The weather was getting colder by the day. In the blink of an eye, the leaves of the Forbidden City had turned yellow. The autumn wind blew, and the falling trees rustled. It looked especially sparse against the red walls.
Another month passed, and the first snow fell in the capital. With red walls and white tiles, the palace was solemn. It was quiet and solemn.
Cheng Yujin also changed into fur collar clothes. As the light dimmed, she stared at the small characters for a long time and felt dizzy. She put down the book and rested her eyes, asking, "What time is it?"
"Replying to the Crown Princess, it's five o 'clock."
"Five o 'clock." Cheng Yujin turned her face to look out the window and muttered to herself, "His Highness should be back soon."
Lian Qiao came in to light the lamp. Hearing this, she replied, "Now that His Highness is in an important position, he comes back later and later. Fortunately, the Crown Princess is taking care of him. Otherwise, wouldn't His Highness be so tired that he would be thin? "
Cheng Yujin glanced at her coldly, "No one will think you're mute if you don't speak."
The Dugeaux, who was waiting on the side, laughed when she heard this. Lian Qiao wasn't afraid that her flattery had failed. She made a face at the Dugeaux and then joked as if nothing had happened, "Crown Princess, you've looked at the afternoon gift book. It's not good for your eyes to stare at things when it's dark. Why don't you put it down and stretch your muscles a little."
Cheng Yujin shook her head, saying, "There's not much left. I have other arrangements for tomorrow. I'll settle it all today."
Lian Qiao knew that she couldn't persuade her, so she didn't say anything else. She quickly packed up the things and said as she worked, "This servant knows that the Crown Princess has always been very independent. This servant is talkative. If it makes sense, the Crown Princess will listen. If it doesn't make sense, you can just treat it as teasing. Now, who doesn't know that the Crown Princess is very virtuous and capable. Inside and outside the palace, no one can say anything bad about you. This servant heard that the madams outside the palace all use you as the standard to teach their daughters. "
When the Dugeaux heard this, she softly added, "The Crown Princess is already the model of a noble young lady in the capital even before she is married. Now that she is praised by the madams, what's so strange about that?"
"That's different." Lian Qiao said quickly, "In the past, the women of noble families regarded the Crown Princess as the standard for a daughter-in-law, but now, they regard her as the standard for a daughter. How is that the same? "
Cheng Yujin couldn't help but chuckle as the two maids tried to cheer her up. The gloominess of the afternoon was swept away. "That's enough. One is better than the other. Even a parrot can't beat you. Calm down. "
Although the two maids wanted to make Cheng Yujin happy, they were right about one thing. During this period of time, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace had a very good reputation. Everyone in the court had to call them Eastern Palace Rende.
Cheng Yujin and Li Seung-kyung were people who had appeared out of nowhere. They had no achievements and no reputation. Li Seung-kyung was a little better than Cheng Yujin. He had returned to the throne half a year earlier than Cheng Yujin. However, to rely on just half a year to replace the Second Prince's ten years of fame was still too shallow.
Fortunately, the two of them were people with great self-control and were both good-looking. When the two of them stood there, they looked exactly like the crown prince and his concubine that everyone imagined them to look like. Because their foundation was not stable, it was not suitable for the two of them to be too ostentatious. However, every time the Eastern Palace made an appearance, it was very effective.
In the beginning, everyone thought that they were faking it and took a wait-and-see attitude. However, after half a year of marriage, there was nothing wrong with their behavior. The two of them were a powerful couple that swept through the capital's social circle. Slowly, the front court and the harem accepted this perfect couple, and the Eastern Palace's reputation grew day by day.
After Cheng Yujin's stunning performance at the Mid-Autumn Banquet, Empress Yang was on guard and did not give Cheng Yujin another chance to be a director. Cheng Yujin did not mind. Managing the harem was not the Crown Princess's responsibility. She had nothing to do and was relaxed. Why should she fight with Empress Yang?
However, during this time, Li Seung-kyung's progress in the court was much smoother than Cheng Yujin's. Li Seung-kyung had been "found" for a year. In this year, he had not made a single mistake. He did not take credit, but when the Emperor asked him, he would always give a direct opinion. Although it was not convenient for the cabinet to express their opinions, other than Yang Shoufu, the other cabinet elders were mostly satisfied when the Crown Prince was mentioned.
In the half year he had been at the Ministry of Works, all the projects had progressed in an orderly manner. The old files that had been suppressed for many years had also been sorted out. The Minister of Works had the most praise for the Crown Prince, and he also praised him in private.
Time revealed a person's heart. Since others did not believe him, they would prove it bit by bit. The Eastern Palace did not fight for credit, but they could do anything that was handed to them.
Li Seung-kyung was the ideal Crown Prince. As the eldest son of the first wife, he was elegant and noble. He was resolute and decisive. He could speak freely, but he would not act without his own opinions. At the same time, he was clean and honest. He was neither greedy nor lustful. He had a dignified and virtuous Crown Princess. He was as kind as the Emperor and his filial son. He was also as close as brothers to the Second Prince. His status was legitimate and his morals were impeccable. Most importantly, he had the Emperor's support.
Such a Crown Prince was truly impeccable. The court officials had unknowingly changed their positions.
The Emperor had stood his ground against the opinions of the masses and did not appoint another Crown Prince for fourteen years. When the Crown Prince returned, he immediately brought him along to listen to state affairs. It was actually quite obvious who the Emperor favored.
That was the most important thing. The Emperor and his officials were wary of each other. Fighting for the throne was the source of many disasters in the past dynasties. Now that the Emperor and the Crown Prince were getting along well, it was a good thing that many officials could not wait for. The Yang Family was indeed powerful, but in the end, the world still belonged to the Li Family.
To put it more crudely, how long could Empress Dowager Yang live, but how long could the Crown Prince live? Furthermore, the Crown Prince had the Emperor's support. Wasn't it obvious who he should side with?
The officials all had their own ideas. However, Li Chengjing, the Crown Prince, was almost perfect, but there was something wrong with him.
He did not have a child.
After all, the Crown Prince was the heir apparent. For the sake of the country's stability, the Emperor had to appoint a successor, the Crown Prince. Similarly, the Crown Prince also had to prepare for the succession of the next Emperor.
It had only been half a year, but there were all sorts of people asking if Cheng Yujin was pregnant. If Cheng Yujin was like this, Li Seung-kyung must be facing even more pressure. What was even worse was that this was not a private matter between husband and wife. Whether the Crown Prince had a son or not could be discussed in the morning court as an important matter.
Giving birth to a child was really an all-encompassing matter. Now, Cheng Yujin felt a headache whenever she heard these words. She also wanted to, but something like pregnancy was not something that could be arranged with a plan.
Cheng Yujin thought about how it would be the New Year in a month. At that time, there would be banquets after banquets in the capital, and many elderly women would gather together. She would have to give birth to a child again.
Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
Cheng Yujin did not want to think about these worrying matters. She had already finished reading the gift list. She put down her brush and tidied up the list. Halfway through, she heard the sound of palace servants shouting outside. By the time Cheng Yujin got up, Li Seung-kyung had already walked in.
"Your Highness."
Li Seung-kyung raised his hand, indicating for her to get up. He was wearing a heavy cloak, which was still covered in snow. It was clear that the wind and snow were rustling all the way. Cheng Yujin stepped forward and personally patted the snow off Li Seung-kyung's shoulders. She untied the belt and took off his cloak, then turned and handed it to the palace maid behind her.
Li Seung-kyung untied the heavy cloak. He held Cheng Yujin's hand and led her inside. "The wind is leaking through the door. Your clothes are thin, so don't stand in the wind."
Cheng Yujin followed his lead. As she walked, she used her other hand to feel the temperature of Li Seung-kyung's hand. "Your Highness's hand is so cold. Did you meet someone on the way here? Why did you stay outside for so long?"
"En." Li Seung-kyung nodded. "I met the Minister of War outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, so I said a few words."
Cheng Yujin understood. So it was the Minister of War. The palace maid had already changed the tea. Cheng Yujin and Li Seung-kyung sat opposite each other on the red sandalwood lotus arhat bed. Cheng Yujin picked up an orange and asked as she peeled it, "Does Your Highness have something on your mind?"
Li Seung-kyung sighed softly. As expected, Cheng Yujin understood him the best. After he came in, he only mentioned one sentence, but Cheng Yujin had already guessed what was on his mind.
Li Seung-kyung said, "I'm thinking about the court. I've been absent for too long. The support of the Ministry of Works is far from enough. "
Of course, it was far from enough. Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Appointments was the most important, followed by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. The Ministry of Works was the lowest, and was viewed by civil officials as a place of promotion but actually demotion. It was true that Li Seung-kyung had accumulated a reputation in the Ministry of Works, but when it came to the entire court, he still had no right to speak.
The cabinet was under the control of Yang Fucheng, so Li Seung-kyung couldn't eat everything in one go. He had to start with the six ministries first, and then slowly win over the support of the other ministers in the cabinet. However, among the six ministries, the Ministry of Appointments was Yang Fucheng's headquarters. The Ministry of Revenue was also firmly controlled by the Yang Family. The Ministry of Rites wasn't very important, and the Ministry of Justice had no one. Li Seung-kyung's best and only entry point was the Ministry of War.
However, he was the Crown Prince. This identity was both a reliance and a shackle. As the Crown Prince, although he could participate in politics legitimately, there were still many apprehensions when he acted. For example, forming cliques for personal gain, recruiting soldiers, and buying horses were all major taboos.
As a result, it was very difficult for him to make friends with the people of the Ministry of War.
Cheng Yujin put down the orange peel and carefully peeled the white tangerine on it. Her tone was gentle as she said, "Your Highness, why don't you change your angle and take a roundabout route?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's not convenient to make friends with officials, but it's always possible to make friends with their wives."
Li Seung-kyung raised his eyebrows, "You mean …"
"That's right." Cheng Yujin peeled a piece of orange to her satisfaction and handed it to Li Seung-kyung, saying, "Although the Marquis of Yichun hasn't lived up to expectations in recent years, in the beginning, he was indeed conferred the title of Marquis because of his military achievements. Nobility is different from the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty selected their scholars through the imperial examinations, while the Marquis made their fortunes through military achievements. In recent years, Yang Shoufu has promoted his own people vigorously, overriding the old nobility. Many of the Marquis Household have long been dissatisfied with this. I am the daughter of a noble, not a scholar. This in itself is already a statement. "
Yang Fucheng was a civil official. He rose to power through Empress Dowager Yang and took the position of Grand Secretary. For many years after that, he devoted himself to nurturing his own students. Of course, he was very popular among the civil officials, but he had no military power at all.
The scholars who graduated from the imperial examinations were afraid of him, but the military men who went to war were not necessarily so.
Noble families, on the other hand, inherited military power from generation to generation. Of course, there weren't many nobles who still followed the path of their ancestors and went to the military to gain experience. However, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. The old nobles' appeal was still strong in the military, such as the Marquis of Jingyong and the Duke House of Cai.
Cheng Yujin, out of selfishness, reluctantly hung on to the Marquis of Yichun.
Huo Changyuan and Zhai Yanlin were still in charge of the military. Needless to say, the other nobles' sons who were active in the military were even more so. Cheng Yujin's noble background was a natural advantage. One was from the Yang Family, who had always emphasized literature and restrained military power, while the other was the daughter of the Cheng Family, who had been friends with their ancestors through life and death. It went without saying who the nobles were close to.
The generals with real power were inextricably linked to the Ministry of War. This could be a breakthrough to break the deadlock. Li Seung-kyung wanted to make friends with people in the military. Didn't those nobles want to contribute to the merit of supporting the Emperor? It was just that they were not allowed to form cliques for personal gain, so it was inconvenient for them to show their faces. However, it was inconvenient for Li Seung-kyung to make friends with these officials, but there were no restrictions on women's interactions. As the Crown Princess, Cheng Yujin made friends with a few Marchioness. It was completely reasonable.
Not to mention, she herself was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yichun. Her social circle was already among the nobles.
Li Seung-kyung understood immediately. He looked at Cheng Yujin with surprise in his eyes. "The Crown Princess' words woke me up. It seems that I will have to rely on the Crown Princess in the future."
"Don't flatter me. I don't believe that you didn't think of it yourself." Cheng Yujin stretched out her hand for a long time. Seeing that Li Seung-kyung had no intention of taking it, she asked doubtfully, "Don't you eat oranges?"
Li Seung-kyung was still sitting on the ground calmly. "If you want to help someone, you must help them to the end. The Crown Princess is feeding someone with such sincerity?"
Cheng Yujin was too lazy to pay attention to him. She placed the oranges on the plate. "Eat it if you want."
Li Seung-kyung sighed and picked up the oranges himself. "You are really not interesting at all."
"I have always been like this. Did the Crown Prince only know today?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
