Chapter 133

 

Chen Jingzong took Hua Yang back to the bed, and the two talked for a while. Suddenly the sound to indicated the second watch came from the street.

Somehow, Hua Yang thought of Cabinet Elder Zeng.

She had not seen Cabinet Elder Zeng much in recent years, but she had met him in the palace in the early years. In her memory, Cabinet Elder Zeng always looked like an honest and responsible official.

But honest people were not necessarily timid. It was said that when father-in-law was still the deputy chief minister, Cabinet Elder Zeng often helped the former chief minister to confront father-in-law in the court and cabinet.

But at that time, Cabinet Elder Zeng’s confidence was given by the former chief minister. When father-in-law was promoted, Cabinet Elder Zeng immediately turned into a turtle with a shrunken head. He didn’t even dare to see his father-in-law’s face and often claimed to be sick at home. His only wish was for the court to quickly approve his resignation and let him retire and return to his hometown, far away from the capital, this troublesome place.

With Cabinet Elder Zeng’s temperament, did his death in the middle of the night in her previous life really have nothing to do with father-in-law?

Of course, her father-in-law definitely did not really persecute Cabinet Elder Zeng, but Hua Yang suddenly suspected that it was Cabinet Elder Zeng who was afraid of her father-in-law. It was fine if father-in-law did not show up, but when father-in-law went to visit, it only aggravated Cabinet Elder Zeng’s condition?

If this was the case, Cabinet Elder Zeng may live for a while longer, until her father-in-law came to visit again and he would be scared again?

Thinking of this possibility, Hua Yang couldn’t sleep.

It was not that she looked forward to Cabinet Elder Zeng’s death tonight, but she was just irritated by the situation that she couldn’t completely grasp. If her father-in-law would visit Cabinet Elder Zeng again tomorrow, how should she stop him?

“Not sleepy yet?”

The lights had been turned off, but Chen Jingzong could tell that her breathing did not sound like she was asleep.

Hua Yang shook her head, hugged his thin waist, and decided not to think about it for now, and would adapt to the situation tomorrow.

Chen Jingzong was wondering why she didn’t think he was too hot tonight. Just as he was about to squeeze her hand, Hua Yang suddenly let go of him and turned around holding the quilt.

Chen Jingzong:……

.

Not long after Chen Jingzong set off the next day, Hua Yang also woke up. She couldn’t bear to lie down idle with so much on her mind.

Taking advantage of the coolness of the morning, Hua Yang took her two maids to stroll in the garden.

Chen Tingjian didn’t know what his daughter-in-law princess was doing, so he set off early as usual to work in the cabinet.

In the morning, when he and several courtiers were meeting the emperor in Qianqing Palace, a eunuch guarding outside the palace suddenly received a message, so he lifted up the curtain and poked his head inside.

Cao Li, who was standing next to Emperor Yuanyou, saw him, came over, listened to the report, and then walked back.

Empress Dowager Qi asked: “What’s the matter?”

Cao Li showed a sad face: “Back to Niangniang and Your Majesty, just now someone from Cabinet Elder Zeng’s house came to report that Cabinet Elder Zeng has passed away due to illness.”

Emperor Yuanyou was taken aback. Old man Zeng, who had begged to sue Cabinet Elder yesterday, was gone now?

Empress Dowager Qi’s eyelids twitched slightly and she looked at Chen Tingjian.

Chen Tingjian exchanged glances with her, but it was difficult to explain anything at this time. He and several other ministers only said some words of condolence for Cabinet Elder Zeng.

Having been in the cabinet for more than ten years, even it was political opponents, there were also some friendships. Chen Tingjian shed tears in his eyes as he talked.

When the ministers saw it, they admired the power of the chief minister and burst into tears at the same time.

Emperor Yuanyou couldn’t cry, so he sighed heavily, showing that he was feeling heavy.

Empress Dowager Qi took the initiative and asked Cao Li to go to Cabinet Elder Zeng’s house in person to convey her oral instructions and provide funeral rites, which gave the Zeng family enough dignity.

After several ministers withdrew, only Empress Dowager Qi, Emperor Yuanyou, and Chen Tingjian were left in the palace. Empress Dowager Qi asked Chen Tingjian: “How was Cabinet Elder Zeng’s condition when you see him yesterday? Why did he suddenly die?”

He didn’t die early or late, but he died after Chen Tingjian’s visit. If the news spreads, those people would use this to slander Chen Tingjian.

Chen Tingjian bowed and said, “Back to Niangniang, yesterday evening, this minister did plan to visit the Zeng Mansion after leaving the palace. However, this minister’s granddaughter Wan Yi accidentally injured her ankle and cried so much. The wife at home was so concern that she sent the steward to fetch this minister to go back early, so this minister went back to the mansion first. This minister planned to visit Cabinet Elder Zeng again tonight, but didn’t expect that because of the delay, this minister did not have the chance to see Cabinet Elder Zeng for the last time.”

After speaking, he sighed regretfully.

Empress Dowager Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Chen family had this incident and helped Chen Tingjian avoid a lot of trouble.

“Everything in the world is unpredictable. Cabinet Elder doesn’t no need to blame yourself. By the way, how is Wan Yi’s foot injury?” Empress Dowager Qi expressed her concern appropriately.

Chen Tingjian: “The doctor saw it and said it was nothing serious, but the little girl was very spoiled and cried too much, which really frightened the elders in the family.”

Emperor Yuanyou had been listening silently. He had some impressions of Cabinet Elder Chen’s granddaughter. His sister seemed to like her very much. He couldn’t remember her facial features clearly. He only remembered that when he saw the girl, he thought that she looked much more pleasing to the eye than Cabinet Elder Chen!

Chen Mansion.

Hua Yang didn’t ask the maids to pack their stuffs for the time being, she was still waiting for the news.

Cabinet Elder Zeng and Chen Tingjian were both work in the cabinet, so the superficial harmony was still there. Now that Cabinet Elder Zeng had died of illness, when the Zeng family announced the news to relatives and friends, the Chen family was also included.

Sun shi was the mistress of the house. After hearing the news, she promptly sent her maids to inform her three daughters-in-law.

Hua Yang came to Chunhe Hall to sat with her mother-in-law and learned some details. For example, Cabinet Elder Zeng passed away this morning.

Hua Yang’s mood was a little complicated.

In her previous life, her father-in-law went to visit, and Cabinet Elder Zeng passed away in the middle of the night. In this life, her father-in-law did not go, but Cabinet Elder Zeng persisted until this morning, and perhaps he saw his wife and offsprings first.

Therefore, Cabinet Elder Zeng was really afraid of her father-in-law!

.

Since there was nothing else she needed to do in the Chen family, Hua Yang returned to Grand Princess Mansion that day.

When Chen Jingzong came back in the evening, Hua Yang mentioned the matter to him.

Chen Jingzong didn’t quite understand what she meant. Was she regretting that the court was losing another Cabinet Elder, or because Cabinet Elder Zeng and the old man were political enemies, she told him about this as good news?

He was not sure, so Chen Jingzong just nodded, indicating that he understood, and then started eating.

Hua Yang couldn’t help but feel a little regretful when she saw that he didn’t take this matter to heart at all.

If Chen Jingzong knew that her father-in-law almost went to visit Cabinet Elder Zeng, and it was because of her that he avoided this trouble, Chen Jingzong would definitely praise her, right?

Hua Yang was not a saint. Sometimes when she done good deeds, she hoped others would appreciate her and praise her.

However, if she said it, she had to explain a lot of things. Hua Yang didn’t want to move the old lady of the Chen family out every time, so she might as well just pretend it didn’t happen.

She talked about something else instead: “Tomorrow I will go to Hongfu Temple first. When you finish at the guard station, you don’t have to go back to the city. You can go directly to Hongfu Temple to find me.”

Chen Jingzong understood this time that Cabinet Elder Zeng’s death had no impact on her. Not every cabinet elder could win her favor.

Why is my old man’s life so good?

Chen Jingzong chewed the meat in his mouth fiercely, and then asked her after eating: “The imperial court has lost a Cabinet Elder, are you still in the mood to go sightseeing?”

Hua Yang raised her eyebrows: “Isn’t it you who insist on going outside with me?”

Chen Jingzong: “I want it on the seventh, but you decided it on the ninth.”

Hua Yang scoffed: “Forget it if you don’t want to go. It’s such a hot day and I also don’t want to bother.”

Chen Jingzong continued to eat.

When they lie down on the bed, he pulled the grand princess who was too lazy to look at him into his arms, and kissed her ear: “When will you leave the city tomorrow?”

Hua Yang closed her eyes and said in a cold tone: “I won’t leave the city. I want to stay at home to remember Cabinet Elder Zeng.”

Chen Jingzong: “He hasn’t served the imperial court for two years, why should you remember him?”

Hua Yang: “I want to.”

Chen Jingzong: “It would be better to go to Hongfu Temple and offer him incense sticks, it will be more sincere.”

Hua Yang: “That’s fine. I’ll go in the morning and come back after burning incense.”

Chen Jingzong bit her earlobe.

It was not really biting, it was obviously flirting.

She didn’t want to call out Chen Jingzong like he hoped, so she just covered her ears.

Chen Jingzong changed to kissing the back of her hand: “You first favored the old man, and then deliberately found trouble with you.”

Hua Yang: “When did I favor your father?”

Chen Jingzong: “If it was the old man who got into accident today, would you still be in the mood to go to Hongfu Temple? They are all Cabinet Eelders. How can you, the Grand Princess, treat them differently?”

Hua Yang gritted her teeth: “They are all indeed Cabinet Elders, but only Cabinet Elder Chen is my father-in-law. Of course I will not treat my father-in-law and ordinary Cabinet Elders equally.”

Chen Jingzong: “But you have never treated us father and son equally either. Unless you treat me a thousand times better than him, I will be arguing with you for the rest of my life.”

Hua Yang: “It’s up to you, just don’t disturb my sleep.”

As she said that, she tried to move inside the bed.

But Chen Jingzong wrapped his arms around her waist.

Hua Yang pinched his hand.

Chen Jingzong winced: “Can’t you praise that I am better than him?”

Hua Yang laughed: “Let alone you, even the three of you brothers combined can’t compare with Father’s ability to serve the court.”

Chen Jingzong: “Now you can say that, but when I get to his age, I will definitely be better than him.”

Hua Yang:……

She couldn’t refute this because in her previous life she had never seen what achievements Chen Jingzong could make when he was in his fifties, because he didn’t have that opportunity at all.

Later, Hua Yang thought about the time when her father-in-law was twenty-five years old. At that time, her father-in-law was still serving in the Hanlin Academy and was not taken seriously by many people.

At this age, Chen Jingzong had already made outstanding military service.

Although his position as a commander was influenced by his relationship with her and her father-in-law, his bloody battles on the battlefield relied entirely on his own efforts.

“One has literary talents and one has military skills, it’s not comparable at all. Why do you insist on competing with Father?”

Hua Yang said helplessly. She took the initiative to soften her attitude and not bothered with his previous weirdness.

Chen Jingzong turned her around, looked at her and said, “I don’t care about him, I care about you.”

Hua Yang raised her eyebrows again.

Chen Jingzong used his fingertips to trace her fine, raised eyebrows that looked arrogant and dignified: “I care about how you always looked down upon me when we first got married.”

Hua Yang: “Why don’t you think about your virtues at that time?”

Chen Jingzong: “If you treat me well, I won’t treat you like that.”

Hua Yang: “Back at you. As long as you behave more gracefully, I won’t look down on you everywhere.”

Chen Jingzong breathed heavily: “Look down on me everywhere? Is there nothing about me that satisfied you?”

He knew that she despised him at that time, but was it fair to say he had no redeeming qualities at all?

Hua Yang lowered her eyes.

Chen Jingzong raised her chin and there was a ruthlessness in his eyes: “If you don’t make it clear tonight, none of us will be sleeping.”

Hua Yang pretended to be trying to remember, and said after a while: “Back then you face was barely acceptable. If you look any uglier, even Father’s prestige won’t be able to keep me. I will definitely move back to the Princess Mansion.”

Chen Jingzong: “Besides the face, what else is there?”

Hua Yang shook her head.

Chen Jingzong didn’t believe it, so he took her hand and put it on him: “Don’t you like it here?”

Hua Yang was about to pinch him.

Chen Jingzong pounced over, pressed her down and kissed her fiercely: “If you dare not go to Hongfu Temple tomorrow night, I will become a monk to show you.”

Hua Yang:……

The author has something to say:

Cabinet Elder Chen: That evil boy curses me every day!

Cabinet Elder Zeng: It’s a pity that it didn’t work. If you had left earlier, I would have lived a few more years!

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