cabinet first lady

Chapter 41

A few hours ago, Zhang Anyi got up early to enter the palace, and asked Mo Wen on the way: "Is the person who will send Zheng Shu away in a while arranged?"

Mo Wen replied, "It's been arranged."

"Let's deal with her on the way." Zhang Anyi ordered, "When you arrive in Jingzhou, tell her that she contracted a serious disease on the way." When he spoke, he still had a gentle look.

"Yes."

A few days later, the Zhang family had another piece of good news—the marriage of Zhang Anyu was finalized.

The opponent is the younger sister of this year's new champion Hu Yi.The Hu family was originally a well-known scholarly family in the capital.When the gold list was released, many aristocratic families and even the residences of the royal relatives sent people to propose marriage, but the Hu family rejected them because Hu Yi already had a marriage contract.It can be seen that the Hu family is also a family that does not cling to the rich and powerful, and has a good family style.

Miss Hu's family is naturally not bad.

Ruan Muyang was a little surprised when he heard it, because he had only heard that Zhang Fu and the Ji family were looking after Zhang Anyu's marriage, but he hadn't heard of any clues, so he settled down immediately.

Hu Yi is now an upstart in the court, and he is in Hanlin, compiling books under Zhang Anyi. She guessed that this marriage should have something to do with Zhang Anyi.

After news of the engagement between the Miss Hu family and the Fourth Young Master of the Zhang family spread in the capital, the marriage of the two top-ranked scholars became a good story.

Nacai, Wenming, Najib, and Nazheng, as if in a hurry, the first four rites went quickly.

One day, when Ruan Muyang was going to pay his respects to the old lady, he happened to meet Ji Shi who was discussing the date of request with the old lady.Zhang Anyu is also there.

The date of request is to choose the date of marriage.

Having not seen Zhang Anyu for several days, Ruan Muyang felt that although he looked the same as before, something had changed, and he couldn't tell what had changed.

Zhang Anyu looked at her.

Ruan Muyang smiled and said, "I haven't congratulated fourth brother yet, I'm finally getting married."

Zhang Anyu smiled: "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law." A look of loneliness flashed across his eyes.

"Mu Yang, you came at a good time. Your second aunt and I went to ask about a few auspicious dates. Come and see which one is good." The old lady waved to Ruan Muyang.

Ruan Muyang went over to have a look, and found that these few days were all concentrated in the first half of next year, but now it is mid-September, and the time is a bit rushed.

"Why are you so rushed?" She asked suspiciously.

"I heard from An Yi—" the old lady pointed to the top cryptically, and said in a low voice, "I'm afraid it will only be a year. If it happens to coincide with the national funeral, it will take another year."

Ruan Muyang was a little surprised.

The person "above" is naturally the emperor.

She didn't expect Emperor Wu's health to be so bad. If it really happened within a year, it would be difficult for him to start.

Thinking of this, her heart jumped rapidly, with some anticipation, some nervousness, and fear of the unknown result.

When mentioning Emperor Wu's physical condition, the old lady, Ji Shi and Ruan Muyang all looked serious, but Zhang Anyu, who was sitting by the side, curled his lips lazily.

Who knows if what his second brother said is true, or just scaremongering, wanting him to start a family early?
"Then the eighth day of June, it's not particularly hot then." Ruan Muyang pointed to the "eighth day of June" on the paper.

The old lady thought it was ok, and asked Ji's opinion again.

Ji Shi nodded.

The marriage was settled in this way, Zhang Anyu lowered his eyes, and then smiled again.Unlike the usual nasty or lazy smile, this is a smile that contains subtle tenderness and bitterness.

What makes him miserable is that she personally set his wedding date.

What he laughed at was that she at least set a date for his marriage.

From now on, she is just his second sister-in-law.He can no longer be like before, relying on his young age to fight against her all day long.

Sure enough, as Ruan Muyang expected, something happened in the court half a month later.

Wang Xueguang, a military officer in the Ministry of War, lost a battle at the border last year due to a failed plan. Fearing punishment, he lied about the results of the battle.Since last year, generals on the border began to petition, but he repeatedly blocked him. He knew that in the past two days, it had reached the ears of the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the cabinet.

And Wang Xueguang is a subordinate of Xie Zhao, the king of Yong'an.

Emperor Wu knew that he was furious, so he dragged Wang Xueguang out and beheaded him on the spot.

Immediately afterwards, Emperor Wu severely scolded Xie Zhaohe in front of all the ministers and the prince.

The matter of Wang Xueguang caused Emperor Wu's attitude to become confused again. At first, many ministers in the court thought that it would be a matter of time to change the crown prince, but now they feel that it is not certain.

When Ruan Muyang heard the news, his heart was also up and down. According to Zhang Anyi, Emperor Wu's body was not as good as before, and it only happened in this year, but he still didn't change his crown prince.

It's really unpredictable.

October, Ruan Zhongling's birthday.

Zhang Anyi and Ruan Muyang returned to the Ruan Mansion together.

Ruan Zhongling is no longer what he used to be, not only himself is the minister of the Ministry of Industry, but also several in-laws.The eldest daughter, Ruan Muyun, married the eldest son of Song Xueshi in the cabinet, the second daughter, Ruan Muyang, was the wife of Mr. Zhang Ge, and the eldest son, Ruan Minghua, married the eldest daughter of Liu Zhidong, the censor of Youdu.

This time on his birthday, the Ruan family was extremely lively.

Even Yongan Wang Xie Zhao came.Although it was a sensitive period and it was inappropriate to openly make friends with ministers under the eyes of Emperor Wu, but Ruan Zhongling was his uncle, so he couldn't fault anyone who came to congratulate him.But in fact, because of Ruan Zhongling's ambiguous attitude, he never sided with King Yong'an, and it was useless for Concubine Ruan to mention it secretly several times. The current relationship is not so good.

The male guests and the female relatives sat separately, and Ruan Muyang just took a look at Xie Zhao from a distance.Today's Xie Zhao is high-spirited, faintly showing the appearance of an emperor.

Just when Ruan Muyang was in a trance, someone pulled his sleeves suddenly.

She looked down and found that it was her little nephew Song Wenyuan.Her heart softened, she rubbed his head and said, "Call me aunt."

Song Wenyuan, who was over two years old, let out a childish cry.

Ruan Muyang was delighted to be called by him, and took off a piece of jade pendant from his body and gave it to him.

Ruan Muyun on the side frowned and said, "You gave him something again." At the end of last year, she gave birth to another son, and she is still holding her in her arms.

Ruan Muyang was aggressive, and every time he saw his two nephews, he would give them away.She smiled and said, "Wen Yuan is lovable."

"It can be seen that the fourth sister really likes children." Liu Yunhuan said happily.

Ruan Muyang lowered his eyes, then said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, don't be jealous, when the nephew or niece in your stomach is born, I will definitely give you more."

Liu Yunhuan is also five months pregnant.

Mrs. Zhao sighed when she heard this, and said somewhat sadly: "Mu Yang, why hasn't your stomach moved?"

Unable to bear the gazes of his mother and sister and sister-in-law, and not knowing how to answer Li, Ruan Muyang found an excuse to leave the table.

She didn't know that Xie Zhao not far away had been watching her movements.As soon as she left, he had a chance.

Just as Ruan Muyang walked to the backyard with Diancui and Falang, he heard "Fourth Sister".

She frowned and said nonchalantly, "See you, my lord."

Xie Zhao looked at Ruan Muyang's delicate face, with a cold look in his eyes, and said, "Fourth younger sister is good at tricks. Not long ago, I realized that it was not Luo Jie who put me together two years ago, but you." He was referring to Cai's mother and son That matter made Emperor Wu very angry, and his vitality was greatly injured, and he spent a lot of energy and effort to restore it.

Ruan Muyang's face remained unchanged, and he felt a little surprised.

She has not been suspected of this matter until now, why did Xie Zhao suddenly know about it?

Unless Cai confessed her.

"Diancui, Fangang, you two go and guard for me." Knowing that Xie Zhao came to Xingshi to question the crime, Ruan Muyang was not afraid.She asked Xie Zhao, "Cai Shi told you?"

Xie Zhao sneered, "I have already killed her." While speaking, his eyes remained on her face.Two or three years have passed, and she has matured a lot compared to before. She has a very charming charm, especially the settled dignity, which has always lingered in his heart these few years, and even dreamed of it a few times at night. Pressed her down.

But now, looking at her dignity and calmness, besides still having the urge to violate her, he was more angry.

Seeing that Ruan Muyang just lowered his eyes when he heard Cai's death, he was not afraid or surprised, he narrowed his eyes and said, "It seems that I underestimated the fourth sister in the past." When he heard Ruan Muyang's name from Cai's mouth, he said She came to the capital more than two years ago to receive her help, and she was the one who persuaded her to harm him. Xie Zhao was indescribably shocked.

He didn't expect Ruan Muyang to hide so deeply, to be so ruthless, as if he wanted him to die.

He has never seen such a ruthless and scheming woman, even his mother concubine Ruan Concubine may not be as good as her.

"I don't understand what the lord is saying." Ruan Muyang actually felt a little emotional in his heart.

After all, Chua still did not escape the end of death.Presumably it was due to her temperament, hesitant, fearful, Xie Zhao saw the clues.

Xie Zhao hated him so much when he thought that he was secretly harmed so badly not by Luo Jie but by a woman more than two years ago.He wished he could strangle Ruan Muyang's slender neck right now and strangle her to death.

Ruan Muyang sensed Xie Zhao's killing intent and looked at him calmly.

Now she is not the Fourth Miss of the Minister's Mansion back then, but the third-rank Gaoming, the wife of Cabinet Minister Zhang Anyi.

In Xie Zhao's eyes, her calm appearance was full of confidence, and she believed that he would not do anything to her.Xie Zhao lowered his head and approached her, seeing that she still didn't hide, she didn't even blink her eyes, and clenched her hands into fists in anger.He really didn't dare to kill her now, nor did he dare to bully her like before.

At this juncture, he dared not make mistakes and could not afford to lose.

"I didn't expect you to be from Luo Jie." He gritted his teeth in his tone, "So on the surface Zhang Anyi is on good terms with Luo Jie and Xu Hou, and he didn't stand in line, but actually he was on the prince's side?"

Xie Zhao always thought in his heart that Ruan Muyang, a housewife, would not be able to do such a thing, and Zhang Anyi must be instigating her behind the scenes, telling her what to do.

Only thinking about it like this would make him feel better.

Zhang Anyi has always been the target of wooing by both sides, but he has always remained neutral.If it were other officials, they would have been eradicated by Luo Jie or Xu Hou long ago, but he is Zhang Anyi, and now the emperor trusts him very much.He has this ability so that people on both sides dare not touch him, they can only win him over.

Ruan Muyang stepped back a little, kept some distance from him and said, "This is my own business, not his. And I'm not from Luojie either."

Her words broke Xie Zhao's last bit of pride as a man.A woman who was once threatened by him, played by him in the applause, and who wanted to die with red eyes had the ability to plot against him behind his back.

Speaking of this, Ruan Muyang paused, looked directly at him again, and said coldly with no restraint in his eyes: "I just don't want to make it easier for you."

Hearing what she said, Xie Zhao smiled instead of anger.The appearance of her hating him once again aroused his desire to conquer and the competitiveness hidden in his bones. His eyes swept across her maliciously and said, "Hold revenge? I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill my fourth sister's wish. If I It's over, Fourth Sister, be careful. Don't cry and beg me to let you go."

No matter how scheming she is, she is still just a woman.Xie Zhao still despised her in his bones.

Ruan Muyang also showed a demure smile: "Thank you cousin for reminding me." In fact, the desire to win or lose in her heart was not aroused, and her heart was agitated like never before.In a year at most, everything will come to fruition.

Let's see what happens in the future.

After parting from Xie Zhao, Ruan Muyang returned to the table.

"Sister, where have you been? The fourth brother-in-law came to see you just now." Ruan Muyun said.

Ruan Muyang's heart skipped a beat, and he said with a smile, "Go to the garden to get some fresh air. Where is he now?" She looked around.

"That's what I told him too." Ruan Muyun said, "It seems that he was dragged to toast afterward."

Sure enough, Ruan Muyang heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Zhang Anyi surrounded by several people on the other side of the screen.

But when she saw Yin Ji among the people surrounding Zhang Anyi, her heart ached again.Recalling that Zhang Anyi once said that Yin Ji drank him heavily, and remembering what happened the night before without thanking him, he stood up.

On the other side, Zhang Anyi was indeed toasted by several concubines and editors from the Imperial Academy.

Especially Yin Ji, who seemed to be toasting, was actually persuading him to drink glass after glass, making the three people with him sweat on their foreheads.This is Mr. Zhang Ge. Yin Ji dared to persuade the people who led them in Hanlin on weekdays to drink, and there were not many people in the court who would dare.

As for Mr. Zhang Ge, the old god was smiling and playing Tai Chi with him.

Gradually, Yin Ji was persuading him to drink alone, while the three people beside him watched in fear.

"I heard that the second master just came to see me?"

A dignified and clear female voice sounded, several people looked over, and then saluted with great insight: "Mrs. Zhang."

They all heard that Mr. Zhang Ge had a very beautiful and dignified wife, and they also heard that this lady had an engagement with King Yong'an.

Yin Ji was half a beat slower than others, and said, "Mrs. Zhang."

He called "Mrs. Zhang" very clearly.

Ruan Muyang nodded towards them and walked to Zhang Anyi.

"Ma'am." At this time, Zhang Anyi was still holding a wine glass. After all, he was a person who had been in court for a long time. He still didn't drink the glass of wine in his hand even after being persuaded by Yin Ji.

"He's not good at drinking, so let me drink for you." Ruan Muyang took the wine glass from Zhang Anyi's hand as he spoke.

Zhang Anyi didn't stop her, but looked at her with a tolerant and gentle smile in his eyes and said: "Then there will be Mrs. Lao."

Zhang Gel actually needs his wife to keep him from drinking?Several people were surprised.

How dare they drink with Mrs. Zhang?

Just when the three of them were about to resign, Yin Ji suddenly said, "It's a great honor. Mrs. Zhang has one cup, and I have three cups."

pleasure?The three of them tried their best to hint at Yin Ji, but he didn't seem to see it.

Ruan Muyang raised his wine glass to meet his gaze, smiled and said, "Then I have three glasses, and Yin Bangyan wants nine glasses?" She was a little bit teasing him, but also a little thankful.

The three onlookers couldn't believe what they heard.

It was rare to see Ruan Muyang stand up for him, and Zhang Anyi suddenly felt that it would be nice to have a soft meal.Knowing that Ruan Muyang was a good drinker, he didn't stop him, but his eyes became more doting.

Yin Ji was stunned, raised his lips, and said with a seemingly ordinary smile in his eyes, "Naturally."

Just like that, Ruan Muyang had three glasses of wine, and Yin Ji had nine.

Many things are unspoken.

After drinking, Ruan Muyang's face remained unchanged, while Yin Ji's face turned red because he drank in a hurry. "Mrs. Zhang is a good drinker."

"It's not as good as Yin's ranking." Ruan Muyang smiled back.

The three onlookers smiled and said, "Mrs. Zhang is a good drinker. The officials have other things to do, so let's leave first." Then, the three of them were afraid that Yin Ji would have another convulsion, so they dragged him away.

After watching them leave, Ruan Muyang turned his head and saw Zhang Anyi looking at him and smiling.

Figured out that there was a bit of teasing in this smile, she said angrily, "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm happy." Zhang Anyi's voice was extremely gentle.

Under the crowd, Ruan Muyang blushed and changed the subject: "I just heard that you are looking for me?"

Zhang Anyi's eyes flashed, and he said with a smile: "It's nothing, just tell your father-in-law and mother-in-law, let's go back."

In mid-October, Ruan Muyang received a letter from Luo Yu.

Her marriage was settled.The male party is Jiang Hanyun, the Jijiu of the Guozijian, from the fourth grade, the same subject as Zhang Anyi, and the Tanhua that year.

Speaking of which, because of the Qi Youguang case at that time, the court was in turmoil and people were in panic, but it gave Zhang Anyi's students a great opportunity, because too many officials were killed and many positions were vacant, so Emperor Wu promoted many newcomers .The students in that subject, including Zhang Anyi, were extremely lucky. They were promoted very quickly, and they survived for three to six years less than others, becoming legends.

Therefore, Zhang Anyi has the opportunity to become the earliest person in the cabinet in this dynasty and even the previous dynasty, and become the youngest cabinet elder.

Apart from talking about her marriage, Luo Yu also invited Ruan Muyang and Han Ruo to go to Lingri Mountain to enjoy the maple leaves in two days.In Luo Yu's words, she is about to get married and become a wife, and she is not so comfortable anymore, so she needs to have fun again.

Ruan Muyang naturally agreed.

That night, after Zhang Anyi came back, Ruan Muyang told him about Luo Yu.

Zhang Anyi said: "Han Yun blatantly sided with Luo Jie in the end. He has great ambitions and good conduct. He should be a good match for Second Miss Luo."

Ruan Muyang had also heard of Jiang Hanyun, and now she heard what Zhang Anyi said, so she felt relieved for Luo Yu.

"The Holy Majesty's health is getting worse and worse, and many things can no longer be taken care of. The Prince's faction and the Yong'an King's faction will probably start to make big moves in the past few days." Having said this, Zhang Anyi looked at Ruan Muyang, his tone remained the same. Softly, but with somewhat obscure eyes, he said, "In the future, it's better for Madam to have less contact with the Luo Mansion."

Ruan Muyang's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Zhang Anyi, only to see nothing but a warm smile in his eyes.

Could it be that he noticed that she had contacts with Luo Jie?
Ruan Muyang tried hard to see something, but his expression was impeccable, too profound.She couldn't see anything, and she didn't know what to do.

"Okay." She lowered her eyes and said, "I will pay attention to it in the future."

Beneath his gentleness, there is a profoundness that she cannot see through.

At this moment, there was an unusual movement outside the door.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Anyi asked.

After a while, someone knocked on the door and called out, "Second Master."

It was an invisible voice.

"Come in."

After Mo Jian opened the door and walked in, his expression was unusually peaceful and anxious, he hesitated to say: "It's Mr. Shen. Mr. Shen seems to be injured. Second Master, go out and have a look."

Both Zhang Anyi and Ruan Muyang's expressions changed.

"How many people have seen it? Order those who saw it not to speak out, and let all the servants stay in their rooms." Zhang Anyi's tone was very dignified, and he walked towards the door while giving orders, his footsteps were a little hurried.

Why did Shen Wei come to Zhang's mansion at night and get injured?

Ruan Muyang couldn't sit still and followed him out.

"How could you be injured?" Zhang Anyi walked to Shen Wei's side, helped her from Mo Wen's hand, and said with a frown.

Shen Wei was already very pale, but now his face was even paler, his breath was also a little abnormal, and he looked very weak.She was about to speak, but when she saw Ruan Muyang standing at the door, she didn't say what she wanted to say.

Ruan Muyang met her gaze, seeing Zhang Anyi's rare anxious expression, feeling complicated.

He thought he was advanced before, but all of a sudden he showed his worry on his face, but it was because of another woman, another woman who made her always worry about her, like a dark thorn in her heart.If it was an ordinary woman, her dislike and suspicion could be shown, but it was Shen Wei who disguised herself as a man to deceive the king. In the eyes of others, she was a man.

Zhang Anyi seemed to understand what she meant, and said, "Go to my study."

As if realizing that Ruan Muyang was standing at the door watching, he turned his head to look at Ruan Muyang who was standing at the junction of light and darkness, and said, "Ma'am—"

"I understand." Ruan Muyang interrupted him and said, "Hurry up and take Mr. Shen, I will order my servant not to speak out."

Perhaps it was because of the education of her parents since she was a child, or because of her personality, or maybe it was because she and Zhang Anyi had secrets and always had a estrangement with each other. look.

Zhang Anyi didn't know that Ruan Muyang already knew the secret that Shen Wei was a woman, so naturally he didn't know that she was thinking so much in her heart, but felt that her kindness made him feel very caring, and his heart was soft.

He nodded and said, "Trouble Madam."

Afterwards, Ruan Muyang watched him take Shen Wei to the study.

After admonishing the servant who saw Shen Wei, Ruan Muyang returned to the house, still unable to calm down.

(End of this chapter)