boyutpedia Chapter 198 Rumors abound
Chapter 198 Rumors abound
Hongli's tense body suddenly relaxed, and he smiled happily, "I admire your knowledge, Father, so I study hard and don't dare to delay for a moment."
Concubine Duan put down her cup and said, "Everyone has a lover who admires them. It is rare to be able to do what you say. Hongli is a good child."
Jiang Ruyin raised her eyelids and said, "Yes, the emperor must reward Hongli well."
The two sang in unison. The Queen glanced at Jiang Ruyin with a hint of understanding and said jokingly, "The princes are all excellent. Everyone will receive a reward today. The Emperor must not show favoritism by favoring the youngest son."
"Of course not, Hong Zhou."
Hong Zhou stood up and saluted with his brows lowered. "Father, your Majesty, my son's knowledge is not as good as that of my fourth brother, but I have also studied hard."
"Okay, then tell me your favorite passage from the Book of Rites and explain why," said the emperor.
Hong Zhou pondered for a moment before answering, "There are three kinds of filial piety: the greatest is honoring one's parents, the next is not bringing disgrace upon one's parents, and the lowest is providing for them. This comes from the Book of Rites, chapter 1: The Rites of Sacrifice. Filial behavior can be divided into three levels: the greatest is fully respecting one's family and elders, the next is not bringing disgrace upon one's parents, and the lowest is merely providing for them. I am deeply moved and extremely grateful for the care and kindness of the Emperor's father and mother."
That day, Hong Zhou was keeping vigil for the Empress Dowager, and he stood straight all night, attracting great attention.
"Good, very good. As the saying goes, filial piety is the most important virtue. Concubine Yu, Hong Zhou has lived up to your cultivation." The emperor agreed very much, but the empress dowager had passed away, and he sighed in his heart.
Yupin's cheeks flushed slightly. "I dare not take credit for it. It's just that Hong Zhou is a soft-hearted child and he worked hard on his own."
Then it was Hongxuan's turn. Jiang Ruyin was not worried. She saw Hongxuan's chubby little hands hidden under the table patting Hongning in a soothing manner, and she couldn't help laughing.
The emperor looked at Hongxuan quietly, and suddenly asked, "I remember that you have already mastered the Thousand Character Classic. I wonder how you are doing now."
Hong Xuan bowed solemnly, "I disappointed Your Majesty last time. Since then, I have studied diligently and now I have memorized the entire text."
The emperor nodded.
Hong Xuan cleared his throat and began, "The sky and earth are dark yellow, the universe is vast and boundless. The sun and moon wax and wane, the stars are arrayed... As winter and summer pass, I draw pictures of animals and paint pictures of fairies. The Bing hut opens to the side, the Jia tent faces the pillars. A banquet is set, harps and flutes are played... He ties his belt with dignity, wandering and gazing. Ignorant and ignorant, foolish and ignorant, are mocked. The auxiliary verb is yan zai hu ye."
Hongxuan recited it fluently. Jiang Ruyin nodded secretly and decided to go back and reward the palace servants and commend Hongxuan.
Hongning listened quietly from beginning to end, until Hongxuan finished speaking, then he raised his head and said something.
"Hongxuan is very sensible, and Concubine Fang has made an indelible contribution to this." The emperor was very satisfied.
Bowing, Jiang Ruyin said with a smile, "I really know why. The teacher in the Imperial Study once told Hongxuan that when the Emperor was young, he studied very hard so as not to disappoint his elders. Hongxuan admired the Emperor and tried to emulate him, which is why he has achieved what he has today."
"Oh? Is there such a thing?" The emperor turned his head.
The teacher bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, my teacher served as an instructor in the Imperial Study during the reign of the previous emperor. Some years ago, the Sixth Prince came to the Imperial Study to ask how he could help him improve his studies. He expressed great admiration for Your Majesty in his words, and I told you about your past experience in the Imperial Study. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
A flash of reminiscence flashed across the emperor's eyes, and he waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing. I was so focused on my studies that I had a high fever that wouldn't go away. Mother Tong Jia was very worried and took care of me day and night. Hongxuan, please don't make your mother worry."
Hong Xuan laughed, "I'm already worried about not being able to answer the Emperor's questions, so how can I bear to let you worry about me?"
An Lingrong was not worried about Hongning at all. She smiled with relief and whispered in Jiang Ruyin's ear, "Sixth Prince is as sincere as my sister."
Finally, the emperor gently waved to Hongning, took him into his arms, and said with a pleasant face: "Hongning, tell your father, have you learned anything?"
Hongning looked up at the somewhat weathered man in front of him and said something in a small voice.
Jiang Ruyin didn't hear it, but seeing that the queen was listening attentively, she probably didn't hear it clearly either.
An Lingrong whispered to her, "Hongning loves to listen to me play the Yueqin. He's very interested in the instrument and the music albums."
Jiang Ruyin understood.
In May, the cicadas are chirping incessantly, and the suffocating heat is slowly rising.
When Jiang Ruyin was in charge, she would always increase the supply of mung bean soup in hot weather and brown sugar ginger soup in cold weather. After the Queen returned, these benefits were no longer available, after all, Jiang Ruyin was paying for it herself.
There was some discussion at first, but then it died down. Jiang Ruyin was completely focused on teaching Hongxuan to protect himself.
In early June, the news that a Mongolian Khan favored his concubine and killed his wife somehow reached the Central Plains, and there were many people in the capital who talked about it with relish.
Suddenly, another topic of discussion arose in the palace.
"There's a Concubine Fang in our palace. I used to envy her for rising from a merchant's daughter to the position of concubine. But guess what? What's her mother's surname?"
"You're not active in your work, but you're active in gossiping. What's your last name? Can it be Aisin-Gioro?"
"Not much different! Borjigit!"
......
"Do you know that Concubine Fang's mother came to the palace a few years ago? I thought she was quite impressive when I saw her then. I only recently learned that her last name is Borjigit. That's amazing! I was wondering how Concubine Fang was so capable of climbing to the position of concubine."
"What happened to Borjigit? He still thinks this is the Shunzhi era."
"A lean camel is bigger than a horse. Isn't Concubine Gong still a concubine?"
......
"Concubine Fang is Han Chinese, and her mother is Mongolian?"
"Yes, when the Emperor went to Jiangnan that year, why did he fall in love with her? She's not a top beauty. Which of Concubine Hua and Concubine Li is better than her?"
"Is that the point? Manchus and Han people don't intermarry, let alone Mongols. Haven't you thought of something else?"
"what do you mean?"
......
"I heard that Concubine Fang was cultivated by those Mongols to deceive the Emperor. In order to make the late Emperor relax his vigilance, they risked their lives to marry a Jiangnan merchant and gave birth to Concubine Fang and raised her. Look at Sixth Prince, look at this mother and son, the Emperor loves them very much. I'm only telling you one person, so don't say anything nonsense.
"You don't know me yet. I'm the most tight-lipped person."
......
"Do you know? I'm telling you in secret. Concubine Fang is a Mongolian spy! Her mother fled all the way from Mongolia to Jiangnan to give birth to Concubine Fang. She then meticulously arranged to have Concubine Fang presented to the Emperor, flattering him in every possible way to achieve this!"
"Is this true? How do you know such a secret?"
"What do you mean? Did I lie to you? I've been in the palace for so many years, so I must have some information channels."
"My father's last name is Jiang, and my mother's last name is Borjigit. What you said makes sense."