Ding Huang waited for a few days, but there was no news of a concubine being promoted in the palace.
He found some time to find a familiar taijian to pass a slip of paper to his daughter and ask: How is the imperial favor?
Ding Zhaorong sat silently by the window and looked at her father's handwriting on the slip of paper. A moment later, she laughed coldly and wrote: "The emperor has been unlucky in the harem for a long time."
Thinking for a moment, she put down the brush and laughed coldly for a long time at her beautiful face in the bronze mirror.
The present Emperor and Crown Prince both had such a strange attitude towards the harem.
She had long heard from the Imperial Hospital that the Emperor had a beauty who was extremely favored. She didn't have a title, and all the servants in Qing Zheng Hall called her "guiren". It was said that he liked her so much that he treated her like a treasure.
But even with such favor, the Emperor didn't officially give her a title of concubine or Zhaoyi. She didn't even have a palace to stay in.
The beautiful concubines in the palaces were all on high alert. They didn't know which female official or head palace maid had received the imperial favor. Looking at the situation, it seemed that there was even a special favor for Jiao Fang.
Only Ding Zhaorong knew that the so-called "little guiren" was probably the boy who looked like the Empress that night.
A boy could not give birth to a dragon. He was weak in beauty but strong in love. He probably wouldn't be a threat.
But if he looked like the Empress … then it was another matter …
Not just the Emperor, but the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace as well. In the days since the wedding, he hadn't even gotten close to the Crown Princess. But in a few days, the news that Princess Qinghe was pregnant came out.
Princess Qinghe was just the adopted daughter of the Empress. In terms of birth, she was just the daughter of a foreign official. Who would have thought that the child in her belly would startle the three palaces? Heavenly blood and swallow pearls were sent like water. It was as though the child in her belly was the future heir.
It was also very strange. The newly minted Crown Princess didn't seem to mind at all. She only cared about collecting silver, food, clothing, pearls and gems. As long as she lived like a celestial concubine, she didn't care about anything else.
Even the news that the Crown Prince's liangdi was pregnant with her first child did not make her alert. It seemed that other than food and clothing, she did not even care about the Crown Prince.
Ding Zhaorong gritted her teeth. She thought to herself, "Just because I can't be favored, does that mean I'll let someone else have a good life?"
Since no one is comfortable, then you, the Empress, can forget about living a peaceful life!
She picked up the brush and quickly wrote a line of words on the paper. Then, she rolled it up tightly and handed it to the eunuch. She looked back and smiled. "If you do well, there will be a reward for you."
In the middle of the second month, Minister Ding submitted a memorial to the emperor. Currently, the country was peaceful and the people were at peace. However, the imperial harem was lacking in heirs. He advised the emperor to select talented women to enrich the imperial harem so that the imperial family could have more children and continue the bloodline.
For the past two years, Qianwandi, who hadn't chosen a talented woman or conferred a title of imperial concubine, had actually loosened up this time.
The next day, the emperor read it and approved.
Mingde was on duty in the outer study. She lowered her head and looked at the flood memorial that had been handed in the day before. Just as she was about to write, she felt the two phoenix beads on her wrist get stuck on the table.
Mingde furrowed her brows. Anger rose in her heart. She grabbed the beads and was about to throw them away.
Unexpectedly, at this time, she heard Zhang Kuo cough loudly behind her. Then, he bowed and said with a smile, "Daren, the emperor has sent an edict. It's been cold recently. Send a bowl of snow lotus porridge to each of the officials on duty in the outer study."
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Mingde raised an eyebrow and stared coldly at Zhang Kuo.
The smile on Zhang Kuo's face did not change. He respectfully placed a bowl of snow lotus porridge on the table.
Mingde laughed coldly. "… This official thanks the emperor for his kindness."
Zhang Kuo smiled and said in a low voice, "I don't dare, I don't dare." Then, he lowered his head and retreated.
His every action clearly reminded her: Under the emperor's watch, it's best not to cause trouble.
That day in the imperial study, he couldn't remember whether or not he cried, begged for mercy, or even took the initiative to have sex.
When he gradually regained consciousness, he only felt a burst of pain on his wrist. Qianwandi was tightly holding his wrist, squeezing the phoenix beads into his flesh. Qianwandi panted and laughed softly. "… If you dare take it off in the future, I'll give you two lily aphrodisiac pills … I mean what I say …"
Mingde took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He slowly rolled the phoenix beads up his arm and then slowly picked up the brush.
There was no need to speak human language to a beast. It was useless even if he did.
Mingde left court early. There was already a small sedan chair waiting at the palace gate. Just as he was about to enter, Counselor Wang Chongjun, who came out with him, suddenly beat him to it. He patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Daren, please wait!"
Mingde turned around and said, "Daren Wang …"
"Daren Shangguan, you and I have been officials of the same court for a long time. We have discussed and decided to treat you to a meal. I wonder if you would do us the honor?"
Mingde followed his gaze and saw a few disciples of the Ding family from the Ministry of Revenue. They were standing there with smiles on their faces.
Among them, the brother of Ding Huang's new concubine, Zhao Mengshan, was also among them. They looked sincere and amiable.
Mingde pursed his lips and coughed a few times. He smiled slightly.
"… Since you are so kind, it would be impolite for me to refuse …"
Wang Chongjun laughed and patted Mingde on the shoulder. "Of course not!
Of course not!
Daren is young, promising, and deeply favored by the emperor. Your future must be much brighter than ours. Maybe we will have to rely on you in the future, haha! "
Mingde bowed deeply and said humbly, "If that is the case, please lead the way."
It was still early. Mingde sat in the small sedan chair and swayed with them. When the sedan chair stopped, he lifted the curtain and saw that it was a brothel in Waiguo City called Tianxiang Brothel.
Mingde was stunned. He had heard of this brothel before. It was quite famous, but he had only been there in a hurry before. It was his first time going in.
Wang Chongjun saw that he was stunned. He leaned over and said with a smile, "Daren, don't be shy. You will know how interesting it is after you try it once.
Although the court has a rule that officials are not allowed to visit brothels, if you and I don't say anything, who will know? "
Mingde coughed a few times. "How … how could I …"
He seemed to be extremely shy. A thin layer of blood appeared on his face. Against his pale skin, he looked like a flower blooming in spring.
Wang Chongjun hurriedly reached out to support him. He felt that the wrist in his palm was so thin that he could hold it tightly with one hand.
Mingde glanced at him and casually pulled back his hand. He said faintly, "Thank you for your trouble, daren."
His voice was slightly hoarse, but it was as gentle as a good woman's.
Wang Chongjun was stunned. Mingde had already coughed and walked into Tianxiang Brothel.
It was noon when business was good in Tianxiang Brothel. When the brothel keeper saw a few rich and extraordinary young masters walk in, she immediately threw out a flowery handkerchief and hurriedly called the girls out to serve them. She also had someone set up a table of wine and ordered the zither player to play a good song to entertain them.
Wang Chongjun was very generous. He rewarded each of the girls with some silver. He pointed at Mingde and said, "If you serve this young master well today, you can also enter the mansion of a high-ranking official as a concubine tomorrow!"
Those girls were fine with other things, but when they heard this, they immediately rushed over and surrounded him in a circle.
Mingde coughed a few times and said with a smile, "Daren Wang is joking.
Whoever pays for it is the one who pays for it. "
When the elder brother of Ding Huang's concubine, Zhao Mengshan, heard this, he deliberately asked with a smile, "Then who paid the money for young master Shangguan?"
The smile on Mingde's face deepened. "Who has ever paid the money for this official?"
Zhao Mengshan leaned over and whispered, "Since no one ordered you to do it, young master, why do you have to make things difficult for our owner?"
Mingde acted as if he didn't hear anything. He said with a smile, "Daren Zhao, drink, drink."
Zhao Mengshan met with a soft rebuff. He thought to himself that although this young man looked weak, he was quite shrewd.
Ding Huang's instruction to him was to "encircle and annihilate him if you can't deal with him." Zhao Mengshan thought that if this person pledged allegiance to the Ding family, he would be a threat to the other students. Thus, he gave Wang Chongjun a fierce look.
Wang Chongjun nodded slightly. He picked up his wine cup and greeted with a smile, "Come, come, come. Let's not talk about national affairs at the table. Let's all enjoy ourselves!"
Mingde was absent-minded and drank a lot of wine. The wine was vintage wine, and Wang Chongjun and the others deliberately made him drink. Not long after, he was drunk and didn't move anymore on the table.
Zhao Mengshan went over to pat him. Seeing that he didn't respond, he nodded to the others and said, "Hurry up!"
Mingde was in a daze and didn't have any strength in his limbs. However, his mind was very clear. He only felt that he was being carried upstairs into a room. He felt a warm and fragrant feeling, and then he was placed on a soft bed.
At first, there were still many people walking around, but later, there was no sound. The door was closed, and there was still the sound of breathing in the room. It was probably a brothel girl who was still in there.
Mingde closed his eyes and smiled slightly.
Officials of the imperial court were not allowed to visit prostitutes. Those who disobeyed would be demoted three ranks and be fined half a year's salary.
Not only would it ruin his official's luck, but it would also greatly embarrass him.
Ding Huang, this old thing, was really wicked.
When the woman saw that he was motionless on the bed, she became bolder. She quietly walked over and took off his shirt.
Mingde's appearance should be the most popular among women nowadays. He was fair and gentle, and his facial features were delicate. He was much better than the average brothel customer.
The girl looked at him for a while. Although it was just an act, she couldn't help but reach out and touch him. She sighed in her heart. If there was a good man like him, why would he suffer in this brothel?
Mingde frowned slightly. The girl sighed and said, "Official, don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame Official Zhao and Official Wang!"
As she said this, she took off her underwear and snuggled up to him.
At this moment, there was a loud noise and the door was broken open. A group of Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed in and shouted while waving their large swords, "Don't move!
Check! "
Everything happened with the flow of the situation.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards received a notice that there were traitors secretly selling tributes at the Heavenly Fragrance Brothel. Thus, they hurried over and unexpectedly found an official's seal in one of the brothel customers' clothes. After confirming that the customer was actually the Minister of Revenue, Shangguan Mingde, who was greatly favored by the emperor.
As for the officials who went to drink with Shangguan Mingde, they had already disappeared without a trace.
Zhang Kuo carefully looked at the expression of Qianwandi. However, from beginning to end, there was no expression on Qianwandi's face.
It was very dangerous for a person in a high position to be expressionless. You couldn't tell if he was very angry or if he didn't take it seriously. It was also impossible to know how to speak according to the emperor's thoughts.
Zhang Kuo coughed and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this servant thinks that although the noble lady's actions were inappropriate, her body is still weak. If she were to bump into something, get hurt, or be frightened …"
Qianwandi put down his brush and stood up to ask, "Where is she now?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, she has already been sent to the Embroidered Uniform Guards' prison."
"What about the brothel?"
"This servant made the decision to have it sealed."
Qianwandi strode out of the imperial study. Zhang Kuo hurriedly trotted after him.
The young eunuch didn't know where the emperor was going, so he hurriedly came up and secretly kowtowed to Zhang Kuo, "Gonggong, where is Your Majesty going?"
"This stupid thing!" Zhang Kuo anxiously scolded, "Of course he's going to the Embroidered Uniform Guards' prison!"
The Embroidered Uniform Guards' prison was less than the time it took for a stick of incense to burn by carriage from the palace. Qianwandi didn't even need to take a carriage. He directly rushed to the door and fiercely pulled on the reins, "Where are the guards?"
The commander hurriedly led a large group of subordinates to kneel on the steps in front of the door. They kowtowed three times and kowtowed nine times, "We kowtow to Your Majesty!
May Your Majesty live ten thousand years! "
Qianwandi jumped off his horse and strode into the prison.
The commander stumbled and crawled after him. He carefully asked, "Your Majesty, where is Your Majesty going?
Be careful, Your Majesty, the road is slippery … "
Qianwandi suddenly stopped in his tracks, "Where are the people from Shangguan Mingde?"
The commander was stunned. He thought to himself that he had made the right bet.
When he was sent here, someone had secretly warned him that Shangguan Mingde was extremely favored and couldn't be treated like an ordinary official who had committed a crime. Therefore, he had specially ordered people to prepare a single room of the highest quality and entertain him with good food.
He didn't expect that as soon as the news spread, the emperor would personally come and directly ask to see Shangguan Mingde!
The commander wiped the sweat off his forehead and said with a smile, "Lord Shangguan is very good. This humble official didn't dare to arbitrarily convict him of a crime in the east room, so I ordered people to treat him well. He didn't suffer any grievances …"
[I ran here like a madman … in vain …]
… Treated him well, he didn't suffer any grievances … Perhaps he even enjoyed a warm and fragrant embrace …
Qianwandi's hands were tightly clenched into fists under his sleeves. The veins on his hands were bulging and he looked almost ferocious.
The commander carefully looked at the emperor's face. He only felt that there was no joy or sadness. He couldn't help but hesitate. He could only ask in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, what do you think …"
Qianwandi suddenly smiled.
This smile was almost very happy. It even gave people the illusion that it was like a spring breeze.
The commander's heart was still in his mouth when he heard the emperor's noble smile and say, "You did well."
The commander's legs went soft and he almost knelt down, "This official, this official is afraid!"
"Bring him up," Qianwandi said lightly, "… I want to … interrogate him personally!"