Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 157 Undercurrent
In the morning, in the Queen Mother's palace.

Queen Wu still came to pay her respects to the Queen Mother early in the morning.

Queen Wu entered the palace at the age of thirteen and once went into exile at sea with Zhao Gou.

Queen Wu was not only a talented writer, but also had practiced martial arts.

During Zhao Gou's escape, she often wore military uniform and carried a sword and served the emperor. She can be said to have worked hard and made great contributions.

However, even so, because Zhao Gou had deep feelings for his first wife, Xing, who was one year older than him, the throne remained vacant for sixteen years and he never appointed another queen.

It was not until Empress Dowager Wei returned from the north and brought back the news that Xing had died. After she shed tears to mourn her deceased wife, Zhao Gou officially made Wu the mistress of the harem.

Empress Wu was a virtuous queen, deeply loved by everyone. She also set an example by greeting the Empress Dowager every day, rain or shine.

Empress Dowager Wei was also very satisfied with her daughter-in-law. When she saw her coming, she hurriedly asked her to sit down and have dinner with her.

Empress Dowager Wei is now over sixty years old and is a kind-looking old lady.

In fact, when she was young, her appearance was not particularly good, she could only be described as above average. But as she got older, she became more kind.

Empress Dowager Wei was of humble origins. She was originally a maid bought into the home of retired Prime Minister Su Song, and later sent to the palace to serve as a maidservant to Empress Zheng of Emperor Huizong.

At that time, Emperor Huizong of Song was doting on Concubine Liu. In order to prevent Concubine Liu from being the only one favored by him, Empress Zheng arranged for her maid, Qiao, to serve the emperor.

This Qiao was proficient in everything from playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and had a very pretty face, so she immediately won the favor of Song Huizong.

When Qiao was with Queen Zheng, she and Wei, who was also a maid, were good friends.

The two of them once swore to the moon that no matter who became successful, they would never forget to support each other.

Therefore, Xiao Qiao often whispered in Huizong's ear, urging him to visit her good sister Wei.

Song Huizong was surrounded by many beautiful women, and he did not think highly of Wei, who was only of average appearance.

However, unable to resist the constant flirting and whispering of his best friend Xiao Qiao, Huizong reluctantly visited Wei once.

As it turned out, Wei was a very ambitious person. According to the "Qijuzhu", Wei was favored by Huizong once and became pregnant with his child, Zhao Gou.

However, even though she gave birth to a son for Huizong, Wei was still out of favor. After giving birth to the prince, she was only given the title of "Pingchang County Lady" and was still a low-ranking concubine.

Her son Zhao Gou was just an ordinary one among Huizong's 31 sons and was not liked by his father.

However, Zhao Gou's luck was better than his mother's, and he eventually became the emperor.

Empress Dowager Wei had lived in exile in the north for so many years, but she had lived a very strong life until she was brought back from the north by her son and was made the empress dowager. It could be said that she had finally gotten her happy ending after suffering so many hardships.

Because of such a rough experience, Empress Dowager Wei was a woman with a gentle temperament, and she and Empress Wu, the mother-in-law, had never had any unpleasantness.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were chatting and laughing. When the meal was almost over, a palace maid came to report that Prince Pu'an Zhao Yuan had come to pay his respects.

Zhao Yuan was the adopted son of Zhao Gou. He was influenced by his adoptive father Zhao Gou and Queen Wu's filial piety to his mother since childhood, so he was also a young man who paid great attention to filial piety. He would go to the palace to pay his respects regardless of weather conditions.

Empress Dowager Wei then ordered him to be summoned.

The imperial meal was removed, the Queen Mother and the Empress took their seats, and the palace maids served tea.

Empress Dowager Wei took a sip of tea and smiled at Empress Wu, "The tea brewed by Brother Yu recommended to me really tastes better the more you drink it."

Empress Wu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right. I have also changed to drinking clear tea now."

As the two were talking, Prince Pu'an Zhao Yuan entered the palace and paid his respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress.

Empress Dowager Wei and Empress Wu received Zhao Yuan's greetings and asked a few questions about his studies and health. Zhao Yuan then stood up and said goodbye.

Just as Zhao Yuan was about to leave, a palace maid came in and reported, "Empress Dowager, Queen, Prince Enping Zhao Yu is here to pay his respects."

Empress Wu laughed when she heard this: "It's really like the sun is rising from the west. Brother Yu came to the palace to pay his respects so early today."

Queen Mother Wei couldn't help laughing: "This little monkey rarely gets up so early. Let him come in quickly."

From this, we can see how Empress Dowager Wei and Empress Wu treated their two adopted sons.

Empress Dowager Wei and Queen Wu were also very kind to Zhao Yuan, but they were more intimate to Zhao Qiu.

After all, Zhao Yu was the one raised by Queen Wu herself.

Empress Wu often visited Empress Dowager Wei, so Zhao Yu was more familiar with his adoptive mother and grandmother.

Among children who are born of the same mother and raised by their biological parents, there will always be a favorite one, not to mention that Zhao Yuan and Zhao Yu were both adopted sons in the palace.

When Zhao Yuan heard that his brother had come, he smiled slightly and stepped aside without leaving in a hurry.

He and Zhao Qu were both descendants of Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and were originally cousins.

Zhao Yuan's real name was Zhao Bocong, and Zhao Qu's real name was Zhao Bojiu.

When they were young in the palace, they often played together, studied literature and martial arts together, and they had a very good relationship.

But after they grew up, were each given a royal palace and left the imperial palace, they gradually drifted apart.

No matter how good the relationship between brothers is, there is only one throne. The two of them were originally selected into the palace as candidates for the crown prince.

This inevitably makes the relationship between the two people become awkward.

Now that Zhao Yu has just arrived, if he leaves right away, there will probably be gossip in the palace again.

The palace maid was about to turn around and go outside to pass on the message, but Zhao Yu walked in carelessly without waiting for the message.

Zhao Yuan would go to the palace to pay respects every day, but Zhao Qu was different. He would find an excuse not to come from time to time, such as having a headache or a fever.

Even if he came, he seldom came so early. It was already a great difficulty for him to arrive at noon.

"I pay my respects to the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother. Oh, you are here too, big brother."

As soon as Zhao Yu came in, he waved to the empress dowager, the queen and Zhao Yuan in a careless manner, completely disregarding the formalities that Zhao Yuan followed when paying her respects.

But the old lady still liked such a child who was not too respectful to her parents. Empress Dowager Wei said with a smile: "Brother Yu, come and sit next to me."

When Zhao Yu came and sat beside her, Empress Dowager Wei pinched Zhao Yu's arm and said to Empress Wu, "Brother Yu's body is getting stronger and stronger."

Empress Wu said: "Both Yuan and Yu are at an age of vigor and vitality, so they are naturally strong.

But has Brother Qu fallen behind in his studies?

You have never been as steady as your elder brother since you were young. Now that you have left the palace, there will be no one watching over you. You must not neglect your studies."

"No, no, I have always been very hardworking, right, brother?" Zhao Qu winked at Zhao Yuan.

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Since leaving the palace, I haven't seen you much, so I can't take care of your studies. Don't drag me out to take the blame for you."

Zhao Qu smiled and said, "We brothers don't see each other often, but that's because I'm diligent in my studies and don't go out often."

Zhao Yuan said, "That's true. I heard that you, Brother Qu, spent a huge amount of money to build a villa on Gushan Mountain. I guess it was to have a quiet place for you to study in peace."

Zhao Yu grinned and said, "That was my original plan, but when I got to the island I discovered that it was a hot summer day and the villa on the lake was not cool enough.

Just a few days ago, I bought another piece of land at the foot of Tianmu Mountain. When summer comes tomorrow, I will go there to escape the heat. The mountains are cooler now.”

The two of them were joking with each other like a normal family chat, but to those who were paying close attention, they were exposing each other's secrets and stab each other.

Zhao Yuan said that Zhao Qiu was now estranged from him, and had spent a huge amount of money to build a villa on Gushan Mountain in West Lake, and was not doing his job properly.

Zhao Qu then boasted to him even more, saying, "Not only have I built a villa on Gushan Mountain, I'm also going to build another villa at the foot of Tianmu Mountain."

I am richer than you. The rewards from the palace alone are much more than yours. Are you not convinced?

However, as long as this undercurrent is not exposed, it will be seen as the harmony of the royal family and brothers joking with each other. What's the big deal?

Empress Dowager Wei and Empress Wu seemed completely unaware of the undercurrent between the two.

Empress Wu smiled and said, "The tea that Brother Yu gave me is very delicious. I just mentioned it to the Queen Mother."

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "As long as the Queen Mother and Mother like it, this tea tastes better when it's new. It will inevitably lose its flavor if it's stored for a long time.

Let me know when you are almost done drinking, and I will send some more to the palace."

Zhao Yuan asked, "Did you find any new tea?"

Zhao Yu said: "It has nothing to do with tea, but with the way of drinking tea. Brother, are you still making tea to drink?
I have recently discovered a way to brew tea. Although it is just a cup of plain tea, it leaves a lingering fragrance in your mouth and is very memorable.

The Queen Mother and Mother both praised it, I will send some to you, big brother, to try."

"Okay, I'll wait for your new tea. Queen Mother, I'll take my leave now."

Zhao Yu jumped up and said, "Brother, are you leaving? I'll go with you. I'm bringing some new tea to Gushan Villa. You can take some back later."

Zhao Yu waved his hand carelessly at the Queen Mother and the Empress: "When my Tianmu Mountain Villa is completed, I will invite the Queen Mother and my mother to spend the summer at my villa next summer."

Empress Dowager Wei laughed and scolded, "You kid, I haven't even had a few words with you, and you've already run off. You're such a naughty monkey who can't sit still."

Zhao Yu made a face at his grandmother and said, "My elder brother is disgusted with me for not associating with him after I left the palace. Should I hurry and get some good tea to flatter my elder brother? I will come to pay my respects another day."

After saying that, he pulled Zhao Yuan up and walked out in a hurry.

Empress Dowager Wei watched the two brothers leave with a smile, and said calmly: "Brother Qu is lively by nature and has no ulterior motives. He is a good child, but I am afraid that he will suffer in the future because of this."

Queen Wu said softly, "Although Qu'er and Yuan'er have different personalities, their character is impeccable. The two brothers help each other, and I think no one will let them suffer any harm."

Empress Dowager Wei glanced at Empress Wu and said with a smile, "Qi'er was raised by you, your daughter-in-law. Whoever raises a child should always be closer to him or her.

“What the mother-in-law said is true, but the daughter-in-law is the queen after all, and it is her duty to treat her equally.

If this bowl of water is even, the relationship between the two brothers will not be bad. "

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law spoke very subtly, and the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the palace either did not understand the wit or did not dare to express anything. They all looked as if they "heard but did not understand" and stood respectfully.

Zhao Yu pulled Zhao Yuan out of the palace. Seeing the palace attendants falling behind, Zhao Yu suddenly whispered, "Brother, something terrible is about to happen!"

(End of this chapter)