The Beloved Imperial Consort - Chapter 9

[9. Chapter 9 Entering Beijing]

Zong Zhenglin rushed back to Shengjing and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that as long as he left Qingzhou, the place that made him embarrassed would soon be able to return to being meticulous and calm. And he will never feel uncomfortable again because of that guilt. Those strange emotions will no longer disturb his purity.

The fact was just as he thought, in the next few days, Zong Zhenglin really calmed down and acted in no chaotic manner. So the sixth prince, Zong Zhenglin, was more strict with himself, thinking that it was his unrighteous thoughts that led to the absurdity and shook his state of mind. Therefore, in his spare time, Zong Zhenglin has a little preference for calligraphy and painting that is helpful for self-cultivation.

Concubine Shu’s mood was completely different from that of His Highness Sixth Highness. Compared to Zong Zhenglin’s calmness and comfort, Concubine Shu was extremely anxious. After his youngest son returned to Beijing, he heard Tian Fushan’s return, and his temper seemed to be a little weaker. How could this be good? So Concubine Shu gave all her strength and blew the wind next to Emperor Yuan Cheng’s ear.

This time, Concubine Shu was soft-spoken, but Emperor Yuan Cheng took it to heart. Some people secretly investigated the situation in the princes’ backyards, but found that there was a problem, and Zong Zhenglin was not the only one!

The eldest prince, Zong Zhengchun, neglected Zhengfei, and doted on a businessman’s concubine. Jiaofang has been the only favorite for three months. The prince is an asshole! She actually raised a little herd! The husband and wife of the four princes get along harmoniously, but the children are so weak that they have only one son and one daughter. The fifth prince, Zong Zhengming, already had two sons and one daughter, but he was too pampered by the concubines in the backyard. What a formality this is! Because the sixth prince has not yet gotten married, there are not those who do not understand the rules in the back house. On the contrary, the inner house was so cold that it almost became a family temple!

Emperor Yuancheng was busy with political affairs all day, and when he had free time, he was accompanied by a beautiful woman, and he seldom asked about the prince’s house. Now that I saw it, I was so angry that I immediately threw the tea cup. Pacing for a while in the imperial study, he sent an imperial decree directly to the states.

The next day, everyone was announced to enter the imperial study, and he was reprimanded, and he was strictly ordered to manage his back house and raise his children carefully. Very tough attitude. He also specially left the prince, and he became very angry.

As a result, Zong Zhenglin’s face when he returned to the prince’s office would not look good.

Forced by the will of Emperor Yuancheng, Zong Zhenglin called for the first time to speak to the Kong clan and Wu clan. When the two of them had to come, they only watched them silently for a moment, and then coldly ordered: “From today onwards, abide by your duty, be cautious in your words and deeds, and don’t provoke right and wrong.” After that, he walked away.

Kong and Wu were inexplicably reprimanded by His Royal Highness.

Tian Fushan was dumbfounded after listening to His Highness’s admonition to the two women.

Zong Zhenglin received the order of Emperor Yuancheng, and he didn’t think much about it. He automatically put his focus on managing the back house. Then, if you should pay attention to the offspring, if you want to have a good life, just listen to it by the way.

Emperor Yuancheng was extremely helpless after hearing the dark guard’s rebuke to the concubine after returning the sixth prince.

This son is very disciplined. This is contrary to his original intention. Do you want to announce him to come in again, point at his nose, “Your father is asking you to sleep with a woman”? Yuan Chengdi still can’t hold this face!

But fortunately, the will of the draft girls has been issued to the states, and the general election is imminent. At that time, it is time to choose some people who are outstanding in character and appearance for the six emperors. It should work. She blamed Concubine Shu for being misguided and picking two crooked melons and jujubes for her son, and she was extremely disgusted with those two concubines.

The next day, Zong Zhenglin was slightly startled when he heard the intention to advance the draft. When I greeted Concubine Shu, I heard that Emperor Yuan Cheng would personally point him to a few women with good morals and outstanding appearance into the back house, and I felt a little more impatient.

It’s a pity that the emperor’s life cannot be violated, and Concubine Shu is eagerly looking forward to it. Zong Zhenglin should only accept a few more mouths and keep the house idle. After all, he did not brush Concubine Shu’s wishes for these “little things”, and answered in a deep voice.

In March of the eleventh year of Zhanghe, Mu Xiyao said goodbye to Master Mu and the Yu family, bid farewell to Mu Xicheng, and led his concubine Mu Xiting to the carriage to Shengjing.

On the road for more than a month, Fang arrived in Shengjing. He instructed Zhao Qing to drive directly to Mu Xiyao’s ancestral home, and also explained that Huilan Molan was ready to greet everyone later.

Mu Xiyao’s grandfather did not go to the former official to worship the third-rank Taichang Temple Minister. My grandmother passed away at an early age. The two uncles also worked in Shengjing. The eldest uncle is the fourth-rank Dali Temple Shaoqing, and the second uncle is the fifth-rank general counselor. The two cousins are still studying abroad, preparing for next year’s Spring Festival. There was only one cousin left, who was only eight months older than Mu Xiyao. She is also a show girl in the same issue, and will enter the palace together to run for election later.

Mu Xiyao brought Mu Xiting to visit her grandfather’s family, and instructed Mo Lan to greet her and present the Qingzhou specialties prepared by Yu’s family. The family happily ate the meal in a peaceful manner, just rested for a while, talked for a while, and then went back to their respective residences. It was only half a month before the primary election, so the Mu family sisters temporarily lived in the same courtyard, saving a lot of trouble. Next door is the courtyard of Mu Xiyao’s cousin.

In the next few days, the three cousins Mu Xiyao became familiar with each other, and they often chatted and ate tea together.

A few days later, an unexpected letter made Mu Xiyao very happy. It turned out that the fifth Yuying found out that she was coming to Shengjing, so she invited to go to the flower viewing party the next day. This flower viewing party is quite famous, and now it is the end of spring and early summer, which is a good time for viewing flowers. Xi Yao agreed immediately. Knowing that the fifth dynasty had become the subordinate of the sixth prince, Zong Zhenglin, Mu Xiyao was in a good mood, and felt that he was not in vain.

That day, the fifth Yuying brought her maid and arrived at the agreed pavilion long ago. When the soft sedan chair arrived, Mu Xiyao smiled slightly when she saw her stretched her neck and looked around. He also instructed Zhao Qing to lead a group of guards and go to the teahouse to wait.

After making recommendations for everyone, Mu Xiyao laughed and joked that the fifth Yuying became more and more beautiful. The four of them chatted and laughed, and it was quite lively. The garden is full of flowers, there are many rare and famous products, and all kinds of vivid flowers are very gratifying to look at. At this time, just in time for Xiu Nv to enter Beijing, I met several groups of young women along the way, all in twos and threes, whispering. Just in response to that sentence, people are more delicate than flowers.

After enjoying the fun and saying goodbye to the fifth Yuying, Mu Xiyao suggested to drop by the incense shop to buy incense. So the three cousins traveled together in a sedan chair.

Mu Xiyao himself has no preference for incense. I bought “Tingzhi” only to cover up the body fragrance given by the medicinal herbs when I was out. After all, for men, there are some wonderful things that can only be enjoyed privately in the boudoir. To share with others, but it is impossible to agree. Therefore, in terms of these details, Mu Xiyao has always been careful, and has long thought of ways to deal with it.

After about a stick of incense, they arrived at the entrance of the fragrance hall. Mu Xiyao took a step forward, and when she looked up, she saw that the Shengjing Perfumery Museum had four connected facades, which was more imposing than the Qingzhou branch. People come and go in the museum, all young women shuttle among them, it is very lively. The door was also greeted and delivered, and business was booming. The store also specially set up spacious shed seats at the back of the store for female guests to bring guards to rest or suspend the frame soft sedan, which is very thoughtful.

The girls entered by themselves, picked out the incense, and were sent out by the shopkeeper. They only came over in a soft sedan chair, picked them up and set off back to the house.

Suddenly, there was the neighing of galloping horses and the cries of the crowd from the other side of the street. Mu Xiyao’s senses were sharper than ordinary people, so he turned around immediately, saw a crazy horse, and suddenly rushed out from the street corner, galloping towards the female guest outside the perfume shop.

Mu Xiting and her maid stood at the forefront and bore the brunt.

“Xiting!” Mu Xiyao exclaimed.

Mu Xiting was stunned for a long time, and her legs went weak with fright. The maid next to her also turned pale and did not respond at all. Mu Xiyao didn’t care about anything else, and ran two steps, one in each hand, pulling and fled to the hall quickly. While running, he greeted the surrounding female relatives to enter the door to escape.

As soon as they stepped into the store, Mu Xiting and the two fell to the ground, gasping for breath, so frightened that they couldn’t stand up. At this moment, Cousin Mu Xiyao’s exclamation sounded outside. It turned out to be a frightened crowd on the street, running in all directions without any rules, and a stampede occurred. Cousin Xiyao was pushed to the ground, and a person was pressed on her body. Seeing is unable to get up.

Seeing that Crazy Horse was getting closer, Mu Xiyao let go of Mu Xiting’s master and servant, and rushed out of the store again, but was blocked by the influx of people in a panic, delaying the time. She only had time to push away the maid who was pressing her cousin, but when she saw the frightened horse was getting closer, she didn’t have time to escape safely. I was very anxious, but saw Zhao Qing bypassing the crowd from the backyard, rushing into the street, and running towards him.

Mu Xiyao reluctantly helped her cousin up, turned her head and shouted loudly, “Zhao Qing, go ahead and cut the horse!”

Zhao Qing took the order, pulled out his saber, rushed out, and slashed the horse’s legs with all his might. Another arrow was shot from behind, hitting the horse’s head. The horse fell in shock. The blood splashed, shockingly, infected the skirt of Mu Xiyao’s feet.

Seeing that the danger had passed, Mu Xiyao didn’t have time to relax, but found that her cousin was so frightened that she fainted. In a hurry, he lifted her up and leaned against him.

At this time, Mo Lan Huilan, who was scattered by others, came to cry and searched for her, and only scolded: “Miss, how can you leave us and rush out to save people!”

Mu Xiyao calmed the anxiety of the two orchids, and asked them to quickly help their cousin into the sedan chair. Going back to find Mu Xiting and her party again, it was another gentle comfort, and they coaxed people to go out and go back.

The streets outside also gradually calmed down. The surrounding area where Crazy Horse fell to the ground was full of blood, and no one dared to approach.

Mu Xiyao was worried about her cousin’s situation, so she hurriedly left. Just explain Zhao Qing, be sure to find the owner of the arrow, and thank him. I hope that person can be considerate. Seeing that she and her party are all women, it is better not to care about the rudeness of the government when the incident happens suddenly. He also said that he would come to the door to thank him in the future.

This led people to rush home.

After returning to the mansion, it was quite busy, and when everything was over, it was already in the middle of the month when I went to bed. Mu Xiyao was so tired that she fell asleep.

However, he said that the owner of the arrow, Zong Zhengming, the fifth prince, reviewed the Crazy Horse incident in the evening, and went to the Ministry of Housing to deal with the aftermath. Returning to the Prince’s Mansion at night, and finally having time to spare, only then did I remember the woman, it was really amazing.

Looking at her age and dress, I’m afraid she is this year’s show girl. Today is far away, I can’t see the real thing, and I don’t know what such a courageous woman will look like, which is a bit regrettable. I also thought that the woman didn’t say that she wanted to come to the door to thank her, wouldn’t it be just right? This was exactly what Zong Zhengming wanted. I just don’t know, how long is this “future”?

[End of This Chapter]