0p0 Chapter 346 Good Mother
Chapter 346 Good Mother
The next morning, when Emperor Zhaoming came to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, Daiyu had not yet gotten up and was still lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.
Upon hearing her situation, Emperor Zhaoming knew that she must have consulted Cao Yu yesterday to ask about Lin Ruhai's case.
While sighing in his heart, he was also somewhat unhappy that Cao Yu did not listen to him. After leaving Yanjia Palace, he instructed Tao Xingjian:
"Cao Kuangru has an eccentric personality and little experience in officialdom, so it's inevitable that he does things outside the rules.
“When you choose guards for him, you should choose two upright ones, preferably ones who are familiar with the court laws and the relationships between the people in the capital.
"It will save him from being left alone in Jiangnan and causing trouble for me without any hesitation!"
Tao Xingjian was also somewhat dissatisfied, and he replied immediately: "Yes! Yesterday, His Majesty approved four guards.
“But I feel that Lord Cao will probably have to stay in Jiangnan for a few years.
"That's the hometown of the four surnames, and most of the four kings and eight dukes also made their fortunes in Jiangnan. I'm afraid that four people can't protect Lord Cao's safety.
"How about I pick a few more? Eight guards, and two eunuchs to look after Lord Cao's backyard."
Emperor Zhaoming nodded immediately: "Yes!
"From now on, let Cao Kuangru, Ouyang Guiqing, oh, and Zuo Yi and Wei Jun, these four people will take turns to guard Jiangnan.
“Cao Kuangru is the general manager.
"In this case, the peace of his backyard is very important.
"His stepmother was born a dancer, and everyone in the Cao family hates her. No matter how outstanding he is, I'm afraid the people the Cao family gives him won't really help him, but will only hinder him.
"When you choose your guards, be careful. Don't pick someone from a high-class family, or he won't be able to control you in the future."
Tao Xingjian's heart was moved: "Your Majesty has made up his mind to use Lord Cao?"
"Well." Emperor Zhaoming got on the imperial chariot and began to think again, "I also plan to find him a good marriage.
“Hey, what do you think of Hongchang?
"Since Zhaoqing entered the palace, Hongchang's family has treated her very kindly. Zhaoqing also likes Hongchang.
"If Cao Kuangru marries Hongchang, it will be convenient for Zhaoqing to eat and use food from Jiangnan."
Tao Xingjian glanced at him, pondered for a long time, and said hesitantly: "Lord Cao has been raised in the wild since he was a child, and his father and brothers at home cannot make decisions for him.
“People like this are very opinionated.
“I think Your Majesty should not rush him into getting married.
"If he is not happy, and you are upset, and Prince Kejin is offended, that would be bad."
Emperor Zhaoming thought about it and nodded reluctantly: "Forget it, let's put an end to these troubles. When the time comes, I will arrange a marriage for him in a down-to-earth manner."
Tao Xingjian smiled and nodded.
After returning to Xuanzheng Hall, the first thing Tao Xingjian did was to call Lu Changqing over, explain everything from beginning to end, and then ask him:
"This is the most important job for our Palace Province in the next twenty years. Do you want to do it? If you don't, we will let my eldest disciple do it."
Lu Changqing didn't even stutter, he nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Go, go, go! Grandpa doesn't love his grandson, so he gives him such an honorable job?
"Go to Jiangnan! How many eunuchs in this world can leave the capital? Smoke is coming out of my ancestors' graves!
"I'm going to pack my bags now! I'm also going to learn some tricks from the pigeon training room!"
As he said this, he actually knelt down on his knees and kowtowed three times to Tao Xingjian!
Tao Xingjian smiled with satisfaction: "I knew you were smart. All right! That's it! If there's anyone in the Guards who's familiar and suitable, tell us their names!"
"Yes!" Lu Changqing kowtowed again, then stood up with a smile and left in a flash.
Yanjia Palace.
The Queen Mother summoned Xiangling, explained the whole story to her in detail, comforted her, and finally asked her about her choice of "leaving the Xue family". She was very pleased.
Tanchun and Daiyu took Xiangling to the back hall, where they had a heart-to-heart talk. It was almost noon before they asked Chu Kui to escort Xiangling directly back to the Lin residence.
And this day was exactly the day before Baochai married the Prince Zhongshun.
The Queen Mother originally wanted to order a young eunuch to go directly to the Xue family and tell them.
However, thinking that Emperor Zhaoming must have some ulterior motive in ordering Xue to marry into the Zhongshun Palace, Daiyu did not want to cause any trouble because of such a matter, so she asked Xiaohong to go in person, and Chu Kai to follow.
The Queen Mother thought about it and felt it was appropriate.
As soon as Xiaohong left, the empress dowager called Daiyu and Tanchun to discuss what gift to give to Ouyang Bao's mother so that she would stop interfering in other people's affairs.
Tanchun proposed the "Female Admonitions" openly and honestly.
The Queen Mother glared at her and said, "I am rewarding you, not punishing you. If I really give you the female commandments, wouldn't that be the same as forcing that old woman to death?"
Daiyu raised her chin and thought for a while, then laughed: "Isn't this easy to do? Give her a statue of Guanyin, Buddhist beads or something like that, so that she can have some peace and quiet.
"By the way, I will also give her eldest son 50 acres of good land in Ezhou so that he can take care of her.
"It's a proper rule that parents should live with their eldest son in their old age.
"She is a widow, but she was able to raise Ouyang Bao into such a capable scholar. She must not be a fool.
"The Queen Mother has made this gesture. She must understand everything."
The Queen Mother nodded repeatedly, clapped her hands and laughed: "I have a jade Guanyin holding a scripture in the warehouse for more than ten years, it is just right to reward her.
"Isn't it said that his family is rich? Then I will reward her eldest son with a hundred acres of good land. This will be enough to make her look powerful."
Then she covered her mouth and smiled quietly, "Later, I will pick a capable girl from the royal family's side branches to marry Ouyang Bao, and this matter will be perfectly settled."
Daiyu smiled and hugged the Queen Mother's shoulders, smiling sweetly: "Let me see if there is anyone else who would say that the Queen Mother and Your Majesty are not biological mother and son!
"Just for His Majesty to appoint a Jinshi, so that there will be more useful officials in the future, look at the Queen Mother as a mother!
"Not only did he put all his energy into it, he even asked me and Yimin, who shouldn't talk too much, to come and give advice.
"If His Majesty doesn't kowtow to you tomorrow to express his gratitude for his mother's kindness, I will have Grand Eunuch Tao not brew him fresh tea, but only give him old tea!"
The Queen Mother laughed.
When the news reached Ganlu Hall and Xuanzheng Hall, both sides immediately selected half a cart of good things and sent them to Yanjia Hall, asking the empress dowager to distribute them to Princess Yimin and Princess Zhaoqing according to the situation.
Emperor Zhaoming, in particular, selected six Guanyin statues from his own private warehouse and sent them to the emperor, made of white jade, emerald jade, agate, and so on.
Everybody was happy.
Except for the Xue family.
After Xue Pan heard the whole story of Xiangling's kidnapping and the Zhen family's attitude, he became furious and jumped up and said to Xiaohong:
"It's true that I fell in love with every woman I met, and it's also true that I wanted to marry someone of equal status to be my grandmother.
"But I never thought that Xiangling didn't deserve to be loved! In the past few years since she came to my room, have I ever treated her badly?
"If she is in this status now, I don't care whether the Zhen family is willing to recognize her or not, and I don't care whether that Governor Ding wants to adopt her or not. I only have one thing to say:
"As long as she doesn't leave, I will immediately invite a matchmaker to come and make her my principal wife!"
Xiaohong looked at Aunt Xue's ugly face and smiled, "Uncle Xue, marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words.
“What does it matter what you do?!
"Our Miss Zhen has an elder, and that elder is the Governor-General of Liangjiang.
"The Xue family and the Ding family are not a good match.
“Besides, Miss Zhen herself is not happy about it.
"The Queen Mother said that since she herself is not happy, no one can wrong her."