Golden Branch

Baifu Palace.

Concubine Jiang's belly is already showing.

However, perhaps God loves beautiful women, and Concubine Jiang did not lose her figure or appearance due to pregnancy.

Her body, limbs, etc. are still slender, and even her pregnant belly is not that big.

It looks like it's only three or four months, not at all the late stage of pregnancy of eight or nine months.

Her belly is not big, there are no stretch marks, and her skin is still so white and firm.

She has no pregnancy spots on her face, nor does she have any pregnancy symptoms such as hair loss or gray hair.

Apart from a slightly bulging belly, Concubine Jiang looked almost the same as usual.

"Saint, the construction of Ci'en Temple has already begun. According to the construction schedule, it should be completed by the time of Empress Dowager Yuande's seventieth birthday."

Concubine Jiang replied to the Saint in a soft voice.

Her eyes gleamed with the unique brilliance of motherhood: "It's true that 'only when you raise a child do you understand the kindness of your parents'. When I gave birth to Jiu, I was probably too young, and with Old Lady Xie in charge of everything, I didn't have a very profound experience."

"This pregnancy may be because I have grown up and matured, and I have begun to truly understand the heart of a mother."

"I'm always worried that I'm too old and not as healthy as I was when I was young. I'm afraid I won't be able to give my unborn child a healthy body."

"I am also worried. He was born in the palace and raised in luxury. If I cannot discipline him strictly, he will develop a dissolute and unmotivated character. I am fine with it, but if I bring disgrace to the saint's reputation, I will be sorry for him and for my child."

Concubine Jiang seemed to have really thought a lot, and when she spoke to the saint, she talked about all sorts of things and kept on rambling.

The saint, however, enjoyed chatting with Concubine Jiang.

He and the queen are the original wives, siblings, and inseparable relatives.

As for Concubine Jiang, she was his favorite concubine in his early years and was his beloved woman.

But with this pregnancy, the relationship between the two began to change quietly.

Concubine Jiang was not only his favorite woman, but also the mother of his children.

They began to have blood ties.

They have been in love for nearly ten years, and now in the saint's heart, Concubine Jiang is second only to Queen Li.

He really liked to lean beside Concubine Jiang, looking at her beautiful face, which was filled with the air of everyday life, and chatting with him about trivial matters.

However, this time the Ci'en Temple was not a trivial matter, it was a serious matter concerning the saint's filial piety to his deceased mother!

More than a month ago, when Concubine Jiang was chatting with the Saint, she said with a tone of relief and pride:

"Ajiu is indeed sensible and filial. As soon as she arrived in Beijing, she lit eternal lamps for me in several major temples in the capital."

"She said that she couldn't serve me like she served her father, so she wanted to pray for me more."

"Although the theory of ghosts and gods is vague and illusory, it is better than her intention!"

"As a mother to Jiu, I have actually failed in my duty. If she can't serve me, how can I raise her?"

"I couldn't grow up with her, couldn't teach her to grow up. As a mother, I feel guilty towards her."

After Concubine Jiang became pregnant, she was no longer as cold and aloof as before, but rather the beauty from the Moon Palace who had come down to earth.

She became talkative, but not annoying.

Instead, I can feel her sincerity.

The saint was moved by Concubine Jiang.

He even thought about himself: "Jiaojiao, are you saying that as a mother, you feel guilty because you can't be with your children?"

"Yes! As a mother, I don't have too many demands on my children. I just hope they can be healthy and happy."

Concubine Jiang buried a thorn in her heart without leaving any trace: no mother would have the heart to put her son in a difficult position, and other people, even so-called aunts, should not use their status to force or kidnap others.

"Eternal lamp? Praying for blessings? That's a good idea!"

The saint returned to the previous topic.

He was inspired by Concubine Jiang and wanted to pray for his deceased mother.

The saint was the emperor, and if he wanted to borrow the power of gods and Buddhas to pray for his deceased mother, he would not just light a perpetual lamp.

"Let's build a temple, and then build a pagoda inside the temple, and store all the things that Auntie used during her lifetime in the pagoda!"

As Concubine Jiang's "sister" and ally, Queen Li has a common goal in dealing with Lady Lu.

Queen Li admitted that she was not as broad-minded as the saint and she was more vindictive.

When the former emperor was in power, their Qi Wang Mansion was often targeted by the Dugu family headed by Lady Lu.

Queen Li's eldest beloved son, Yang Rui, was once assassinated!

Although the assassin failed to hurt Yang Rui at all, for a mother who protects her son, her son is safe and sound not because the enemy is merciful, but because her son is blessed with long-lasting good fortune.

She took note of this debt and waited to repay it double in the future.

The "future" has arrived.

The saint might spare Lady Lu at a critical moment for various reasons, such as family affection or political considerations.

But Queen Li doesn’t!

Yes, Lady Lu was her biological aunt, but this aunt was also the enemy who tried to kill her child.

Queen Li did not take direct action, which was already out of consideration for the so-called family affection.

Nowadays, she is just "going with the flow" and is not at all heartless or cruel and indifferent.

The only thing about Lady Lu that could impress the saint was her affection for Empress Dowager Yuande.

Humph, they are just taking advantage of the saint's respect and remembrance for his deceased mother. If Lady Lu can do it, they can do it too.

The suggestion made by Langya is excellent!

Yes, build a temple specifically for Empress Dowager Yuande and a tall pagoda.

All the relics of Empress Dowager Yuande that were not buried with the emperor were enshrined in the temple.

Whether it was books, letters, calligraphy and paintings, or clothes, jewelry, etc., Queen Li was sure that what Empress Dowager Yuande left to her son and daughter-in-law must be more than what she left to Lady Lu, an outsider.

Concubine Jiang even suggested that Queen Li collect the hair attached to the relics.

Compared to external objects, hair is the real part of Empress Dowager Yuande.

Just this strand of hair left by the loving mother is worth any "trump card" that Mrs. Lu can use!

"My dear, the foundation of the pagoda has already been laid. You can sort out the Queen Mother's belongings in advance..."

Concubine Jiang continued to speak softly.

She already knew that at the court meeting yesterday, the emperor had temporarily imprisoned the Dugu family.

She guessed that Lady Lu would try every possible means to break through the guards and rush into the palace to play the family card with the saint.

The old woman has already held a grudge against Ajiu. She has finally fallen to the ground, and she will never let her rise again.

Otherwise, he will definitely bring disaster to Ajiu one day.

Before Lady Lu entered the palace, Concubine Jiang deliberately mentioned Ci'en Temple, in order to make the emperor immune to the matter of "remembering his loving mother" in advance.

As expected, after hearing about the Ci'en Temple incident and Concubine Jiang's suggestion that he pack up the relics, the Saint nodded and said, "Jiaojiao is absolutely right! I really should sort out the private vault left by my mother in advance!"

His mother passed away early, but left him many things.

Gold, silver and other vulgar things are not worth mentioning.

What the saint cared about more were the books collected by his late mother and the calligraphy and paintings she created herself.

Well, a lot!

The collection of books consists of several large boxes, most of which have annotations and notes written by the late mother.

There are also dozens of calligraphy and paintings, including landscapes, flowers and birds, as well as portraits painted by his late mother for him, Arui and others.

When the saint recalled these relics, he felt an inexplicable urgency in his heart.

He hurriedly said goodbye to Concubine Jiang and turned to go to one of his private vaults.

In the huge warehouse, there are rows of shelves, and the shelves are full of the relics of my deceased mother.

The saint flipped through the portraits one by one, especially the portraits of himself, his wife, and his son. Arui in the painting was just one year old.

At that time, my mother was already ill, but she still supported her sick body and held a birthday party for Arui. After the party, she painted this portrait with her own hands.

"Mother, you loved A Rui the most. Now, A Rui has grown up and become the most outstanding heir."

"He looks a lot like you, but his personality is like my sister and me."

"He is kind and generous, yet not timid or weak. If we hand over the country to him in the future, he will surely become a wise ruler."

A Rui is not only his and his sister's eldest son, but also his precious grandson who allows his mother to rest in peace without regrets.

The saint looked at the portrait, recalled the past, and his eyes couldn't help but become moist.

At this moment, there was a rustling sound outside, as if someone was running over and reporting in a low voice to the eunuch guarding outside the door.

"who?"

The saint's tone was a little cold.

The saint was naturally in a bad mood because his beautiful memories were interrupted!

"…Your Majesty, Madam Lu rushed out of the Dugu Mansion, holding a calligraphy and painting personally written by the Empress Dowager, and knelt outside the palace gate to apologize!"

The chief eunuch had served the saint for many years and knew his master very well.

Just by listening to his tone, you can tell that he is unhappy.

Why not fast?

It should be related to Empress Dowager Yuande.

The chief eunuch's brain worked quickly and he made a choice immediately.

He seemed to report truthfully, but there was still some emphasis: holding the Empress Dowager's calligraphy and paintings, he broke through the guards.

According to the eunuch chief, Lady Lu had no respect for the Queen Mother's relics and treated them more as tools.

The saint's expression grew increasingly grim.

He looked down at the scroll in his hand, and suddenly his mind flashed back to an assassination attempt that Arui had suffered two years ago.

After investigation, it was found that this matter was closely related to the Dugu family.

OK!

She is truly my good aunt!

When he was in power, he killed my eldest son.

Having lost power, he took out my mother's relics as amulets.

Do you really think I'm a coward who can always be easily manipulated by you?!

……

Lady Lu was unable to meet the emperor. Before the various government departments could conduct a thorough investigation, the Dugu family was stripped of their titles and their property was confiscated. Lady Lu was also stripped of her title as Lady of the State.

Being able to save the lives of Madam Lu and hundreds of people in the Dugu family was the saint's last consideration for the sake of kinship!

"...The Saint finally softened his heart!"

Sitting in the carriage, Wang Mian sighed softly.

Wang Heng nodded, "Saints value friendship and loyalty!"

Of course, this is also related to the fact that the Dugu family has many in-laws.

The aristocratic and prominent families are related to each other, so as long as they do not openly rebel, they will not really carry out the system of killing the entire family.

The matter of the Dugu family is neither small nor big.

The so-called crown prince of the previous dynasty is not that important.

After all, the previous dynasty was not overthrown by Dayu, and the Yang royal family did not have much hatred towards the previous dynasty.

The sage even conferred the title of Earl of Yongle on the former prince, allowing him to enjoy wealth and honor in the capital.

"Jiu Niang, do you really want to go see Xie Yanzhi?"

After all, the disputes of the previous dynasty had little to do with these little girls.

Wang Mian threw the gossip aside after a few words. She was more concerned about whether her eldest daughter was courting death...