Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

The Queen Mother looked at Tao Xingjian steadily. After a long while, she smiled bitterly with red eyes: "I was confused at first glance and thought it was Old Dai..."

This is talking about Dai Quan.

During the Chang'an Rebellion, the first person to stand before Taishang and face the rain of arrows was Dai Quan.

Afterwards, because of the death of the crown prince, the Supreme Lord had no time to investigate Dai Quan's death.

But when an old friend who had been with him for fifty or sixty years died while protecting him, how could Tai Shang not be filled with grief and hatred?

In the past few days after the Queen Mother arrived, it was common to see the Supreme Master calling the wrong person. Although Tao Mo was also respectful and polite, he was not as tacit as Dai Quan after all.

Tao Xingjian had never had the opportunity to mention Dai Quan, but at this moment he could not help but kneel down and sob: "I am grateful to the Queen Mother for remembering Prime Minister Dai!

"Prime Minister Dai has served His Majesty for fifty-four years, and he is extremely loyal and considerate of His Majesty's wishes. He has also trained more than a hundred disciples who are now spread throughout the palace, and they are all very diligent in their duties.

"When I heard that he died heroically, I felt sad and admired.

"I didn't expect that the Queen Mother would still care about him so much. It's worth it that he died saving the emperor!"

This is clearly a way to seek posthumous honors for Dai Quan.

The Queen Mother understood what was going on, so she sighed and nodded, saying, "He has served His Majesty for longer than me, the Queen Mother, and the concubines in the palace.

“They were king and subject, master and servant, and it was a good beginning and a good end.

“He is a loyal and righteous servant, and I think the Supreme is used to his service.

"Pack up his body and bury him with the Supreme Lord when he is buried in the mausoleum."

How great a reward is it to be buried in the imperial mausoleum?

No unfavored princess in this dynasty has such dignity!

Tao Xingjian kowtowed to the empress dowager and cried, expressing his gratitude on Dai Quan's behalf.

He cried so bitterly that everyone around him felt heartbroken.

Zhai Daogong was a dull man, who only raised his sleeves to wipe his tears - his dirty sleeves made his face look like a cat's - but he didn't even bother to support or comfort the girl.

Daiyu felt sorry for Tao Jian as he was already exhausted from the long journey, and was afraid that crying too much would hurt his body, so she quickly glanced at Chu Qian.

Chu Qian blinked. Don't understand? What to do?

Xiaohong looked depressed and winked.

Qingwen rolled her eyes and stepped forward to help Tao Jian up: "Don't be in a hurry to cry. The Empress Dowager is waiting for you to convey the words of the Emperor!"

Tao Jian then stood up with tears in his eyes, and bowed to the Queen Mother to apologize: "This old servant has violated the rules in front of the palace, I am guilty..."

Seeing that he was about to wipe his tears with his sleeves like Zhai Daogong, Daiyu hurriedly looked at Xiaohong.

Xiaohong had already wrung out a hot towel by this time, and she handed it to Tao Jian in a very low-key and natural manner.

The cold wind had been blowing for more than ten hours, and Tao Xingjian's hands and feet had already turned into ice. Holding a warm towel in his hands, it felt like holding it against his heart, and it warmed him very much.

Without having time to savor his niece's filial piety, he quickly wiped the food off his face and handed it back.

Xiaohong lowered her head to take it, then lowered her head and retreated behind Daiyu.

The Queen Mother looked at them all serving so attentively right under her nose, feeling angry, amused, and sad at the same time. She sighed and waved her hands, saying:

"Since the emperor has something private to say to me, everyone else should leave."

Everyone stood up, lowered their heads and retreated.

The Queen Mother suddenly paused for a second and added, "Zhao Qing Yimin will stay and serve."

Tao Xingjian bowed his head and said nothing.

Zhai Daogong secretly glanced at Tao Xingjian and thought that the rumors in the palace that Tao Jian doted on Princess Zhaoqing as if she were his own daughter and that the Empress Dowager also treated Princess Yimin as if she were her own daughter were all true.

Aunt Meng obediently led all the palace servants and eunuchs to retreat.

There were only four people left in the hall.

At this time, Tao Xingjian bowed and said, "Your Majesty is discussing important matters with the Queen Mother. If the Queen Mother needs a witness, leaving one behind will be enough.

"Otherwise, if what we said today leaks out, and these two girls start to blame each other, the Queen Mother and His Majesty will be very sad."

The Empress Dowager, Daiyu and Tanchun were all stunned!

what?

witness!?

What does it mean! ?

Among the three people, the Empress Dowager and Daiyu were more familiar with the Emperor, their brains worked faster, and they understood everything in no time!

This is what Daiyu said to the Queen Mother.

Emperor Zhaoming may not want the coffins of the emperor and the crown prince to be returned to the capital immediately.

But if this is the case, there must be a reasonable reason.

The whole country and the capital are in chaos. No excuse can be more simple, crude and effective than the five words "the Queen Mother doesn't want to" to suppress all voices.

——In particular, no one would accuse Emperor Zhaoming of being unfilial.

Thinking of this possibility, the Queen Mother immediately made a decision: "Zhao Qing, go out."

Keep it short and simple, without any consolation.

Daiyu nodded her head without saying anything, and walked out.

When the emperor talked to the empress dowager about such a thing, he had to negotiate conditions. No matter how insignificant the conditions were, it would be awkward to discuss them in front of outsiders.

Moreover, no matter how much the emperor favors this "outsider", he will also be wary of something.

The Empress Dowager was the first one who was reluctant to let Daiyu do this kind of thing.

If Tanchun does not participate in some important matters, the empress dowager will be more worried that she will gradually become an abandoned child of the emperor because of her origin in the Jia family.

Daiyu guessed the Queen Mother's thoughts clearly, so she came out quickly and called Zang Ao directly, asking him to give the order:

"First: bring a few buckets of hot spring water for the officials to wash up, and be extra careful with their diet, so as not to let one or two of them fall ill. If they fail to do their job well, it will become the fault of the palace.

"Second: Minister Zhai is a man of few words, but he is a loyal and righteous minister who dared to die by hitting his head against the pillar in the palace. If anyone dares to treat him badly, His Majesty will not let him off easily if he is found out later!

"Third, Tao Jian's residence should be arranged near Jingfuzhai. I'm afraid he will have to discuss everything with the Queen Mother these days. Don't let it be too far away, as it will bother him and the Queen Mother."

After thinking for a moment, he pointed outside and said, "Great Lord, many of the old officials outside are panicking.

"Minister Zhai is new to the position, and Supervisor Tao is a close minister to His Majesty. It's possible that he wants to take advantage of the situation and use some tricks to get close to him.

"They have so many things going on right now that they can't stand this kind of interruption.

“The gates are strictly guarded!

"Did you hear it?"

Zang Ao agreed to all of them, and bowed to the ground with admiration in his heart: "My princess is so thoughtful, I can't wait!"

Daiyu took a breath and frowned at him, "We are all here to do errands for His Majesty, why are you being so polite to me?

"Call Tao Mo immediately."

I didn't bother talking to him at all and just waved my hand to tell him to get busy.

Zang Ao's old face turned red with shame. He walked out of the yard and saw Prince Kejin and the Second Prince who were eagerly waiting for his orders. He hurriedly told them what Daiyu had said just now.

Another sigh.

Prince Kejin curiously asked the reason.

Zang Ao slapped his face and said angrily, "I am an old guard and general, but a little girl like Princess Zhaoqing despises me for being indecisive, clingy, and pretentious...

"I have no place to put my face!"

The second prince opened his eyes wide!

Is he talking about Princess Zhaoqing?

Not Princess Yimin? !

A tender and gentle girl like Princess Zhaoqing...