imperial physicians served in the Palace and received the salary of the imperial court, they should naturally visit and treat patients at any time. He did not know that although Bi Zhen's official position was not low, he could not control the Imperial Hospital. He could invite people, but he still had to send money. How could he be willing to spend that money?
Bi Zhen nodded and bowed: "Imperial Uncle, the illness has been seen. It's not a big problem. It's just a cold wind. He will be fine after resting for a few days. I have prescribed some medicine to clear the internal heat and moisten the lungs, stop coughing and eliminate phlegm. I have given him the prescription.
The three of them were talking loudly, but the three candidates followed respectfully and solemnly, not daring to speak loudly. The Palace was solemn and solemn, with red walls and yellow tiles, several feet high. The guards stood like nails, wearing bright armor and standing solemnly without saying anything. How many people had seen such a scene?
Yang Ling and Zhang Heling were frequent visitors to the Palace and were not surprised. Naturally, they had no scruples and laughed as they walked. It was the first time for the three candidates to enter the Palace. When they saw such a solemn scene, they were immediately in awe and their footsteps became lighter.
When Yang Ling heard that the illness had been seen, he was relieved. But when he saw that the High Scholar's footsteps were weak and he was suppressing his coughing, he frowned and said to Bi Zhen: "Eunuch Bi, this Master An Ye has not fully recovered. When he talks to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor later, will it be rude?"
Bi Zhen smiled and said: "Don't worry, Duke. He has prepared some cough and lung soup. It's just that it's not convenient to drink it on the road. When we arrive, he will drink it from time to time and it will temporarily suppress the cough. He will not be rude in front of the Emperor. "
Zhang Heling nodded and said: "Yes, Duke do not worry. In a while, the Emperor and Empress Dowager will come to the Qing Yang Hall of Kunning Palace. Actually, after seeing them, they will have to retreat far away. All the information that they need to ask has been written on the papers. The Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Empress will also take a look at the person in person and choose the one that is most pleasing to the eye. How can they treat their son-in-law like other commoners?
Whether he is chosen or not, it will depend on his luck. If he is chosen, the official engagement will take three days. Three days later, the marriage will take another three months. Even if he is suffering from whooping cough, he should have recovered by then. "
The Kunning Palace was the Empress's bedroom, the place where all the women in the world lived. There were nine rooms in the palace with golden glazed tiles and double eaves. There were two doors in the middle of the front, and there were two warm rooms on the east and west sides. Before the crowd reached the door, the palace maids and eunuchs who were waiting on them had already entered to report.
After a while, the Chief Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ma Yongcheng, hurriedly came out to welcome them. He cupped his fists and said with a smile: "Welcome Duke and Marquis. Hehe, Eunuch Bi, you may dispense with the formalities. Aiya, please come in, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor will be here soon."
Yang Ling and Zhang Heling nodded and entered the main hall of the Kunning Palace with the accompaniment of the maids. The three candidates for the son-in-law were first led into the door by the eunuch door. They rested in the side hall and waited for the announcement.
Bi Zhen waited until they were far away before he grabbed Ma Yongcheng and said: "Eunuch Ma, we are depending on you today. In order to become the son-in-law, the An family has spent a lot of money. We have received money and we have to do things for them."
Ma Yongcheng said with a smile: "Don't worry. When have I, Old Ma, not been reliable? I am the head steward of the Imperial Palace. I will serve the Empress Dowager and the Empress well. If they are satisfied, how can my words not have some weight? "
He lowered his voice and said: "Hasn't the Emperor been resting in the Palace occasionally recently? I will tell the Empress that it was because of my hard persuasion that the Emperor changed his mind. He he, the Empress is very grateful to me."
Bi Zhen heard this and chuckled: "Gong-gong is brilliant. This is really good." He looked left and right. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he quickly took out a roll of banknotes from his sleeve and stuffed it into Ma Yongcheng's hand. Ma Yongcheng squeezed his hand in his sleeve. It was even thicker than the one sent yesterday. His face instantly became a bit warmer.
He said quietly: "Don't worry. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager and the Empress only want to see him personally. They won't talk much with them. The Emperor is marrying his sister. They aren't worried that his family isn't well off or that he's of low birth. What's there to ask? They just don't like this son-in-law. I will take care of it inside.
When the Emperor and the Empress Dowager want you to introduce the three son-in-law candidates, I don't need to teach you what to say, right? "
Bi Zhen smiled knowingly and said, "We are servants. We don't know anything else but we know how to talk. We know what to say and what not to say, what to say more and what to say less. We know very well in our hearts. Hehe, Ma Gonggong, don't worry."
Ma Yongcheng laughed and said: "I think this kid is not bad. He's so young and he's already a High Scholar. He's also handsome. Otherwise, if you want to turn a deer into a horse, you won't be able to fool the Empress Dowager and the Emperor with just your glib tongue. But this kid is a pity. He didn't take the scholarly exams and spent a lot of money to become a son-in-law! This identity sounds good, but he doesn't feel comfortable! "
"Hai! What's the point of being a relative of the Emperor? Ma gonggong is a noble person, and the people you see are also noble people. In the eyes of these noble people, Fuma Ye is naturally avoided like the plague. However, there are many poor people in the world. The current Emperor dotes on the Princess very much. The Empress only cut a little of the Princess fu's expenses, and it was recovered on the same day. This caused Luo gonggong to be unlucky enough to be the enema ambassador for half a year.
Besides, that kid An Dongchen doesn't have a high official position, but his position is very good. He's full of fat. It's just that his position isn't high and he has to bow to everyone he sees. If his son becomes the current Emperor's brother-in-law, wouldn't that be enough to raise his pride? In the future, he doesn't need to be humble to anyone. They are still relatives of the Emperor. Doesn't the status of relatives depend on how close they are to the Emperor? "
He lowered his voice and said: "Eunuch Luo, the Emperor doesn't like Imperial Uncle. Do you think Marquis Zhang still has his former prestige? The Emperor dotes on his younger sister. This brother-in-law is not comparable to other son-in-laws. "
Ma Yongcheng laughed. "That's true. Motherf * cker, once you have money, you want power, and once you have power, you want fame. Oh, people are not satisfied … Snakes swallow elephants. It's done. Quickly go into the hall. I still have to wait here for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. "
"Okay, then I will go in first. Steward Ma, thank you for your trouble." Bi Zhen bowed and chased into the hall.
※ ※ ※
Yang Ling and Zhang Heling walked into Kunning Palace side by side. The Empress greeted them with a smile. She was wearing a yellow robe with golden dragon patterns and a soap-colored crown. Her beauty was neat and tidy. Yang Ling and Zhang Heling hurriedly stepped forward, lifted their robes and bowed: "Yang Ling and Zhang Heling greet Her Majesty the Empress."
The little Empress raised her hands and said sweetly: "Please rise. The Duke and Imperial Uncle have worked hard for the selection of the Emperor's son-in-law. Please sit."
This little Empress had been hidden by the Emperor for more than a year. Now that she was enlightened, Tang Yixian had no intention of fighting with her for the position of the Empress. Looking at Zhengde's temper, if he really wanted to make Tang Yixian the Empress, even if he didn't abolish her, he would do something like having two Empresses at the same time. But there was none of this. Even if he wanted to take Tang Yixian as a Guifei, the two of them had to go through the etiquette of husband and wife outside the palace and not enter as an Imperial Concubine.
She and the Emperor had quarreled and the result was that Kunning Palace became a cold palace. Ever since she got married, she had not seen the Emperor more than a few times. After a long time, she couldn't even remember what her husband looked like. Now she was only sixteen years old. Was she going to be a widow for the rest of her life and be secretly ridiculed by the other concubines?
She wanted to learn from the Empress Dowager and only pamper the Inner Palace. But it was a pity that the Emperor Zhengde was like a runaway wild horse. The Imperial Palace and the ancestral rules couldn't restrain him. What did she have to control the Emperor? The news of Emperor Zhengde charging through the Meridian Gate, carrying Tang Yixian and giving pointers to the Jinluan Hall spread. Everyone in the Inner Palace was shocked. This Emperor did things his own way. What he liked to do the most was to break the rules. The tighter you restrained him, the further he would run.
The little Empress was much more well-behaved. This time, it seemed that Emperor Zhengde liked her a little. When she entered the Palace, he would occasionally stay in the Palace and speak more politely to her. One Empress and two Concubines would receive rain and dew every month and receive the Emperor's favor a few times. Compared to the cold treatment in the past, it was a world of difference.
This little Empress had also thought things through. An Empress should have the magnanimity of an Empress. Not only could she not offend the Emperor, she could not easily offend the important officials by the Emperor's side. So her face was full of smiles and she was very modest.
The Empress had just been chatting with Princess Yongchun and Princess Xiang 'er in the hall. Princess Yongchun was naturally lively and active. In the past, she had her calm older sister to suppress her so she didn't go too far. Now that there was Zhu Xiang 'er, the two of them were bored and wandered around the Palace all day as if they were visiting relatives and friends. The Empress, the Guifei, the Empress Dowager, the princesses of the Ten Wangfu, they would visit everyone's fu when they had nothing to do.
The two girls were young and did not have scheming minds. They were also very likable. No one in the Palace bothered them and they were welcomed everywhere. The Empress lived alone in Kun Ning Palace. Her status was high enough but she was like a Buddha enshrined on top. She couldn't find anyone to chat with if she wanted to, so she welcomed them even more. The three of them were like good friends now. When the two of them said they wanted to watch the selection of the son-in-law, the Empress agreed. She let them enter Qing Yang Pavilion first and hide behind the screen to watch.
The Empress ordered people to serve tea and accompanied the two daren to drink tea and chat, doing her duty as a host. In a short while, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's imperial carriage also arrived. Ma Yongcheng held the Empress Dowager's arm and respectfully invited the two in. Yang Ling and Zhang Heling hurriedly rose to greet the Empress. The Empress Dowager asked a few questions about the selection before arriving at Qing Yang Pavilion.
There were three rooms in Qing Yang Pavilion, separated by a partition fan and a screen. There were three chairs in front of the large screen with plum blossoms. The Empress Dowager sat in the middle. The Emperor and Empress sat on the left and right respectively. Then the palace maids placed a brush, ink, paper, ink stone and a piece of red paper with three names written on it for each of the three. It looked like these three were also going to be graded.
The three marriage selectors were given seats on the left and right and had just sat down. Ma Yongcheng stood next to the Empress and raised his voice to call out, "Summon the three candidates for an audience."
The other room was separated by a screen. Three youths dressed in light blue robes, their long black hair tied up with cloth. They walked in from behind the screen and turned to the front of the screen. Without daring to raise their heads, they immediately knelt down and said in unison, "This commoner greets the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress."
"Raise your heads." The Empress Dowager knew that one of the three was going to be her beloved son-in-law. Her expression was pleasant as she raised her hand. The three youths accepted the Empress's decree and bowed again. Only then did they stand up and look straight ahead.
Don't think that the preliminary selection was a farce with beggars and hoodlums coming to join in the fun. But after eight rounds of selection, the three lucky ones that were picked out of almost ten thousand applicants were all handsome, slender, and had extraordinary appearances.
Empress Dowager Zhang swept her eyes over them and gathered her sleeves. There was a satisfied smile on her lips as she slightly nodded her head and said, "The three subjects have indeed put in a lot of effort. These three youths all look quite pleasing to the eye."
Yang Ling, Zhang Heling, and Bi Zhen quickly cupped their hands in thanks. Emperor Zhengde also rarely became serious. He looked at the tallest youth on the left. He was elegant and handsome, with red lips and white teeth. He felt that this was a good match for his sister. He pointed and asked, "The one on the left, what's his name?"
Yang Ling and the other two were extremely familiar with the resumes of the final candidates. Yang Ling's position was the highest and he was also the main selection officer. He cupped his hands in greeting and was about to speak when Bi Zhen had already leapt over from behind. She bowed in front of the Emperor and said with a fawning smile, "Your Majesty, this person is called Chen Hui, sixteen years old. He just passed the county-level examinations last year. His literary talent, character, and appearance are all outstanding."
Zhengde nodded his head and gave a soft "en" sound. He picked up the brush on the dragon-patterned tea table beside him. He was about to mark this name when Bi Zhen continued with a face full of smiles, "Speaking of family background, Chen Hui is slightly inferior. But heroes are not afraid of low birth. It's only because he is outstanding in all aspects that he was included in the list."
Emperor Zhengde paused and blurted out, "Family background? What family background? "
Bi Chun nodded and bowed to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress as she said, "Chen Hui's father is a peddler selling fried fruits at the South Gate. His name is Chen Sanyuan. His mother remarried to Chen Sanyuan after her husband died. The two of them had this one son. Chen Hui has worked hard and has studied hard since he was young. Last year, he passed the scholarly examination. "
Zhengde smiled and said in a carefree manner, "Zhen was wondering what it was. What does this count as? Imperial Sister isn't marrying into a family! "
Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Zhang, who had been nodding at Chen Hui, became slightly unhappy when she heard this. Her brows slightly furrowed and she leaned slightly towards the Emperor. She said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, when Yongfu marries over, she is a member of the Chen Family. She has to bow to her in-laws. It's fine if Chen Hui's father is a small merchant, but his mother is a remarried woman. When a woman remarries, it is not virtuous. If the Princess takes an unchaste woman as her mother-in-law, wouldn't it be a joke? "
Zhengde disagreed, but fortunately, there were still two candidates. He helplessly put down the brush in his hand and continued to examine the other two. After looking for a while, he said in a low voice, "Muhou, what do you think of the one in the middle?"
No matter what the family's circumstances were, those who were chosen to enter the Palace to see the Emperor, even if they had to go bankrupt, they still had to buy a set of decent clothes for their son to dress up. This youth in the middle was dressed simply and had an honest appearance. Zhengde himself was frivolous and mischievous. He was picking a husband for his sister, but he hoped that the other would be honest and kind. He felt that this person was not bad, so he asked.
The Empress on the right lightly smiled and said, "Your Majesty admires martial arts and has chosen a tall and strong youth. This person has a slightly dark face and a stocky figure, rather like a warrior. I just don't know how his family background and talents are?"
After standing for a while, An Ye was already sweating a bit and his throat was starting to itch. He didn't dare cough in front of the Emperor, but this matter wasn't something that could be endured just because he wanted to. An Ye couldn't help covering his mouth with a fist and lightly coughing twice.
This sound attracted Zhengde's gaze. He looked over and said, "This one has delicate features, but his body is a bit too thin."
Ma Yongcheng saw An Ye cough and immediately raised his voice to say, "The candidates can leave."
An Ye acted like he had been granted amnesty. He quickly bowed and retreated to the screen. The other two could only follow. Empress Dowager Zhang glared at Ma Yongcheng in displeasure and said, "Aijia hasn't looked at them carefully, why are you telling them to leave?"
Ma Yongcheng quickly smiled apologetically and said, "Empress Dowager, you have already seen the appearances of the three candidates. The Imperial Family choosing a son-in-law is such a solemn event. This servant is worried that the Emperor and Empress are far away and if we speak too loudly, they will hear our discussion. That wouldn't be very appropriate."
Bi Zhen also agreed. Empress Dowager Zhang gave a snort and didn't say anything. She turned to Zhengde and said, "Your Majesty, the appearances of these three children are passable. In terms of appearance, the one surnamed Chen is the most outstanding. It's a pity that his family background isn't good. The Imperial Family doesn't care about being rich or poor, but his family's background can't be careless. In aijia's opinion, we can choose one of the other two. "
Zhengde nodded and asked, "Bi Zhen, the one standing in the middle just now, who has a sturdy figure, who is he?"
Bi Zhen quickly said, "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, Empress, this person is called Sun Shibo. His father was a general, but after being discharged from the army, he lived in the capital. This person practices both literature and martial arts … …"
He laughed sinisterly and added, "It's just that he's still young, he's learned a lot of skills, but he hasn't mastered his martial arts. As for his literary talent, he hasn't achieved any scholarly honors. Right now he's still a commoner."
Empress Dowager Zhang heard this. What literature and martial arts, didn't this mean he knew everything? Didn't he have a bottle full of everything? She wasn't satisfied with Sun Shibo's appearance to begin with and she didn't like it even more when she heard this.
Zhengde thought about it. He liked the first one the most. The second and third, one was a scholar and one was a martial artist. Their appearances were not the same, so he couldn't compare them. He didn't know what to do and asked, "What about the third one? How is that weak youth that coughed? He doesn't seem to be in good health. "
Bi Zhen smiled and said, "That person is called An Ye, he is the son of An Dongchen who is in charge of the treasury in Xishi Storehouse. He is only 16 years old and already has the title of a scholar. He is outstanding in poetry and can be called a scholar. Recently the weather in the capital has been dry and there are many colds and illnesses. This person is a scholar and his body isn't strong enough. He has had a cold for a few days and is still coughing. Because his conditions are good, this servant discussed with the Duke and Imperial Uncle and included him in the list of candidates. "
Zheng De secretly pondered for half a day, momentarily he could not decide: In terms of family background, Sun Shibo was the son of a fourth-ranked military officer, it's a pity that he himself was a commoner. As for An Ye, he passed the imperial examination at a young age. Although his father was a low-ranking official, he could still be considered as the son of an official. It's just that his body was a little too frail, looking like he could be blown away by a gust of wind. Based on Zheng De's usual temperament of fighting tigers and leopards, he would definitely look down on him.
After hesitating for a while, he asked Empress Dowager Zhang, "Mother, which one do you think is more suitable?"
Empress Dowager Zhang thought for a while and said, "Yongfu's personality is calm and steady and she is good at poetry. In my opinion, she is more suitable with that scholar. That child has delicate features and since he became a scholar, his literary talent is also good. Speaking about his body, being the son-in-law doesn't mean that he has to do hard labor. How many of those scholars have a good body? Isn't he suffering from a cold right now? Otherwise, his complexion wouldn't be so bad! "
Zhengde shook his head and said, "It's true that the royal sister likes to be quiet, but she doesn't like weak scholars. What the royal sister likes is a young man who is good at both literature and martial arts. Literate but not rotten, skilled in martial arts but not rough, humorous and considerate …"
As he said this, he suddenly remembered that this was what his sister had praised Yang Ling in front of him when they went to Ji Zhou's hot spring. He couldn't help but turn his head and look at Yang Ling. He saw that Duke Wei was looking at his nose and his nose at his heart, motionless like an old monk in meditation.
Zhengde originally wanted to ask for Yang Ling's support, but seeing that his eyelids were drooping as if he was about to fall asleep, he could only turn his head and say, "That Sun Shibo is a rare sixteen year old youth, but he looks very mature. Moreover, he is well-versed in literature and martial arts. I think he is more suitable for Yongfu."
The Empress also liked An Ye. Who wouldn't like a handsome and romantic young man? Although his face is pale and he looks weak, isn't that a sign that he has a cold? No matter how she looked at him, he looked cuter than that tanned and sturdy young man. But she was much more well-behaved now. Her mother-in-law liked An Ye and her husband liked Sun Shibo. After weighing the pros and cons in her heart, she decided to give up her own opinion and join her husband's trench.
The Empress said, "Empress Dowager, I also think that Sun Shibo is more suitable. Anyway, as the son-in-law, he doesn't need to be the zhuangyuan. It's fine as long as he is talented in literature. Yongfu is not only proficient in poetry, calligraphy and painting, but she also likes horse riding, archery, and rowing. I'm afraid she won't like a man who is too quiet. "
Empress Dowager Zhang also hesitated when she heard this. She thought that although Sun Shibo was not as talented as An Ye and not as good-looking as him, he was not bad overall. In addition, his family background was better than An Ye's. She thought for a while and nodded slightly to agree. As long as she nodded, there would be no more endless troubles. Maybe she would be able to hold a grandson next year.
Unexpectedly, Princess Yongchun was anxious watching from behind. She whispered through the gap of the screen, "Mother, mother, you can't marry Sun Shibo!"
Ma Yongcheng saw that the Empress Dowager was anxious and gave Bi Zhen a look. Bi Zhen coughed knowingly and took a step forward, wanting to add some slander. For example, when Sun Shibo was seven years old, his father dipped his chopsticks in wine and let him taste it. She could say that he was drunk and fought with a neighbor's child at the age of 11, breaking their head. She could say that he had a violent temper.
But as soon as he opened his mouth, he vaguely heard someone talking behind the screen, so he quickly closed his mouth. Bi Zhen didn't dare to look back and only peeped behind the screen with the corner of his eyes. Yongchun was standing behind Empress Dowager Zhang. Empress Dowager Zhang heard her daughter's voice and couldn't help frowning slightly. What was this child doing here? She really didn't know the rules.
She quietly leaned back and slightly tilted her ear. Yongchun whispered, "Mother, jiejie likes that surnamed An, I beg mother to help!"
Among the three of them, Yong Chun had his eyes on An Ye. Even though Chen Hui was tall and handsome, he had a square face, which was different from Yang Ling. Yang Ling also had sharp eyebrows and was very handsome, but he had an oval face and a pointed chin. If he wore red clothes and makeup, he could pretend to be a beautiful girl, but that square face Chen Hui couldn't. In addition, because this person's birth mother was a remarried woman, he had already been rejected by her mother, so she didn't take it to heart.
She also didn't like Sun Shibo's martial arts image. Speaking of An Ye, although his facial features weren't the same as Yang Ling's, his expression and temperament were somewhat similar. He also had an oval face and a pointed chin. He wore a scholarly robe that matched the scholarly temperament Yang Ling had when he first came to the capital.
She thought that since her jiejie liked a man like Yang Ling, she wouldn't be happy marrying this martial arts man. Of the three, only An Ye was somewhat similar to Yang Ling. Probably only this person could win her jiejie's favor and make her change her mind. She wouldn't have any absurd thoughts that would ruin her reputation. Yong Chun took advantage of her young age to receive Imperial Mother's love, so she gathered her courage to interrupt from behind.
When Empress Dowager Zhang heard this, she thought that Yongfu was also hinting for her sister to pass the message to her. She couldn't help feeling angry and amused. A princess couldn't hold herself back and actually ran over to pick a husband. If this got out, wouldn't it be a joke?
She coughed lightly without a trace and said, "No one knows a daughter better than a mother. Do you think I don't understand Yongfu's temperament? In my opinion, only this An Ye can satisfy Yongfu's heart. The other two are also good, but they are a little worse. Well … it's him! "
There were three votes, but in the end of democracy, Empress Dowager Zhang used the 'veto power'. Other than having a cold and being sick and listless, there was nothing wrong with An Ye. The Emperor and the Empress had nothing to say. The candidate for the Emperor's son-in-law was officially born under the secret operation of Princess Yongchun and Empress Dowager.
"Bi Zhen, mother has chosen An Ye as Princess Yongfu's husband. She ordered the Department of Rites to pass the decree with a seal. An Ye is to return to the mansion. The whole mansion, set up an incense table and wait for the decree."
* * *
Hearing Zhengde's decree, Yang Ling, who was like an old monk in meditation, suddenly twitched his eyebrows uncontrollably twice. His heart tightened at first, then relaxed. His shoulders relaxed, but his mind was suddenly at a loss, like a speck of dust blown by the wind on the vast sea. Above and below him, there was a boundless blue, and he couldn't tell which was the sky and which was the earth.
He really spent a lot of effort on these three teenagers. First of all, their appearances were passable. Chen Hui was handsome and was a Xiucai; Sun Shibo was good at both literature and martial arts, and had a wide range of hobbies; An Ye was outstanding in literature and was a Juren. They were all good in terms of conditions, but to say that they could definitely please the Princess, he felt that all of them seemed to be a little bit lacking.
Looking at these three people and imagining how Princess Yongfu would look like standing next to them, Yang Ling couldn't feel the joy of a husband singing and a wife following. Faintly, he felt that none of the three people could be called the Princess's heart. Thinking of the Princess's great trust to him, thinking of that lovely little girl, this matter couldn't be compared to other things. This was someone else's lifetime of happiness, if she chose the wrong person …
Thinking of this, his heart was heavy, and his chest was so stuffy that he couldn't breathe, as if there was a big hand inside tightly grasping his heart, liver, and lungs, twisting them together.
But he couldn't find fault with them. The three people each had their own strengths, and were already the best of the tens of thousands of people who came to be the Princess's husband. Since they were brought here, there was nothing else for him to do. Now it was the Emperor's family who was choosing a son-in-law, and he and the other two marriage envoys were just supporting characters. He was also too lazy to comment, and waste his time thinking about which of the three men was more suitable to be Yongfu's husband.
In a daze, his eyes were filled with Princess Yongfu's resentful eyes, making him feel anxious: What if she trusted the wrong person …? That shouldn't be the case, right? She was a Princess, how could she be bullied by a Princess's husband, and no Princess's husband would dare to do something like changing his love, then wouldn't that be fine?
Happiness, happiness, how else could she be happy? At this time, there was no woman in the world who could choose her own husband, and even if she did, would they have to be forever in love? Thinking about the future generations, it was people who chose their own lovers, and how many people would end up in love after just a few years? Matters of the heart originally … could not be perfect.
Yongfu, I've done my best, the most perfect love made in heaven only exists in fairy tales. Fate comes and goes, fate comes and goes, and love is shallow and cannot be controlled by others. Yongfu, I've done my best!
For the first time, Yang Ling felt a sense of powerlessness and frustration. How could this kind of matter be satisfactorily resolved with power and scheming? Hearing the Emperor's decree, after a moment of bewilderment, his heart relaxed again. This heavy burden was finally lifted. A good man, don't let down your daughter's heart. An Ye, Yongfu, wish … wish …
Yang Ling's mind was wandering, and he suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve. He raised his head in a daze and saw that Marquis Of Shouning Zhang Heling had already stood up and was looking at him with a strange expression. He hurriedly stood up and bowed like a puppet, "Congratulations to Empress Dowager for getting a good son-in-law. Congratulations to Empress Dowager and Your Majesty!"
After bowing, he mechanically bowed, gave a congratulatory speech, and then retreated. After exiting Kunning Palace, Yang Ling still looked like he was drunk. Zhang Heling curiously asked, "Duke, are you not feeling well?"
Yang Ling smiled, "Oh, I reviewed the materials of more than twenty people yesterday. I've been busy for half the night, so I'm a little tired."
Zhang Heling said with a smile, "Oh, this important matter is finally over. Duke, go back and rest early. In two days' time, I'll hold a banquet to welcome Duke."
When the dust had settled, Yongchun and Zhu Xiang 'er had already slipped out of the rear hall and rushed to Princess Yongfu's residence to report the news. Princess Yongfu sat in front of the dressing table and quietly listened to Yongchun and Zhu Xiang 'er excitedly describe the selection of the son-in-law. In the end, they gesticulated and described in detail the appearance of the candidate chosen by the Empress Dowager without saying a word.
The two girls noticed that she was behaving strangely and the excitement on their faces gradually faded. The two girls looked at each other in dismay. Finally, Zhu Xiang 'er stuck out the tip of her tongue and tugged at Yongchun's sleeve, saying, "Sister Yongfu, I … I'll leave with Yongchun first."
Yongfu nodded silently, her eyes misty.
A lock of her beautiful hair was gently combed with a jade comb in her hand. Her hair was so beautiful that it could reflect one's reflection. It was soft and smooth but her heart was like a ball of tangled hemp.
From now on, Xiao Lang sees me as a passerby and I don't know him. I should sort out my feelings and become someone's wife, someone's wife. I should be a good wife who respects chastity and etiquette … She looked at herself in the mirror with infatuated eyes. Her face was so beautiful that it was as bright as the fireworks in the night sky …
Who asked me to be born into the royal family? The husband who will accompany me for the rest of my life will never be the person in my dreams. With a crack, the jade comb broke into two pieces and the sharp jade fragments pierced into her palm. Dark red blood flowed along her jade-like wrist and formed a frightening red line.
The princess, who had been cared for and doted on since she was young, had hurt herself for the first time. Her palm hurt but her heart hurt even more. The originally hazy and vague love suddenly became so clear and deeply engraved in her heart when she knew that their marriage had been decided. It could no longer be erased.
This love could only become a memory, but it was already at a loss at that time …
※ ※ ※
Bi Zhen was in a good mood and easily rushed out of the hall. He said to the three youngsters who were waiting for the decree in the side hall, "The Emperor has decreed that Chen Hui and Sun Shibo are young talents and I like them very much. They will be sent to the Imperial College with the hope of achieving something and serving the imperial court. An Ye, you can go back to the residence. The Emperor's decree will arrive soon! "
These words clearly told them that the Emperor had taken a fancy to the youngster from the An family and the candidate for the Emperor's son-in-law had been decided. The other two brothers, you have gone through so many trials and fought so hard for more than half a month. Now you can go and receive the commemorative award.
Those who could fight their way into the final round had a strong psychological endurance. No matter what Sun and Chen were thinking, they could still express their congratulations to An Ye with a friendly smile on their faces. Only then did they follow the little eunuch to report to the Imperial College. An Ye was both surprised and delighted. His pale face also turned red. His breath quickened and he couldn't help coughing again.
At this time, An Ye was the confirmed candidate for the Emperor's son-in-law. Bi Zhen was also very polite to him. He hurriedly stepped forward to pat him and carefully said, "Oh, oh, young master An, you have to invite a famous doctor to treat him as soon as possible. The Emperor likes it and the Empress Dowager nodded. Three days later, the Emperor will hold a banquet to invite you and your father to the banquet. When the marriage certificate is signed, you will be the Emperor's son-in-law. If you keep panting, won't it spoil the fun? "
An Ye blushed and panted for a while before cupping one hand in the other before his chest and said, "Thank you for your guidance. When the wedding is settled, I still have to give you a big gift."
Bi Zhen was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Then I will shoot the Emperor's son-in-law in advance. Haha, I will send two people to send the Emperor's son-in-law out of the palace to wait for the decree. The Emperor's decree will arrive in a moment. You also have to hurry to prepare for the Sixth Rite."
"Yes, yes, yes, thank you very much. I'll take my leave, I'll take my leave!" An Ye coughed again. He hurriedly took out the Cough and Lung Moistening Soup and drank a few mouthfuls. His burning lungs suddenly cooled down a lot. Only then did he suppress his cough and get up to leave.
He only knew that he was seriously ill, but he didn't know that he didn't have much time left. So, to be honest, he was not very happy about marrying the Princess. He had passed the imperial examination at the age of sixteen and could be considered a rare talent. In the future, he would pass the imperial examination and enter the court as an official. After a few years, he would be a high-ranking official with three wives and four concubines. How carefree would that be?
Become the Emperor's son-in-law? He didn't know whether Princess Yongfu was ugly or beautiful. Even if she was beautiful, becoming the Emperor's son-in-law would be restricted. Not only would he have no future, but the Princess would live deep in the 'Tenth Prince's Mansion'. This Emperor's son-in-law would be a widower. He was not willing to stay with a wife in name and be a cowherd that he could only see once a year.
However, his father had embezzled a large amount of gold and silver treasures from the treasury. When that time came, his family would be confiscated and his head would be beheaded. He would also become the son of a criminal. Even if he was not implicated and arrested, he would be stripped of his official title and become a commoner. In the future, he would be penniless and destitute. Even if he wanted to take the imperial examination, the imperial court would not allow him. At this time, Princess Yongfu had become an iron ticket that could pardon crimes and avoid death. Even if she was extremely ugly, he had to marry her. Now, his family had spent a lot of money to bribe her, and he had finally gotten what he wanted.
Thinking of this, An Ye felt happy again. He followed behind the two eunuchs and his footsteps were much more relaxed. He looked around and saw that the palace walls and halls were not as respectful as when he first arrived. "In three days, I will be the Emperor's brother-in-law. Walking in this palace, you are servants, but I am the Emperor's relative. Haha, the feeling of being the Emperor's son-in-law doesn't seem so bad."
An Ye put his hands behind his back and suppressed his coughing. He thought complacently, "So what if there are many rules as the Emperor's son-in-law? Anyway, the Princess lives deep in the palace. Can she control me? I am the only master in the Emperor's Mansion. As long as I am careful, can't I do whatever I want? Since I am destined not to become an official, I will just be a romantic Emperor's son-in-law! "
* * *
Whether it was the royal family or the common people, there were six rites for marriage. They were Na Cai (gift proposal), Name Inquiry (asking the woman's name and date of birth), Na Ji (gift engagement), Na Zheng (gift betrothal), Request Date (discuss the wedding date), and Greet (the groom personally greets the bride).
Na Cai's Name Inquiry was simple. With the Emperor's decree, he brought geese, mandarin ducks, elks, and dozens of other auspicious gifts to the palace three days later. After Na Cai's Name Inquiry, it should be Na Ji. The ancient rites were to perform divination to see if the two parties were compatible. If they were compatible, the marriage would be officially set. All that was left was to choose an auspicious day to officially get married.
But in the Ming Dynasty, Na Ji no longer performed divination. After accepting Na Cai's Name Inquiry, the bride's parents would directly exchange the marriage certificate and set the marriage. At this point, unless the groom returned the marriage certificate, the marriage would be set.
Today was the day when the An family went to the palace to Na Cai's Name Inquiry.
The weather was cold, but the room was warm. Early in the morning, Young-niang snuggled in Yang Ling's arms and said sweetly, "Husband, when you stay here at night, don't ask your family to take the child away."
"Huh?" Yang Ling kissed her lips and chuckled, "Why?"
"That … I know … Aiya, you still ask!" Young-niang patted him coquettishly.
Yang Ling laughed happily and hugged her. He rubbed his chin gently on the top of her head, "You've already given birth to the baby. Why are you still so shy? Hehe, what's there to be ashamed of in such a big ceremony? That brat has to be taken away. He always causes trouble for father. Last time, when Xiang Zheng was at a critical moment, he cried at the top of his voice. He also shat, changed diapers, and then breastfed. He made me put on a robe and ran to Wen Xin's room naked. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm practicing martial arts to strengthen my body, I would have caught a cold. "
Han Youniang covered her mouth and laughed. Her face was red as she snuggled against her husband's smooth and naked chest. She felt the powerful vibration of his hearty laughter coming from his chest. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and said sweetly, "I know that husband actually has a lot of things to do every day. But during this period of time, you've been spending the most time with Young-niang at home. Young-niang is very happy."
She grabbed Yang Ling's big hand that had been moving around her pert buttocks and interlaced her fingers with his. She raised her head and opened her eyes, saying, "Is husband dealing with Eunuch Liu? Eunuch Liu isn't a bad person. I remember that it was he who went to the Chicken Cry Inn to bring husband to the capital. From then on, husband's career soared and you became a high-ranking official … "
"On the way to the capital, Eunuch Liu took care of us husband and wife. When the Emperor became the Crown Prince, we moved to a new house. Eunuch Liu even came to our house to give us gifts. Ai! In such a short period of time, the Crown Prince ascended to the throne and became the Emperor. Hubby and Eunuch Liu both had great power. Some of the old officials in the court couldn't stand it and always wanted to get rid of Hubby and Eunuch Liu. Who would have thought that after going through all these obstacles, Hubby and Eunuch Liu became enemies? "
Yang Ling bitterly smiled and said, "Things in the world are the most unpredictable. Who can clearly calculate the kindness of today and the hatred of tomorrow? When Liu Jin doesn't have power, he is harmless. When he has power, but doesn't know how to use it, he becomes a tiger that harms people. Originally, it was a good thing to gather land to clear the land, but when he did it, it caused the heavens to be angry and the people to resent him.
Investigating corruption is also a good thing. Liu Jin is currently investigating the palace treasury and the Sishi treasury. He heard that there are people in the Sishi treasury who are stealing and selling things like cinnabar, black plums, yellow pills, and Hundred Medicine Decoction. More than one hundred and sixty corrupt officials, big and small, have been arrested. The officials in charge of the treasury are all big fat rats, so it's only right to clean them up.
However, he took the opportunity to move a large amount of property back home. His subordinates, who were in charge of investigating corruption, also benefited from it. The corrupt officials were found out, but the corruption was just transferred from the hands of those small corrupt officials to the hands of a big corrupt official. Sigh! Liu Jin is no longer the Eunuch Liu who came to congratulate us with a pickled vegetable jar. "
Han Youniang leaned against his chest again and whispered, "Young-niang is a girl, so I don't know much about the affairs of the court. I only know that my husband is the best, the best. My husband, my God. I will support you in everything you do. I just think of the friends we used to meet, but now they are at odds with each other. Young-niang is a little sad."
Yang Ling freed his hand and patted her smooth and soft buttocks. He smiled and said, "My Young-niang is also the best. Reward me with domestic discipline!"
"Hateful …" The two of them played around for a while. Han Youniang said, "Husband, the sky is bright. Get up. Duke Hui Fu sent an invitation yesterday to invite you to a banquet. Are you going today?"
"No." Yang Ling sat up. Han Youniang took off his robe from the hook and knelt on the bed to help him dress. "Today … is the auspicious day for the son-in-law to enter the palace. Everyone in the palace is busy. Wen Xin doesn't need to enter the palace to diagnose the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager's illness is very serious. In addition, her old age has caused other illnesses. Wen Xin doesn't dare to use medicine. She wants to visit a fellow Daoist of Xing Lin and ask for some advice. I have to accompany her. "
"En! I brought the child to my brother's house to visit. Perhaps it's because my second brother has become a general, my sister-in-law has been encouraging my brother to do something big. He wants to make a name for himself. He wants to go to Liaodong to join the army. "" En, Sir Yang Yiqing has mentioned this to me.
My brother doesn't want to use my relationship to get promoted, so I didn't show up. With my brother's ability, he will definitely make a name for himself. The former Liaodong Army Commander is now under my command. Before I left, I asked him to take care of my brother. My brother is loyal and honest. He will be fine as long as he doesn't get bullied by the veterans in the army. "
"Mm!" Han Youniang's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled sweetly.
※ ※ ※
An Dongchen walked to the main gate of the Imperial Palace. He was so excited that his legs and stomach were throbbing. As a palace treasury official, he had been in and out of the Imperial Palace many times, but he had never seen what the main gate looked like. Today, not only did he swagger in, he was also the main character.
Getting off the sedan chair, dozens of family members in brand-new green clothes and hats followed behind, carrying all kinds of gifts, all tied with red silk ribbons. Li Hu also ran over, trembling. Both of them were wearing new Ya Xuan Store brocade robes. But no matter how they dressed up, their expressions and temperament could not bring out the aura of a noble.
Behind them was his son, Young Master An Yingan, who was about to become Yongfu's son-in-law. He was also wearing new clothes and had a thin layer of rouge on his face. His complexion looked ruddy and healthy. In the sedan chair, he first drank some medicine to suppress his illness, and then he also trembled out of the sedan chair. Fortunately, the son-in-law was supposed to be supported by two servants to support the noble, so this time he could borrow strength.
His father and uncle, as the elders, went in front, followed by An Ye. They walked to the front of the Meridian Gate, and according to the instructions of the Ministry of Rites, bowed three times and nine times, and bowed to the Imperial Palace. Then An Dongchen took out the message he had written in advance and read it aloud. The message was not too long, but when he finished stammering, An Ye, who was kneeling behind, was tormented by the cold and had a head full of white sweat. The marriage official of the Ministry of Rites received the message on his knees, and then the guard of honor rose again. An Ye sat back in the sedan chair, and finally could breathe.
The guard of honor went around to the East Gate of the Forbidden City, got off the sedan chair, bowed again, got on the sedan chair, and went to the Inner East Gate, got off the sedan chair, and bowed again. After this torment, poor An Ye's pink face turned pale again.
The marriage official of the Ministry of Rites went up to the eunuch, Ma Yongcheng, who was guarding the Palace Gate, and said in a loud voice, "An Ye, the son of An Dongchen, the Treasurer of the Ministry of Revenue, learns the ancestor's etiquette. I, Liang Kezhen, the Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue, respectfully ask for it."
Lord Liang knelt down to present the message, and Ma Yongcheng also knelt down to receive it. He held it in his hands and entered the Palace. All the gifts presented by the An family were handed over to the little eunuchs in the Palace. One by one, they carried boxes, elks, mandarin ducks, wild geese, and other animals, and followed behind in a mess.
Ma Yongcheng held the Emperor's reply and led a group of little eunuchs back to the Inner East Gate. He raised the message high and read it out. Everyone in the An family knelt down to listen to the message again. Then Lord Liang said in a loud voice, "Rise, divination will be done, Liang Kezhen will ask for his name."
Then, they kowtowed to each other and handed over the message. This ceremony took more than two hours. Fortunately, they didn't have to kneel outside and wait all the time. Master An could return to the sedan chair from time to time to rest and take medicine. Hundreds of people waited outside the Palace Gate for a long time. Only then did Ma Yongcheng swagger out. He glanced around and said in a loud voice, "Control!"
Lord Liang hurriedly called for everyone in the An family to line up and kneel together. Ma Yongcheng announced in a loud voice, "The second daughter of the Hongzhi Emperor (the eldest daughter died young), Xiuning, is conferred the title of Princess Yongfu. She has reached the marriageable age, marriage can be arranged! "
Everyone kowtowed three times and nine times to thank the Emperor for his grace. Ma Yongcheng beamed with joy and helped An Dongchen up. He said, "Congratulations, Lord An. The current Emperor is holding a royal banquet in the Palace of Heavenly Purity to invite the in-laws and the two elders and your son into the Palace."
Eating with the Emperor, An Dongchen's heart was beating wildly and his ears were buzzing with happiness. Ma Yongcheng said with a smile, "The Emperor will bestow the marriage certificate during the banquet. Princess Yongfu will be a member of your An family. Lord An, you have reached the sky in one step, hahaha …"
An Dongchen composed himself and said pleasantly surprised, "Same to you. Thank you, Gong-gong!" Then, with the help of four hands, his sleeves fluttered, and a pile of shining white silver was handed over. Ma Yongcheng took it calmly and patted An Dongchen's arm. He turned around and said loudly, "The Emperor is holding a banquet. The An father, son, and elders will enter the Palace!"
Under his lead, An father and son, as well as Uncle Li Hu, followed closely behind him and entered the imperial palace. The thick and heavy palace gates were closed again and again, separating the carriages and the family members outside the palace gates...
Yang Ling didn't expect that the expert Gao Wenxin wanted to visit was Liu the Golden Needle, the first famous doctor he found when he carried Young-niang to the nine cities to find a doctor. He was Mr. Liu of Wild Chrysanthemum Shop.
Gao Wenxin got out of the sedan. She was wearing a green, narrow sleeved jacket, a white dress, and a pair of golden phoenix shoes made of sheepskin. Yang Ling held her hand and whispered, "So the person you want to consult is this Liu the Golden Needle. Liu the Golden Needle seems to be able to recognize gold with just a glance. Is his medical skill good?"
Gao Wenxin laughed softly and said, "Husband, Mr. Liu's consultation fee is a little high, but his medical skill is still good. He is good at at least five of the thirteen subjects. Most of the people who study medicine are good at one subject and dabble in other subjects, but no one dares to boast that they can cure all kinds of diseases. There has never been a divine doctor who can cure all kinds of diseases. Empress Dowager's disease is similar to tuberculosis, but there are four to five kinds of tuberculosis. Moreover, Empress Dowager's disease is complicated by other diseases, so it's hard to make a decision. Mr. Liu is an expert in this field. It might be beneficial to consult him. "
Yang Ling pinched her small hand and said with a light smile, "I don't understand these things. You can consult him. I am only accompanying my beauty."
Gao Wenxin smiled sweetly and wanted to tease her husband a few words. In front of them, Liu the Golden Needle had already come out to welcome them with a smile …
Liu the Golden Needle did not remember the Imperial Bodyguard who came to seek medical treatment behind his wife's back. However, he had long heard of Duke Wei's name. The Madam of Duke Wei, Madam Gao, was the daughter of Imperial Physician Gao. She was as famous as him as a divine doctor in the capital. He did not dare to look down on her and welcomed her into the hall to serve tea. After chatting for a while, he finally understood the purpose of her visit.
This Liu the Golden Needle's medical skill was good, but he was a little greedy. Moreover, even if he was open-minded, there would be few people who would be willing to share their unique medical skills with others. However, it was different for Gao Wenxin. Why? Because she was the Madam of Duke. It was impossible for her to compete with him for his job. How glorious would it be to say something unique and be half a teacher to the Madam of Duke? Therefore, Liu the Golden Needle didn't hide anything. After listening to Gao Wenxin's description of the disease, he started to explain while twirling his beard and shaking his head.
Gao Wenxin's medical skill was not inferior to his. They both had their own strengths. Liu the Golden Needle also benefited a lot from this discussion. Yang Ling listened to the two's set of medical terms and felt dizzy. At first, he just sat there, but later he got annoyed, so he stood up and walked to the door of the hall to enjoy the snow scenery in the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
Since Duke Wei came, Wild Chrysanthemum House was temporarily closed. It was very quiet in the courtyard. Several old plum trees were blooming with red flowers, reflecting the white snow and looked extremely beautiful. Yang Ling let out a long breath and looked towards the direction of the Forbidden City. He thought sadly, "The An family has already entered the palace to ask for the name. Now the Astro Emperor should give a banquet. After the banquet and the marriage certificate, the marriage will be settled.
I wonder if that little girl Yongfu will be satisfied. Alas! Her temperament was as gentle as water. She would only say half a sentence and leave the other half unsaid. How could anyone guess what she meant? If this is Yongchun's temperament, it would be easy. If I were to choose a husband for her, I guess she would write down the appearance and conditions of her husband clearly so that I can follow the picture … "
The two Divine Physicians in the hall were engrossed in their discussion. Even the snobbish Golden Needle Liu had thrown the matter of the Duke to the back of his mind. The two of them had already discussed the Empress Dowager's illness to the treatment of similar illnesses.
Liu the Golden Needle said while wagging his tail, "I don't think so. Withered bones, sunken flesh, full of qi in the chest, and inconvenient breathing. These symptoms can't be used as the basis of medication. First of all, we should judge whether it is caused by the tuberculosis, or by the weak vital qi, such as congenitally deficient or acquired, which leads to the loss of vital qi, blood, and qi. Then the lack of vital qi will lead to the invasion of the evil qi.
For example, a few days ago, I treated the young master of the Ministry of Revenue's family. This young master was born with a congenitally deficient and weak vital qi. It was all because of his rich family and all kinds of tonics. He could have lived a long life if he had taken good care of himself. However, he had been studying hard and exhausted his brain power. Plus the sudden cold weather, it led to the invasion of external evils and the invasion of the parasites.
Young Master An's body was like a castle in the air, and his vital fire was like a candle in the wind. Now the internal and external factors were acting up at the same time. Such a patient's body is just like what you said. He is too weak. Slow medicine can't cure him, but strong medicine can kill him first. Alas! We can only drag it out for a while, and the medication … "
Just as he said this, a figure suddenly rushed in front of him. Due to the force of the charge, the two cups of tea on the table were knocked over and the tea splashed all over the table. He saw Yang Ling's face was livid and ferocious. He grabbed Liu the Golden Needle's collar and shouted, "Young Master An of the Ministry of Revenue, speak clearly, who is it?"
For the past twenty years, Golden Needle Liu had been respected and respected, but he had only been grabbed by the collar twice. The first time was last year when a small official from the Brocade Guards had grabbed his collar and chased away a rich customer, forcing him to treat his beloved wife's illness. The second time was now, by the Great Ming's Duke Wei …
The same angry face, the same fiery eyes. In the time it takes for a spark to fly off a flint, the two figures overlapped, and Golden Needle Liu suddenly realized: "Ah ah! The Brocade-clothed Baihu who visited last year was Duke Wei … "
Yang Ling did not want to talk about the Princess's marriage. The Emperor was busy these days, and Tang Yixian did not go to see him. No one in the mansion knew the candidate of the Emperor's son-in-law except for Young-niang. So Gao Wenxin also stood up in surprise and said, "My husband, this is … Let go of Mr. Liu, we can talk about it."
Yang Ling shook Liu the Golden Needle's collar and squeezed out a sentence from his teeth, "Which Lord An of the Ministry of Revenue? Speak! Clearly! "
"There is only one Lord An in the Ministry of Revenue, An Dongchen An who is in charge of Sishku."
His dangerous eyes moved closer, "How many sons does he have?"
"Only one!"
"He … is seriously ill?!"
"The illness is incurable, and no medicine can save it!"
"Bang!" Yang Ling punched the low table on the kang and it jumped half a day high. "He deserves to die!"
"What … what's wrong with my husband?" Gao Wenxin looked at the back of Yang Ling who was swept out of the mansion in a gust of wind and asked Liu the Golden Needle blankly.
Liu the Golden Needle was angry and thought, "Your husband is crazy, how would I know?"
* * *
More than a dozen horses galloped through the streets of Beijing and rushed to the Forbidden City like a gust of wind.
"Stop, the Forbidden Palace is in front of us, who dares to let the horses run wild … Stop, stop! Woo ~ ~ ~, woo woo ~ ~ ~ "The alarm sounded, and countless patrolling Yulin Guards appeared outside the Forbidden City. Liu the Big Stick waved his eight feet long black iron stick and said like thunder," This is an emergency, Duke Wei is entering the palace to see the Emperor, idlers get out of the way! "
Idlers? Who is idlers?
The Imperial Bodyguard Qianhu Shi Wenyi who rushed over after hearing the news was so angry that his nose almost became crooked. Duke Wei was too presumptuous. What? Did he want to learn from His Majesty and give pointers to the country? Hey! You have the right to ride horses in the palace, but that's not the main gate, and you can't gallop like this. Besides, do your guards also have this right? Damn, when a man achieves the Dao, even his fowls and dogs rise to heaven!
Shi Wenyi pulled out his embroidered spring knife and put on an imposing manner of one man holding the pass against ten thousand people. He shouted sternly, "We have arrived at the Meridian Gate, all civil and military officials dismount!"
"Ya ~! Clang! " The spring embroidery knife was smashed into two by the club, scaring Shi Wenyi so much that he rolled on the ground and crawled to the side with his face covered in dirt. The sound of hooves was like thunder, sweeping past him. Shi Wenyi stood up in shock, his numb right arm trembling as he pointed to the front and shouted, "Sound the horn, sound the warning, Yang Ling is rebelling!"
Yang Ling didn't stop and rushed to the front of the palace gate like a gust of wind. He jumped off his horse and knocked on the brass ring. The guard at the right palace gate opened the gate. Yang Ling showed his token and shouted, "Open the gate, I want to enter the palace immediately!"
The guard on duty recognized Yang Ling. Seeing that his face had turned purple and was indescribably ugly, he didn't know what had happened. He was so frightened that he hurriedly opened the door. Yang Ling entered the palace from the right door and asked anxiously, "Where is the Emperor holding the banquet?"
"The Warm West Pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity."
Yang Ling didn't say anything and ran away. His heart was about to jump out of his chest. The marriage certificate must not be handed over to the An Family, otherwise he would regret it for the rest of his life. Princess Yongfu's happiness would be buried in his hands. How could he bear the pain of an innocent woman? When she was enduring a lifetime of loneliness and torture, how could he calmly enjoy his own happiness?
The more Yang Ling thought about it, the more afraid he became. His heart was in his throat. Damn it, when the Emperor chooses a concubine, even if it was a low-level talent, a servant, or a virtuous lady, he would still have to do a full body check. All he needs is an endoscope to check the internal organs. Why is it that when the princess chooses her husband, she doesn't check anything?
Today, he accompanied his wife to visit the divine doctor, so he was dressed in casual clothes. However, most of the people in the palace recognized this popular man. Seeing him running all the way without any regard for the etiquette of a duke, they couldn't help but stare at him.
As the alarm rang out, all the palace gates were immediately locked and shut. The Embroidered Uniform Guards and Imperial Horse Supervisors unsheathed their blades and nocked their bows, tightly guarding all the palace gates. Unfortunately, Yang Ling's movements were too fast, and he had long entered the palace before him.
Even though Shi Wenyi was furious, he saw that Yang Ling's men were obediently waiting in front of the palace gates and did not show any signs of resistance in the face of Lin Li's weapons. Yang Ling was the only one who entered the palace, so he did not dare to send out the highest alarm and request for the capital camp and the Five Cities Army to protect the Emperor. That would cause too much of a commotion. If not for that, he, the master of 'playing with the nobles', would have been beheaded.
In the Warm Pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Emperor was having a banquet with his in-laws.
At the long banquet table, Emperor Zhengde sat horizontally. On his left was his future son-in-law, and on his right was An Dongchen and his brother-in-law, Li Hu. At that time, there was no rotating table. Although the long table was full of dishes, they were just decorations. No one could stand up and eat. Other than people changing the dishes for the Emperor from time to time, the others could only stare at the dishes in front of them. Fortunately, they didn't have the ambition to eat.
It was the first time they met. Young Master An coughed from time to time and rarely moved his chopsticks. He also spoke softly. An Dongchen and his brother-in-law, Li Hu, would only say a few words of flattery when they met the Emperor. Fortunately, Ma Yongcheng and a few eunuchs were joking around at the side, which made the atmosphere warm up.
After three rounds of wine, Ma Yongcheng waved his hand. The eunuch used a red lacquer tray to carry a red gilded invitation card. Ma Yongcheng whispered in Zhengde's ear, "Your Majesty, it's time to issue the marriage certificate."
"Oh? Oh, oh! " The elder brother was like a father. Today, his younger sister was officially engaged. Emperor Zhengde, who had never grown up, suddenly felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. The brother-in-law chosen by his mother was indeed a little weak and didn't talk much. His father and uncle only knew how to flatter him. Zhengde didn't take them seriously, but for the sake of his younger sister, he was still very cordial.
As soon as he heard Ma Yongcheng's reminder, Zhengde put down the wine cup, stood up, and said with a smile, "An Ye, come forward."
As soon as An Dongchen and Li Hu saw the small red marriage certificate in the Emperor's hand, their eyes suddenly lit up, as if they had seen a gold mountain, a gold medal that could save them from death. An Dongchen suppressed his excitement and hurriedly urged, "My son, get up and kowtow to the Emperor to receive the marriage certificate."
An Ye had been sitting for a long time, and his limbs were sore. In order to suppress his cough, his chest was churning, and he couldn't eat anything at all. When he heard that he was going to receive the marriage certificate, he couldn't help feeling relieved. After receiving the marriage certificate, the banquet would be over, and he wouldn't have to suffer this kind of torture anymore. He hurriedly stood up with the support of the table, moved to the front of Zhengde, knelt down on both knees, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty."
Zhengde looked at him and sighed in a deep voice, "Yongfu is my sister, and I love her very much. From today on, I will hand her over to you. You must treat my royal sister well …"
An Dongchen and Li Hu stared at the marriage certificate that Zhengde had personally written and stamped with the imperial seal, and their throats were dry. The marriage certificate was handed down. As soon as An Ye's fingertips touched the marriage certificate, there was a loud "boom". The door of the hall was opened, and a figure wrapped in a gust of cold wind and falling snowflakes rushed in.
The eunuchs behind him shouted in panic, "Duke, you can't break in."
Emperor Zhengde held the marriage certificate and asked in surprise, "Yang Qing, what are you doing?"
Yang Ling's eyes were bloodshot. He pointed at An Ye and roared, "An Ye! How dare you, little beast? Step back quickly! "
An Dongchen was stunned. He suddenly turned around and saw that the certificate recognized by the law hadn't fallen into his son's hands. He couldn't help but shout anxiously, "My son, take the marriage certificate!"
"You're courting death!" Yang Ling was really angry. He grabbed a plate of vegetables and threw it out. The vegetables and the plate separated in midair. The plate accurately cut An Ye's wrist, making a sound of bone fracture, but the plate of vegetables all went to Zhengde. Zhengde stood there foolishly, looked at the vegetable soup on his body, took a piece of melon from his nose, and said as if he was dreaming, "Uh … Yang … Is that you?"
"Don't be disturbed. Take the marriage certificate." An Dongchen couldn't care less about the Emperor in front of him. He immediately shouted loudly and jumped up at the same time, "It seems that the matter has been leaked. I have to grab the marriage certificate first, so that the initiative is in my hands. Unless the Emperor can do something like killing people, otherwise, I will be led by the nose."
"Bang!" Seeing that An Dongchen was going to help his son get the marriage certificate, Yang Ling had no time to go around. He jumped on the table and ran straight over. Although there was a gap between the cups and plates, he kicked and gasped as he ran, and the juice splashed everywhere. Emperor Zhengde couldn't keep up with today's thoughts. He said dumbfounded, "Yang Qing, what are you going to do?"
An Ye saw that the situation was not right. If he couldn't get the marriage certificate, his whole family would be beheaded for the crime of deceiving the emperor. He endured the great pain of bone fracture to get the marriage certificate. Yang Ling was still two steps behind. When he saw that Zhengde was scared silly by him, and An Ye was about to get the marriage certificate, he suddenly roared and jumped into the air.
An Ye had just stood up to grab the marriage certificate when Yang Ling kicked him heavily in the temple. An Ye spat out a big mouthful of dirty blood on the Emperor's dragon robe, and his body fell to the ground with a thud.
When Yang Ling fell from the air, he grabbed the marriage certificate in the Emperor's hand. Ma Yongcheng didn't know what had happened. Someone had hurt the Emperor, so he hurriedly rushed up and dragged the Emperor back. He surrounded the Emperor with several eunuchs and the guards who had just chased in the door.
An Dongchen and Li Hu, who were pouncing over, seemed to have gone mad. That marriage certificate was the life of the whole family. Yang Ling's body had just landed on An Ye's body. The two did not care about An Ye's life or death, and pounced over to press Yang Ling down. They held Yang Ling's head and feet, and the three of them fought on An Ye's body.
Emperor Zhengde watched in a daze for a moment, and then he turned to Ma Yongcheng and said, "Old Ma, is Minister Yang … suffering from hysteria?"
It was not difficult for Yang Ling to deal with these two petty officials with his martial arts. But when he fell to the ground and fought with two people desperately, he couldn't borrow strength to fight, dodge, or move. It took a lot of effort for him to break free from the two. His robe was torn into pieces, and he was in a mess. He didn't look like a noble and dignified Duke at all.
But when Yang Ling got up, he was soaked in soup and blood, his robe was in tatters, and the cloth wrapped around his head was torn. His hair was disheveled, and he looked like a beggar. But he stood there laughing, looking very pleased with himself.
Lord An Ye, who had been kicked and weighed down by more than two hundred kilograms, was lying there. His eyes were wide open, and black blood was dripping from the corners of his mouth.
An Dongchen and Li Hu didn't have time to look at him. They lay on the ground, staring at Yang Ling's empty hands, and exclaimed in a trembling voice, "Where is the marriage certificate? Where is the marriage certificate? Where is the marriage certificate? "
Yang Ling parted his hair with both hands and patted his belly. He laughed and said, "The marriage certificate is here. Come and get it if you have the guts!"
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