Wishing You Eternal Happiness

On this day, Pei Youan had just experienced a life and death assassination on the way to the capital. At the same time, the Zhen family in Quanzhou, thousands of miles away, is destined to be an unusual day today.

Over the past year, many places between Yunnan and Beijing have been affected by the war. Large areas of farmland have been barren and people have fled. Although Quanzhou is still in its old days, it is not completely unaffected. When fighting for money, the imperial government naturally set its sights on a place like Quanzhou, where the government forcibly increased taxes three times in a year. In addition, the government had to squeeze it in layers. Finally, it was allocated to each household, the big ones, the big ones, and the small ones. The households were not immune, and the people complained constantly, and the tax officials also complained endlessly. The people used to have the mentality of watching the excitement, discussing which one of the emperor and the three princes can win, but afterwards, they hoped that the battle would be over soon, no matter which one wins, they can restore their former peace. Day, this is crucial.

In the afternoon, Zhang Da heard the concierge yelling all the way to report, saying that the government had come, thinking that they were coming to share again. In the past year, such a person has come to the door many times, so he cursed secretly in his heart and frowned. "I'm coming here, yelling something, I was shocked by the old lady." Unexpectedly, the concierge said again: "It was the governor Gao, who came in person! He said that he had fulfilled the imperial decree!"

Zhang Dayi was stunned: "What did you say? Your governor? Imperial decree?"

The concierge nodded quickly: "Said it came by the emperor's imperial decree, ask everyone to come out to receive the decree!"

Regarding the governor of a province, he is always on top. Although Zhang Da often goes in and out of the government, he is at most limited to the Quanzhou prefecture. Have you ever seen a top official in a place like the governor? I was shocked to hear that I actually came down to my home today.

Some time ago, there was a rumor in Quanzhou City that the third prince was about to smash the capital. Zhang Dagang wanted to ask which emperor it was. He flashed past the gods and grabbed the concierge: "Did you say what's the matter?"

The porter shook his head. Zhang Da immediately asked someone to go and inform the old lady and them. He took off his clothes and quickly greeted them. When he reached the door, he saw a slouch of the official sedan parked there. In the middle was a large four-sided sedan chair with officials from the state government on the side. , A group of government officials carried the guard of honor, and the stage was dignified, attracting many passers-by to wait and see. They did not know whether it was a blessing or a curse. They suppressed their fears, rushed out and knelt down the steps and said: "I don't know if the tall masters and all the adults are coming, there is a long way to go. Welcome, the sin deserves death!"

The door curtain of the official car was lifted, and the governor of Fujian Gao Huaiyuan showed a face with a smile on his face: "No ceremony. This official came by order. Your family has a big happy event!"

…

Old Mrs. Hu took Zhen Yaoting out quickly, and respectfully introduced Gao Huaiyuan and his party into the lobby.

Gao Huaiyuan said: "The king of Shun'an has rebelled against the law and is chaotic, and now I have come to the throne. I am reigning as the new emperor. Vientiane is updated. I have issued a list to inform the world and appease the people. , Here I have another imperial edict for the Zhen family to listen to."

The old lady hurriedly led the family to kneel down and listened to Gao Huaiyuan chanting it again. The general idea is that the Zhen family has been a distinguished local family for generations, built roads and bridges over the years, disaster relief and warehouses, good deeds and righteous actions, ascended to the heavens, and the imperial court expresses the evil and the good. The Zhen family is specially rewarded with a plaque and a number of officials. The daughter immediately enters the capital. The remaining rewards will be issued in the future.

After Gao Huaiyuan finished reading, the Zhen family was stunned, and then ecstatic, the old lady Hu regained her consciousness, kowtowing her head to thank her, her heart was mixed with joy, and she was not sure.

After Pei Youan left, the old lady has been paying attention to news from outside for more than a year. A few days ago, she finally heard that King of the Cloud was about to enter the capital. The father-in-law came to propose a marriage, but he was worried on the one hand. In case he was rich and powerful, he regretted his promise and didn't want to wait until the Pei family sent someone to propose a marriage, but he waited for a decree like today.

Even though she had been shrewd for a lifetime, the old lady Hu at this moment was still uncertain about what this imperial decree from the new emperor meant. Vaguely knew that it must be a nobleman in the new dynasty who had fallen in love with his granddaughter. As for who the nobleman is, and how he knows his granddaughter, it is really at a loss.

The old lady suppressed the doubts in her heart, thanked Gao Huaiyuan, but was puzzled, and asked why her granddaughter should be admitted to Beijing in the imperial edict.

The old and new imperial courts changed, and Gao Huaiyuan, as a local official, was particularly sensitive at this time. He smelled the meaning behind this imperial decree, and then he spared no effort and went to Zhen’s house in Quanzhou to convey the imperial decree. After hearing the old lady of Zhen’s question, he changed her official tone and laughed: “Don’t be polite, the old lady, in front of the official, There is no need for much courtesy afterwards. According to the official, the new dynasty should be the emperor who also knows the name of your house’s virtues, and this is an exceptional reward. Your house is afraid that it will be nobles, and the official will still look forward to the old man in the future. People can support one or two."

The old lady promised, and Gao Huaiyuan said: "The imperial decree is very clear. If you want your girl to enter Beijing immediately, this matter cannot be delayed. The official is about to enter Beijing to pay homage to the emperor. When your mansion is ready, the official can lead someone. When you go on the road, you will take care of it. The old lady can rest assured."

The old lady thanked her for a lot of kindness, so she sent her away, and immediately called Meng Shi and Jia Fu to tell the story again.

Meng's head was confused, talking to the old lady there, expecting it was Emperor Pei Youan who asked for grace in front of him. Gaffer was beside him, without saying a word, but an intuition faintly developed in his heart.

It can never be Pei Youan.

Even if he wants to marry her, with his character, it is impossible to do such an inspiring thing.

It must be related to Xiao Yintang.

As she knew, King Yunzhong finally became emperor, and Xiao Yintang was also under one person and over ten thousand people, and, obviously, even though the matter had passed for more than a year, he still refused. Let her go.

This is proof.

In the past, every time she thought of Xiao Yintang, Jiafu would feel fear and disgust from the bottom of her heart, but now, perhaps it is numb, or she doesn’t care anymore. Even when faced with such a bad news that is considered a thunderbolt for her, she actually I didn't think it was terrible, I just listened quietly to the discussion between my grandmother and mother. Naturally, the result of the discussion was to let her go to Beijing with the governor-sama, waiting for the next news.

What else can be done besides this?

The person who gave this order was the new emperor.

The next day, under the advice of the old lady, Jiafu, accompanied by his mother Meng Shi and Zhang Da, followed the governor Gao Huaiyuan and set foot on the road to Beijing.

When Quanzhou was left behind again, Jiafu knew that the peaceful life that had been stolen in the past year would probably leave her and never come back.

And on this day, one year and twenty-three days have passed since Pei Youan left.

…

Gao Huaiyuan was able to arrive in the capital before the new emperor's ascension ceremony. He rushed all the way as if burning his buttocks. He finally arrived in the evening of that day. There were still three days before the ascension ceremony. He changed into his official uniform and didn't have time to catch his breath. He also waited. Tomorrow was too late, so immediately went to the courtesy department to report the matter to the Zhen family, and Jiafu went home with her mother.

Before leaving the capital for the last time due to the unsuccessful negotiation of marriage, an old servant and his wife were guarded in the house set up by the Zhen family. Over the past year or so, the old couple has taken care of the house very well. In those few days, the old couple closed the door tightly and closed their doors without any loss. Later, the chaos was over, and at first they didn’t dare to open the door. Until the last few days, people said that they had changed the emperor, except for the night curfew in Beijing. , Still bustling during the day, looked no different from before, and only breathed a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, the master came today, rejoicing, welcoming in, after some resettlement, it was dark, and the next morning, the palace came People, the leader is a tender-faced eunuch, Jiafu recognizes him, the eunuch's name is Cui Yinshui, he is the godson of the great **** Li Yuangui, he is very capable, good at figuring out his thoughts, and a bit snobbish, but he is loyal to Li Yuangui and Xiao Lie. Geng Geng, in the previous years when Xiao Lie was emperor, he was a smash hit in the palace, but later, Xiao Lie died of a sudden illness when he was less than fifty years old. After Li Yuangui was buried with the lord, Xiao Yintang, who became the emperor, treated this The **** seemed to hate him very much, and it didn't take long to find a cause and beat him to death.

Today’s Cui Yinshui has just entered the palace with his godfather, and his future is bright. How can he know his future fate? At this moment, the little **** who followed for life raised his reward and faced the kneeling Meng and Jiafu. , Read an imperial decree, said how well the Zhen family’s daughter is, there is the old style of Ban Ji’s declining court, when the eldest son is named the crown prince, she will be made a side concubine, and then encouraged, and finally let her stay in Beijing temporarily, waiting Follow-up by the book.

In Meng's heart, he had long believed that Pei Youan was the son-in-law, and only wanted to marry his daughter to him. This way, although worried, but still holding some hope, hoping that the emperor would point his daughter to Pei Youan, did not expect I heard such news early in the morning, and he was immediately fixed there, motionless.

Cui Yinshui thought she was overjoyed, and smiled and said, "Meng, don't you lead your daughter to give thanks? Your mansion will soon be a nobleman, it's gratifying."

Meng clan could not speak, and looked at his daughter, but saw Jiafu and said: "Thank you, father-in-law Cui, for troublesome father-in-law, can you spread the word on behalf of the women? The women know that their qualifications are humble, so why dare to humiliate the royal family?

Cui Yinshui was taken aback, a little disbelief in his ears: "This is a great gift. You don't want it?"

Jiafu said, "Daddy Cui, it's not that I don't want to, but that I didn't dare to receive money without merit, not to mention such a great gift. The girl is brave, and I implore the father-in-law to tell him, how can the girl be like this? Kindness?"

Cui Yinshui glanced at her.

Cui Yinshui knows why the new emperor is busy making such a decree. He thought it was the Zhen family's daughter who came to the world and begged to be in front of the new emperor. Before he came, he was still a little curious, and he didn't know what a beauty it would be. When he saw it, it was really beautiful with green eyebrows and green temples, beautiful and beautiful, so beautiful and difficult to describe, and he became more certain of his own inference, but this It's hard to say. Hearing the tone of the Zhen family’s daughter, she didn’t want to, and she didn’t know whether she was really wanting or shitting. She couldn’t tell for a while, so she lowered her face: "Ms. Zhen, do you know what you’re talking about? If you don’t answer, it is. Anti-decree, have you figured it out clearly?"

Meng's heart jumped wildly, and she was about to stop Jiafu, but saw her kowtow: "How dare the people resist the decree. I just said it, but I know that I can't be a royal so graceful, so I implore the emperor to take it back and die. ."

Cui Yinshui was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said, "Fine. I'll see you for the first time in such a thing. If you insist, I'll go back and share a message. It's up to you..."

He wanted to say "Look at your own good fortune", then swallowed it back, didn't even drink tea, turned around and led someone out and went out.

As soon as the eunuchs left, Meng immediately led Jiafu into the house, closed the door and said, "Afu, don't be afraid! When the eldest son came last time, he gave your grandmother a piece of jade, saying that his father left it before his death. For him, he left your grandmother as a token. Before going out this time, your grandmother gave me the jade pendant and said that if I don’t need it, she told me to find a chance to return it to the eldest son. Now, although others don’t know where they are. , But with this token, my mother will go to Mrs. Pei and ask Mrs. Pei to come forward, maybe she can stop this."

Meng's flustered, turned around to go out, was stopped by Jiafu, shook his head and said: "Mother, the eldest son of the day was only talking in words. Now that it has been so long, people may have changed their minds. Don't involve the Pei family in this matter. , Lest it drag people into the water. I'm not afraid. I've said everything, let's see. I just don't want to marry his son. Is it possible that he will take my head?"

Meng looked at her daughter, saw her look calm, and was stunned. She was sleepless that night. The next day, there were people in the palace. This time, in addition to the Cui Yinshui who came yesterday, there is also a middle-aged **** who looks kind, Meng He listened to him as the great **** in front of him, whose surname was Li, and he hurriedly respected the courtesy. Seeing that he had a very kind attitude, it seemed that he was not here to find fault, so he settled down a little.

Li Yuangui asked Meng to call Jiafu, and she was the only one left. She looked at her for a moment and said, "My godson told me everything about you. I'm afraid you are not sensible, so I didn't report it. Come over and ask you yourself. What's the matter with you? So bold! How many people can't ask for such a good thing! How dare you disobey?

Gaffer knew that the great **** in front of Xiao Lie had an upright temperament and was not an evil person. To bestow such a great favor, the lady of the people thought about it and remembered one thing. Once before, Jinyiwei came to Quanzhou, sealed off the city, arrested people everywhere, my house broke into a noble man, and finally I was caught The man took the carriage and covered him out of the city. The situation at that time was extremely dangerous, and I still remember it, and it is still vivid in my eyes. The people are brave enough to guess that the nobleman that day may be the son of today."

Li Yuangui said nothing.

Jia Fu knelt down towards him: "Duke Li, I also heard in Quanzhou when the emperor was hoeing rapes before, saying that the emperor’s army had never committed any crime to the people along the way, and loved the people like children. Admiration. The daughter of the people also said to Father Cui yesterday, that she knows that she is humble, and she would never dare to humiliate the royal family. I implore the emperor to grant another grace?"

After Jiafu finished speaking, she touched the ground with her forehead, unable to kneel for a long time.

Li Yuangui stared at Jiafu, his expression gradually showed a trace of surprise, he groaned for a moment, and said: "No, I thought you were ignorant of talking nonsense, so I just came to take a look and see that you know it. If so, go back. Let me tell you. As for the success or failure, it depends on the emperor's meaning."

…

When Li Yuangui returned to the palace, Xiao Lie was still busy. In the evening, after a short break, he finally remembered and asked, "The girl from the Zhen family, can you see for me? Although the Zhen family had a rescue for Yintang that day. Gong, but if you become a concubine, you have to be able to pass by."

Li Yuangui said in a convenient way: "Enlighten the emperor, the Zhen family's daughter is well qualified, but there is one thing, I don't know whether to talk about it or not."

Xiao Lie flipped through the middle of the book: "Speak."

Li Yuangui said: "The slave servant went to see the girl and heard her say something, and the slave servant learned something from the emperor." As he said that, he repeated the words that Jiafudao had given him without missing a word.

Xiao Lie was still flipping through the papers at first, but gradually stopped, showing a slight displeasure, and snorted: "So, she is not happy with my arrangement?"

Li Yuangui said: "The slaves and maids don't know, so they turned all the words to the emperor. The emperor is wise, just watch and do it. Just a girl in a merchant house, how much knowledge can he have?"

Xiao Lie pondered for a moment, and said lightly: "No matter, she doesn't want it. It's embarrassing to wear a high hat for me. I can't force it. You will go again tomorrow, give me something else, and send the person back."

Li Yuangui smiled and said, "The emperor is wise. The servants know."

"emperor!"

Suddenly a woman's voice came from the entrance of the hall. Li Yuangui raised his head and saw Princess Zhou in a gorgeous palace dress, with money coming in. A court lady behind him, with food in her hand, showed a smile, greeted him, and called out "Wang Concubine".

Princess Zhou arrived at Xiao Lie, stood still, and glanced at Li Yuangui. Li Yuangui hurried out. The palace lady put down the bowl, and left her head down.

There is no one in front of you, and Princess Zhou said softly: "Your Majesty, you didn't go back to the bedroom last night. I heard Yintang say that you reviewed the papers until dawn. I'm not relieved. Come and see you. You should take a break and use some food. Okay?" After speaking, he slowly rubbed his shoulders behind him.

Xiao Lie smiled and said, "I'm sorry. The new dynasty is settled, and things will inevitably be more. I will be free after this period of time is busy. You go back to the bedroom first, later, after reading the book today, I Go back."

Princess Zhou let out a sigh of relief, closed her hand, and said with a smile: "Then I'll go back first. You don't have to work too hard, the emperor."

Xiao Lie smiled and nodded and watched her figure gradually leave. When she lowered her head, Princess Zhou suddenly stopped and turned around and said: "The emperor, I didn't deliberately eavesdrop, but just happened to come to the palace and overheard a few words. The Zhen family's daughter really didn't know how to behave. She sent Yintang out to the city that day, so she didn't put you in the eyes of the emperor! How could the emperor still indulge her?"

Xiao Lie raised his head, glanced at her, and said faintly, "What should you think of it?"

Princess Zhou said: "She is resisting the decree and not complying! There is no need to make her the side concubine of my son. She doesn't do it. Most people want to do it. Put her in the coat bureau, and I will look at it in a few days. If you don't believe her, she dare to be so bold and defiant."

Xiao Lie frowned, "Fine, the folk girl, she doesn't understand the rules, so why bother with her. That's it, you can go down."

"emperor!"

Concubine Zhou was still waiting to speak, Li Yuangui hurried in and said, "The emperor, Mrs. Pei from Weiguo Palace is here, please see the emperor."

Xiao Lie was taken aback, and said, "Where is the old lady?"

"Still waiting at the gate of Huayang Palace."

Xiao Lie immediately put in his pen and stood up: "Quickly, welcome her old man in!"