If not abolished

Chapter 16

At the same time that Hu Shanxiang and her family arrived in the capital, in the Yikun Palace, Zhu Di was discussing the selection of a concubine for the crown prince with Concubine Wang.

Zhu Di was sitting sideways on the couch, with Concubine Wang massaging his shoulders.

"Your Majesty, do you mean to let His Royal Highness the Crown Prince start selecting a concubine this year?" Concubine Wang confirmed what Zhu Di had come to the Yikun Palace to discuss with her, and she couldn't help but have some thoughts in her mind.

"The year is almost over. I was thinking of thinking about it this year and deciding on the candidate in the spring of next year. But if there is a good one, it is also okay to decide on it this year." Zhu Di sat up straighter.

"I just think that His Royal Highness is still young."

"She's not young anymore. She'll be fifteen next year. It's just a selection of concubines, not an immediate wedding. After she's chosen, she'll have to learn the rules and see what her character is like. It'll take at least two or three years before she's not young anymore."

"Yes, then how does Your Majesty plan to choose? Will you select the girls in the capital, or will you invite girls of appropriate age from all over the country to participate in the selection?" After hearing what Zhu Di said, Concubine Wang knew that the decision had been made and she stopped trying to persuade him. She was going to see how Zhu Di would arrange it so that she could inform Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Di frowned and thought for a long time, "If we select candidates from all over the country, wouldn't it be too grand? But if we only select young ladies from the noble families in the capital, wouldn't it be too little?"

Concubine Wang also thought about it for a long time before she said, "I do have a way, but I don't know if it will work."

Zhu Di quickly said, "My beloved concubine, please tell me what you have to say."

"The Emperor Taizu has already made a rule. Concubines are always chosen from women of appropriate age from all over the country, regardless of family background. This time, we are only selecting a concubine for the Crown Prince. If we select from all over the country, it will give rise to gossip. Why not select from the capital? But we don't just select girls from aristocratic families. Let's first see if there are any adults above the sixth rank in the capital who have girls who are similar to the Crown Prince. Next month, I will host a chrysanthemum appreciation party and invite the wives of these adults to bring their own girls. I, all the sisters, and the Crown Princess will all take a look together. If there is any good one, summon her to the palace. What do you think, Your Majesty?" After saying this, Concubine Wang looked at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and thought for a while: "This is a good idea. Let's do it this way. I will ask Wang Jinghong to draw up a list and send it to the Yiku Palace later." After saying that, Zhu Di prepared to leave.

Concubine Wang stood up to help him tidy up, "Farewell, Your Majesty."

"Quick, go see where His Royal Highness is. Tell him the news and let him think about how to deal with it."

"Yes."

Zhu Zhanji was told about this as soon as he returned.

"Thank the Imperial Concubine for me."

"Her Majesty also said that if there is anything that needs her help, Your Highness, the Crown Prince, please let me know."

"it is good."

"That slave will leave first."

"Madam, please take care. Wu Cheng will see you off."

After Wu Cheng came back, he said happily, "Your Highness, this is a good opportunity. When the time comes, let the Imperial Concubine choose Miss Hu San. Isn't that right?"

"No, now is not the right time. Grandpa Emperor is only choosing a concubine for me this time. It's not a grand wedding, nor is it the appointment of a crown prince's consort. Everything has not been settled yet, and there are always variables."

"This... But if Miss Hu San doesn't enter the palace, will Your Highness the Crown Prince go out of the palace every day?" Wu Cheng muttered in a low voice.

"What are you mumbling about?"

"The servant said nothing."

"Okay, go see if there is any news from Yongcheng. Oh, and find a way to get the news that Grandpa Emperor wants to choose a concubine for me to the ears of Lady Pengcheng."

"Yes."

Zhu Zhanji received news from Yongcheng half a month ago that Sun was not among those entering the palace this time. In this case, and now that the emperor is going to choose a concubine for him, the Lady of the Marquis of Pengcheng will certainly not miss this opportunity.

The only variable now is Shanxiang. It is definitely not a good time to enter the palace. Didn't Sun enter the palace at this time in the previous life? Unexpectedly, five years later, the emperor sent a Queen in Lu, catching them off guard. In order to be absolutely sure, this time, the Queen in Lu must be Hu Shanxiang.

胡家

Hu Shanxiang originally had a lot to say to her grandmother, but everyone was tired from the journey, so the old lady went to bed early.

Hu Shanxiang was walking alone in the corridor. The night wind was a little cold. Fortunately, Lingzhi asked her to wear two more pieces of clothing, otherwise she would have caught a cold tomorrow.

Today, the whole family has arrived in Beijing. Everyone is very happy. My father has been in his hometown for so many years, and finally the clouds have cleared and the moon is bright. But it is not right. In history, Hu Rong was transferred back to Beijing after Hu Shanxiang became the Crown Prince's Consort. How could she be recalled in the eighth year of Yongle and directly took the position of the commander of the Jinyiwei? I don’t know why, since she came to Beijing in advance, everyone seems to have started to speed up. Hu An and Hu Xuan were selected as young soldiers in advance, and Hu Rong came back in advance. Will one day I also enter the palace in advance? Hu Shanxiang, who calmed down, suddenly felt a little scared. I originally wanted to escape from the track of history, but what if I can’t escape no matter how I try? Looking at the night sky with a sparse moon and stars, I don’t know what will happen next? Will I still have to enter the palace, or will I be deposed and become the first deposed queen in the history of the Ming Dynasty?

Seeing that Hu Shanxiang had not returned so late, Lingzhi was worried that something had happened, so she went out to look for her. She saw Hu Shanxiang sitting alone on the corridor, motionless.

"Girl, why are you sitting here? It's so cold!" Lingzhi ran over and held her hand, "Your hands are so cold. Come on, let's go back."

Hu Shanxiang still didn't say anything, but was just pulled away by her.

When they got to the room, Lingzhi poured her a cup of tea and held it in her hands to warm it. Seeing that the girl still had no reaction, Lingzhi was worried that she was cold. She was so anxious that she was ready to get a quilt to wrap her up.

At this moment, Hu Shanxiang suddenly spoke up: "Lingzhi, is the gift that the gentleman gave you last time still there?"

Lingzhi was stunned by the question: "The girl asked me to put it in a box before, and I moved it back with her when I came back from Huangcheng Temple. It should still be there."

"Go and find it." Hu Shanxiang urged.

"Oh, okay." Lingzhi was confused. The girl clearly didn't want to look at it before, so why was she in such a hurry to find it now?

After a while, Lingzhi found the things and put them on the table.

Hu Shanxiang opened it immediately. There were two things inside. One was a pre-wrapped painting. When she opened the scroll, she saw that the painting was of her playing the zither. However, the background was not the bamboo forest, but the peach trees in Huangcheng Temple. She was wearing a pink jacket and a peach blossom skirt that day. With the changed background, she looked like a peach blossom fairy.

Putting down the scroll, another thing was put in a leather box with a pattern of prosperity and peace, a bit like a girl's dressing box. When I opened it, I found a longevity lock with a gold necklace, on which her birthday was engraved. There was also a jade sceptre. I picked it up and found that there were words on it, which seemed to be someone's birth date. No need to guess, it was probably that young master's.

"Miss, are you planning to find it and ask the Second Master to return it to that young man when the time comes?" Lingzhi watched her take it out and look at it for a long time without saying anything, thinking that she remembered to return the thing?

"Put it away and we'll talk about it later."

"it is good."

The next day, Hu Shanxiang woke up with a stuffy nose. She didn't expect that she had caught a cold from the wind last night.

"Go tell mother that I am not feeling well and will not go to pay my respects."

"A girl shouldn't have stayed out so long yesterday."

"It's too late to say anything now. I'll sleep a little longer." Hu Shanxiang said in a daze.

"Do you want to call a doctor?" Lingzhi didn't hear any response. She looked up and saw that the person had fallen asleep. She touched Hu Shanxiang's forehead and found it was not hot. She thought that he should just need to take a nap and drink a bowl of ginger soup later.

When Mrs. Hu heard that her daughter had caught a cold, she came again and was relieved to see that nothing was wrong.

In the palace, Zhu Di had people find out the families with daughters, and was asking Wang Jinghong to prepare a list and send it to the Yikun Palace.

Wang Jinghong suddenly asked halfway through writing: "Your Majesty, I wonder if the family of Lord Hu, who has not yet taken office, should be added?"

"The Hu family, oh, Hu Rong, does they have a daughter of the right age?" Zhu Di asked.

"I heard that Lord Hu has seven daughters, but I'm not sure if there are any servants of the right age."

"Then why wasn't their family there in the beginning?"

"Master Hu just arrived in the capital two days ago, and will report to the Ministry of Personnel in two days?"

Zhu Di thought for a moment and said, "Then add it."

"Yes."

Wang Jinghong personally took the packed things and went to Yikun Palace.

"Greetings, Madam Imperial Concubine. This is the list of names for the chrysanthemum appreciation party next month that His Majesty asked me to prepare."

"Quick, serve tea to Wang Daban and show him a seat."

"Thank you, empress."

"It's such a small matter that it's really troublesome for Wang Daban to come here in person." Concubine Wang said as she looked at the roster.

Wang Jinghong stood up and said, "No, your majesty, you are joking. This is related to the Crown Prince, how can it be a small matter?"

"Hey, who is this Hu family?"

"Your Highness, this is the commander of the Imperial Guard who will take office in two days. You may not know him yet, but his eldest daughter is Concubine Hu."

"I see, it's the home of Consort Hu. I know now."

"If there is nothing else, I will go back first. Your Majesty is still waiting for your report."

"Look at me, I've been keeping my big companion for so long, hurry up and send Eunuch Wang away."

After walking out, the nanny took out a purse and gave it to Wang Jinghong.

"People are gone."

"Ah."

"I was thinking about how to add the third daughter of the Hu family to the list, but I didn't expect that Wang Jinghong reminded His Majesty to add it."

"But why would Eunuch Wang give the Hu family such a favor?" Nanny was puzzled.

Concubine Wang explained to her: "He is not giving face to the Hu family, he is giving face to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Grandson, this... Grandson is too unfathomable."

"Did the Crown Prince send any message?"

"not yet."

"Grandson pays respects to Grandmother Wang."

Concubine Wang was just wondering whether she should send someone to pass a message to Zhu Zhanji, but she didn't expect that he would arrive first.

"No need to be polite, please sit down."

"Thank you, Grandmother."

"Grandson has something to ask grandma." Zhu Zhanji said.

"It's about the chrysanthemum viewing party, right? Do you want me to choose Miss Hu?" Concubine Wang knew what he wanted to say at once.

"No, grandson doesn't want her to be chosen."