Although Cui Muli was worried, there were more important things at hand than love.
He sent people to Zhengcheng to find out whether Lu Xianghe's illness was related to Dian Ziming. He also received news that the people who had gone to Longxi had returned and brought back a key figure.
Yao Tiangang's wet nurse, Madam Liu.
Madam Liu was nearly sixty years old. Due to her poor life, she was haggard and had a stooped and thin body. At first glance, she looked as dejected as an eighty-year-old person.
She had been suffering from illnesses for many years and had travelled long distances. She was in a really bad state at this time. However, facing the handsome and noble young official in front of her, she still cheered up and spoke tremblingly about what she knew.
Half an hour later, Cui Muli got the information he wanted and sent someone to take Madam Liu down and take good care of her.
He stood in front of the window and meditated.
According to the records of the case at that time: Yao Tiangang's wife, Madam Bai, was pregnant when she was arrested and was later imprisoned in a dungeon. She gave birth prematurely to a stillborn baby before it was eight months old.
What Madam Liu just said further confirmed his suspicion.
He walked out of the room, crossed the threshold, and walked towards the bright green courtyard. The darkness faded from the shoulders, the sunlight shone from the dome, and the air flow surged, pushing him forward silently.
The truth that has been buried for many years is about to come out, but it is also shaky.
*
In June, the heat is unbearable.
Ordinary people cannot afford ice at home, so their only pastime is to go to tea stalls to enjoy the coolness, drink a bowl of herbal tea, sip a bowl of jelly, and listen to others chatting about interesting stories about the capital.
To talk about anecdotes from afar, the widow in the East Village had an affair with someone, the scoundrel in Xizhuang took advantage of the little girl... these are all too common, too accessible, and boring.
If you want to talk, let's talk about big things, such as national political affairs, the princes's fight for the heir apparent position, the secrets of the harem... Once we talk about these, the men who have never been out of the village can transform into national teachers, and they can point out the country by narrowing their eyes.
Since the last time something happened to the family of Guo Rui, the concubine of the Fourth Prince, and after the Fourth Prince was punished, the princes have been a lot more quiet. On the contrary, Princess Qingyang, the daughter of Prince Rui who returned to the capital not long ago, caused a lot of trouble. There was a lot of noise attached to her reputation.
"My second uncle's cousin's distant relative works in the palace. It is said that Princess Qingyang is domineering by nature. Taking advantage of the Empress Dowager's favour, she actually spoke rudely to Master Kong's disciples and almost pushed them into the pool and drowned them! "
"Not only that, my third uncle's concubine's niece is working as a maid in the official family. It is said that her young lady accidentally stepped on Princess Qingyang's foot and was slapped twice by her. Even the arranged marriage was ruined because of this!"
"Oh, you are all distant relatives, unlike me. A niece in my fifth service works for Princess Qingyang. It is said that she beats and scolds the maids when she is unhappy, and even maims someone by mistake... It's so cruel!"
Everyone chatted with each other and came to the same conclusion: this Princess Qingyang is terrible, whoever marries her will be unlucky!
Discussions among the people also spread to the aristocratic circles in the capital. Everyone was already afraid of Princess Qingyang, but now they are even more afraid of her: Can't afford to offend her, yet still can't hide from her? !
After the person involved, Qingyang, noticed the abnormality, she angrily ran to Emperor Chengxuan to complain, hoping that he would pull out the ants she criticized and put them all in prison!
Emperor Chengxuan had a headache. Qingyang's arrogant reputation spreads far and wide. It was better to be lax about it than to stop it, but to neglect it - with her spoiled character, being lax about it was also useless.
So while appeasing one side, they deliberately arrested some people and imprisoned them, then released them home after a few days.
Princess Qingyang could only assume that Emperor Chengxuan loved her as always, and took advantage of the situation to ask him to bestow marriage to Zhou Niannan on her behalf. Zhou Niannan was on duty that day. After hearing this, he jumped out from behind the door, knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty, if you force this humble officer to marry Qingyang, I would rather be ordained and become a monk in the national temple!"
Princess Qingyang was so angry that she cursed loudly, but Zhou Niannan didn't answer back. He insisted stubbornly that he wanted to become a monk in the national temple.
Within a few days, the news spread again: Princess Qingyang, relying on her noble birth, actually wanted to get involved with the Third Young Master of the Dingyuan Marquis family and make him her husband! Third Young Master Zhou, on the other hand, wants to keep his integrity and would rather die than obey——
When Emperor Chengxuan heard the news, he sighed and complained to the Empress, "Qingyang is really spoiled by zhen. She acts so unruly. It's no wonder that little Third is not willing to agree to the marriage and spread rumours everywhere to oppose her."
The Empress was about to give birth, but her face was still soft and noble. She smiled and said: "Your Majesty has pampered Qingyang as his daughter since she was a child. Qingyang is inevitably a bit arrogant." She caressed her bulging belly and whispered: "If this concubine can give birth to a princess for Your Majesty..."
Emperor Chengxuan raised his hand and gently covered her lips, "Zhen wants you to give birth to a son for me. Zhen's son and yours."
The Empress snuggled into his arms meekly, her eyes turning colder every moment where he couldn't see her.
No matter how arrogant Qingyang is, as long as she enters Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, she will have a way to make people docile. But judging from His Majesty's intention, it is clear that he does not want the Marquis Mansion to provide any further help——
She understands what His Majesty means. If there is really a prince in her belly, since her brother holds real military power, her relatives will definitely become a problem. However, several other princes have grown up and their power in the court is growing. How can her children ascend to the throne smoothly without solid backing?
*
A few days later, the Empress gave birth to the ninth son, named Xi. Xi means brightness and brings happiness.
Emperor Chengxuan was overjoyed and immediately issued an edict to celebrate the event: the people would be exempted from taxes for three years and all sinners in the world would be granted amnesty. There are singing and dancing parades in the capital all night long and carnivals for many days.
Zhou Niannan breathed a sigh of relief.
After his aunt gave birth to a prince, Emperor Chengxuan would never ask for a noble daughter for him... In this way, his marriage to Xie Miao was already half done.
Taking advantage of a rest day, Zhou Niannan ran to the door of Cui Mansion and guarded it for half a day. As expected, he did not see Xie Miao exiting the door. He was not discouraged. If the first option didn't work, there is still the other——
Subsequently, the maids of Haihua Yuan noticed a brightly coloured parrot flew over the wall and opened its mouth:
"Guan Guan cry the osprey on the islet in the river, the beautiful and good young lady is a fine mate for the lord!" (quoted from the notes of the document "Guanyong")
"There is a beautiful woman. I can't forget her appearance. One day without her, I feel like I'm going crazy!" (quoted from the notes of the document "Phoenix Qiuhuang")
"Looking at the sky at dawn and the clouds at dusk, I miss you when I walk, and I miss you when I sit!" (quoted from the notes of the document "A Cut of Plum")
The two little girls, Lizhi and Guiyuan, hugged each other and danced excitedly, "Wa, wa, wa! This parrot can not only speak human language, but also recite poems, recite poems!"
Fu Lu felt deeply that it was hard to explain in words. She didn't know how much effort Third Young Master Zhou had spent to actually make this parrot call from "Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave" to a sour and shabby exit into a poem...
Eh, it is still a love poem that was recited. It is as if Sima Zhao's heart is well known to everyone. (t/n: the idiom involving Sima Zhao means that a person's supposed hidden intention is so well known that it is not really hidden.)
Fu Lu didn't want anyone to know what was going on inside. Therefore she quickly asked someone to find a bamboo bag and set up a ladder on the wall to net the parrot. The parrot is very clever. When he sees someone approaching, he immediately flutters his wings and flies to the side, shouting as he flies: "Look at the flowers in spring and the snow in winter. I miss you when I wake up and miss you in my dreams!" (quoted from notes on the Internet)
...Oh, you have a lot of vocabulary.
Several maids carried ladders and chased the parrot. They were so busy that they were sweating profusely but they couldn't catch it. Finally, it drew Xie Miao out.
The parrot seemed to recognize her. Its mung bean eyes suddenly brightened, and it screamed even more vigorously: "Guan Guan cry the osprey on the islet in the river, the beautiful and good young lady is a fine mate for the lord! A fine mate for the lord! A fine mate for the lord!"
Xie Miao put one hand on her forehead, her head throbbing in pain.
Zhou Niannan, this devil incarnate... wouldn't be happy if he didn't cause trouble for her, right?
"Come here, find me a slingshot." She said with a wooden face.
Fu Lu shook her head wildly at her, "Miss, this parrot looks very expensive." You must not strike it, you must not strike it, ah!
Xie Miao understood what she meant. She rolled up her sleeves helplessly and left. After returning to the study, she stuffed two large balls of cotton directly into her ears.
In the yard, the little maids were still chasing the parrot. This scene happened to be caught by Qiao Mu who came to deliver tea. He volunteered, rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to help. The result was as one can imagine...
For several days in a row, the parrot flew over in the morning and chanted poems for a quarter of an hour before it was willing to leave with its little wings.
Qiao Mu thought about it for a moment and informed his Young Master about the matter.
Cui Muli was unmoved after hearing this. He just chose a rest day and walked to Haihua Yuan. Sure enough, before stepping into the courtyard, he heard a strange cry: "I advise you not to cherish cloth of gold, but to honour the days of youth. When flowers bloom they need to be plucked, wait not to grasp in vain at empty twigs!" (quoted from the notes of the document "Golden Threaded Clothes")
"This sentence is new to me." Qiao Mu explained in a low voice.
The maids have become accustomed to the arrival of the parrot, and no one bothers to catch it anymore. They are all busy with their own business. When they saw Cui Muli coming, several people lined up and saluted him respectfully.
Cui Muli glanced at Qiao Mu, and Qiao Mu took out a slingshot from his sleeve and put it in his palm.
The parrot didn't know that misfortune was coming. It still jumped on the tiles with its little feet, coming here and going there, happily reciting: "Appreciate the flowers in spring and the snow in winter. I miss you when I wake up-"
There was a soft sound of "whoosh", and it carried a phantom image of a stone hitting its wings. Its body suddenly tilted and it fell straight to the ground. In the raised dust, two little feet could be vaguely seen kicking upwards in defiance.
It seems to be saying: Help - help me up, I can still read it again!
The maids widened their eyes and swallowed: Fast, accurate, cruel. The Second Young Master is so powerful!
Cui Muli said: "Go and put the parrot away."
Qiao Mu quickly stepped forward, grabbed the parrot's wings, and put it into a cage like a chicken.
Cui Muli glanced at Fu Lu inadvertently. Fu Lu was shocked and said quickly: "Thank you, Second Young Master. I will definitely tell the Young Lady about this."
The injured parrot was quickly returned to Zhou Niannan's hands.
Zhou Niannan was so angry that he broke a celadon-glazed lotus pattern pot, "You are good. This Cui Er, you are ruining my good deeds one after another - just wait for me!"
Although he is a dandy, he was extremely smart and he had an idea soon.
Cui Er has many admirers. Although the one from the Su family is engaged, there is also the Gu family, the Shen family, the Leng family, the You family...
Cui Er is really blessed.
There was amusement in his eyes, and he smiled gleefully.
*
As soon as the incident involving Princess Qingyang subsided, rumours about the second son of the Cui family began to spread wildly in the capital.
The Second Young Master of the Cui family is nineteen years old. He is a handsome young man with splendid future prospects, but there has been no news about his engagement. Just when everyone was wondering if he had any special hobbies, someone spotted him being intimate with Gu Youlan, the second daughter of the Right Prime Minister's family.
It is said that it was a beautiful and sunny day, and the two of them made an appointment to go to Huguo Temple to offer incense.
Rumour has it that they wore clothes of the same colour and looked like newlyweds from a distance.
Some people even swore that they saw Gu Youlan covered in sweat while climbing the mountain. The second son of the Cui family took the initiative to give her his wrist and helped her climb the steps——
Oh heavens! Is it possible that the Cui Mansion is getting married to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion? Speaking of which, the two families are a good match. The Second Young Master of the Cui family is both talented and knowledgeable, and the daughter of the Gu family is a captivating beauty. The two of them are truly a match made in heaven!
The noisy rumours reached the ears of interested people from all walks of life.
Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Zhou Niannan: Yes, very good, let the rumours come more violently!
Gu family, Prime Minister Gu: It would be better if we work harder and make the rumours true.
Su family, Su Panyan: Wuwuwu, without Xie Miao, there will eventually be others, what should I do?
Shen family, Leng family, You family, etc.: I'm so angry, but there is no other way. I can't compete with their family background and appearance, so I have to admit defeat.
In Cui Mansion, everyone's thoughts were also changing.
After Madam Xie heard the news from the maids, she leaned on the pillow and didn't speak for a long time.
So, does A-Miao and Muli really have no fate?
The child in her belly was fussing again. She frowned and lightly patted her belly absentmindedly – after all that she had done, why couldn't the two children do anything good? Otherwise......
Ai.
Madam Xie gave a short sigh and thought absent-mindedly: Otherwise, forget it. A-Miao has changed her mind anyway and doesn't want to marry Muli...
Yanzi opened the door curtain and came in, saying in a low voice: "Madam, the Second Young Master has come to pay respect to you."
Madam Xie raised her eyebrows in surprise. It's the end of the Youshi period, so what kind of greetings can she ask for? But she still changed her clothes and was helped to the main hall.
"Mother." Cui Muli bowed to her, lowered his eyebrows and restrained his eyes, as calm as jade.
Madam Xie sat on the rosewood screen-backed chair and asked with a smile, "Have you just left the government office?"
"That's right." Cui Muli poured the tea with his own hands and handed it to her, "Mother, drink tea."
Madam Xie took the tea, with a slight smile on her face. She murmured in her heart: To be courteous for nothing... Ahem, maybe he wanted to invite her to the Prime Minister's Mansion to propose marriage, right?
As a stepmother, it is not easy to ask, so she could only wait for him to take the initiative to mention the matter.
She expressed some polite concern, and then heard Cui Muli say: "I came today for one thing..."
Madam Xie put one hand on her waist, sat upright, and looked like she was listening attentively.
Cui Muli said: "I prepared a gift for my brother, specially sent to you."
Qiao Mu behind him stepped forward and opened the lacquered wood-carved auspicious box in his hand, revealing a silver-patterned boat trapped in red velvet cloth.
Madam Xie is in charge of the gifts in Cui Mansion, and her vision is naturally not low. Although she admires its exquisiteness, she can't help but feel confused: It's just to give gifts, why do you have to absolutely come at once after rushing from the office?
Then Cui Muli said: "A-Miao went to Baochang Pavilion to choose this for me. Does Mother like it?"