Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Four

With the addition of fresh, exciting, and wonderful new feelings in life, Emperor Wanli's mood really revived from hibernation; he began to show vigorous vitality again, and he became more interested in many colorful play activities in life. So, he resumed the spiritual and material enjoyment of playing with utensils, calligraphy and paintings, enjoying singing and dancing dramas, enjoying delicacies and wines, etc., and even brought Ke Yan and Xiaoyu to play the game of counting silver with Concubine Zheng again—— Beautiful women and handsome men are hugging together, enjoying all the beauty and happiness in the world.

Of course, he did not forget to summon Shi Shihang every once in a while—it’s not that he remembers the important affairs of the state and summons the Chief Assistant every once in a while—he only wants to inquire about one thing, That is about the progress of the construction of the mausoleum where he will live after his death. And because he was in charge of the construction of the mausoleum, Shen Shixing had already received a lot of benefits in his own pocket, and all the responses were very in line with his wishes—the gray-haired, short and stooped Shen Shixing knelt on his knees. When Chen Zou was in front of him, he always reported the progress of the project in detail in a humble and respectful tone, and described in detail the construction of this "underground palace" that met his ideal; the progress was smoother than the reservation , ahead, the servants are working hard, the sky is beautiful, there is little rain, and the vast construction site is filled with a spirit of teamwork and hard work, so the foundation has been completed-every word can be heard from him "Dragon Heart Joy", even the idea of ​​inspecting it in person began to move in his heart.

With this idea, Concubine Zheng was the first to clap her hands in agreement: "The mausoleum is a long-term plan, and there is no room for negligence. If Long Live Lord goes to inspect it in person, it will appear that this matter is extraordinary, and no servants will dare to be lazy! " As he said that, he blinked at Emperor Wanli again, showed a knowing smile, and whispered in Emperor Wanli's ear: "Didn't the Lord Long live whisper? Since the birth of the mother's womb, two feet have not stepped on this place." A place other than the imperial palace—this time, isn’t it just a good time to go out and get some fresh air?”

This sentence was right in the heart of Emperor Wanli. He felt a warm heart in his heart, smiled straight into his eyebrows, put his arm around Concubine Zheng's slender waist, kissed her earlobe and said with a smile: "It's you who knows me. mind..." Therefore, he immediately summoned Shen Shihang again and told him to prepare for this matter as soon as possible. After accepting this new task, when he exited the palace and returned to his residence, his body habitually accepted the rocking of the sedan chair, but his soul flew freely in the sky as if flying out of the body.

"As a minister, who doesn't want to be a loyal and straightforward Wei Zheng, so that he will be famous forever? But--only when there is Tang Taizong, can there be Wei Zheng!" If the emperor Wei Zheng worked for was not a British lord like Tang Taizong, even if he had ten heads, it would not be enough to chop off; he clearly remembered an allusion he had read in a book: Tang Taizong was playing with his beloved pigeon. At that time, Wei Zheng came to play something. Tang Taizong was afraid that Wei Zheng would see him playing with birds and would persuade him on the topic of "playing things and losing his mind", so he immediately hid the pigeon in his arms; unexpectedly, Wei Zheng played for too long and waited for him. After leaving, Tang Taizong's beloved pigeon was suffocated to death...

And although almost all the scholars in this dynasty have read such a record, when they become officials, they must recognize one fact: for this dynasty, this allusion is simply a myth! "The Reign of Zhenguan—cough, uh, the Reign of Zhenguan..." He shook his head in a trance for a while, and the conclusion was a few dry coughs of shaking his head; then, as if reminding himself, he pulled himself back to his senses and focused his thoughts on the task entrusted to him by Emperor Wanli. In any case, it is impossible to reproduce the prosperous age of the Zhenguan Reign. He has no choice but to be the chief assistant who only obeys the emperor's order—this can be considered "loyalty"—so he began to plan. How to perform this task together.

The emperor personally went out of the palace and went to Changping County to inspect the pre-constructed mausoleum——according to the current consumption level of Emperor Wanli, a visit will inevitably cost the country's total tax revenue for a year... "Where are you going to raise this money? Let's raise taxes..." Anyway, there is no choice. The emperor’s expenses will not fall from the sky. Of course, there is no choice but to collect the people’s fat and people’s anointing. This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Household Affairs; — Just like that, before the sedan chair was carried to the door of the house, he already had a plan in mind.

However, Emperor Wanli and Concubine Zheng in the palace didn't care about his calculations at all - anyway, once the matter was explained, he, as the chief assistant, would try to make it all right - their whole mood was because of "going on tour" Excited about this matter, they talked endlessly with great interest, so that it became the focus of their lives, and all their thoughts revolved around "inspecting the mausoleum". However, as the legal future hostess of this mausoleum, the queen and queen not only could not enjoy this happiness, but never even participated in any details about the mausoleum.

From the day she was registered as a queen and met Emperor Wanli, she was unable to enter his life; she was a queen in name, but actually lived alone in Kunning Palace like an abandoned woman. "Mother's ceremonies in the world, leading the six palaces", this is the glory of being a queen, but except for the few days of the year when major ceremonies are held on the birthdays of the empress dowager and the emperor, she can't see her at all. In the face of the emperor, you can't enjoy these honors. The status of "Queen" is undoubtedly a torture for her. She was guarded as a widow in the Kunning Palace, and her youth was shattered inch by inch by desolation and loneliness. There was only living suffering in the ruthless blank years.

The Kunning Palace has a large area, magnificent buildings, and exquisite and gorgeous decorations. However, without the laughter and masculinity, this is an out-and-out "cold palace", living a life like a walking dead. Life is no different from the dead living in the mausoleum. When the whole country was arguing about the issue of "establishing a crown prince", one of the key points was "the queen will not come out", she could only cry secretly in her heart-as a queen, how could she openly tell the people of the whole country that she can only do so in the country? Only one or two sides of Emperor Wanli can be seen in the official ceremony, how can she give birth to a child?

After living like this for so many years, she has long since given up on Emperor Wanli, and she has no hope for his change of heart at all, and lives as if she had resigned herself to her fate; only occasionally once or twice, in her heart A few strands of helpless lament rose indistinctly from his head, reviewing the reasons why he could not get the love of Emperor Wanli one by one. She also compared herself with Concubine Zheng, and the two are indeed very different in many ways; Concubine Zheng is not only beautiful, but also loves to dress up and knows how to dress up. Comb out different patterns; the same jewelry is different on her body; for several years, I haven’t seen her wear the same clothes for two days; she is literate, eloquent, quick in response, sweet in mouth, A pair of dripping winking eyes flicked around—and all of these, judging by the standards of the "lady" education I received, were vulgar, frivolous, and the image of an "undecent woman"; The emperor loves such a dishonest woman! What I received since I was a child is the education that requires dignified and chaste as the standard, and the three obediences and four virtues as the basis. I was canonized as a queen because I met these requirements; but I never imagined that my emperor's husband felt differently about women. standard. "Inner beauty can't beat outer beauty..." She could only accept her fate with a sad heart, and lived a life of "sitting and waiting" in the Kunning Palace without seeing the sun; sometimes, she even envied her personal treatment far inferior to her Wang Gongfei. . Concubine Wang Gong also lived in the cold palace as a widow, and because she was not valued by Emperor Wanli, she was treated poorly in life; the maids and eunuchs who served her knew her situation, so they didn't think much of her, so of course they were very poor when they served her. With all my heart, if I ask for tea or water, I will even sneer behind my back; the food and clothing provided to her are poor, and a decent brocade dress has been worn for more than five years since she became a concubine until now. I haven't added the second thing; I have to worry and worry about Chang Luo all day long, and cry secretly under the covers at night. As the eldest son of the emperor, Chang Luo was treated badly because he didn't get the love of his father. When he was born, he didn't even find a wet nurse, so he was fed by Concubine Wang Gong; He didn't grow very strong, often fell ill, and looked thin and pitiful; his development was delayed, and he would only speak when he was old; now he is six years old, but because Emperor Wanli has not yet The ministers of the Manchu Dynasty and the people all over the country were arguing about him, but they couldn't imagine that he lived in the palace this kind of life that was worse than that of ordinary people's children. There is nothing he can do to help, let alone improve or enhance his status in the eyes of Emperor Wanli. She is full of sympathy for Concubine Wang Gong and Chang Luo. Although she has more than enough energy to help Concubine Wang Gongfei, enlightenment to study, and even advice to Emperor Wanli, she can't help; It is possible to provide daily necessities for her mother and child, and whenever Concubine Wang Gong brought Chang Luo to pay her respects, she would always comfort her with kind words. However, Concubine Wang Gong couldn't imagine her envious heart - she never showed it in words or expressions, only secretly felt sour in her heart. Although Concubine Wang Gong's fate is tragic, she still has a son, who always has spiritual sustenance; but what about herself?On the surface, she is expensive as a queen, but in fact she has nothing. "When she cried, it was mother and child embracing—and me?" She was wearing a queen's dress embroidered with pearls, jade, and golden phoenix. She was alone in the blank years, watching her life move forward day by day toward a future without light, waiting to be side by side with her husband after entering the mausoleum. Lie down and stay together forever.