cabinet first lady

Chapter 46 Settling Accounts with Mrs. Zhang
After Zhang Anyi went to the palace the next day, Ruan Muyang called the doctor.

After taking Ruan Muyang's pulse, the doctor showed a thoughtful expression, and did not speak for a long time.

Ruan Muyang withdrew his arm, expecting the doctor to know about her drinking Bizi Tang, he smiled meaningfully and said: "I invite you here today because I want you to prescribe some tonics for me. I know my body, and I am afraid it will not be easy now." Conceive."

Since she alluded to the fact that she knew the condition of her body, the doctor guessed that she drank the Bizi Tang herself, so he stroked his beard and said, "Second Young Madam, to be honest, you have taken the soup all year round, which has caused serious damage to your body." If you want to conceive, you need to take care of yourself slowly, at least half a year, and at most one to two years."

Ruan Muyang lowered his eyes to hide the disappointment in his eyes.

She didn't expect that the Bizi Tang would hurt her body so much.I didn't want a child before, but now I want a child, but I find that my body is not good and it is difficult to conceive. Is this God punishing her?

But she can't blame others, it's her own choice.

"Also ask the doctor to help me recuperate with all my strength."

"I don't dare to slack off on the matter of the second young lady." The doctor said, "I will prescribe the medicine to help you remove the toxins in your body, take it for two months, and then start to take care of you. It is best not to take it for the time being in these two months." In addition, the madam's body is very cold, and the palace is cold, so pay attention to maintenance, and don't be greedy for cold even in summer."

Ruan Muyang nodded, but his heart sank.

Now she and Zhang Anyi are just like glue, he makes a lot of noise with her, and often makes her fall asleep from exhaustion.She kept the matter of Bizitang from him all the time, and he didn't know that she needed to take care of her body, and now she couldn't have intercourse for two months, how could she refuse him so as not to make him suspect?
"Diancui, send the doctor away."

Ruan Muyang's mood was a little depressed all day because of the difficulty in conceiving.When Zhang Anyi came back at night, in order not to let him see the clue, she had to cheer up.

Last night because Ruan Muyang was tired the night before, Zhang Anyi thoughtfully hugged her and slept all night.He came back early today, so I'm afraid he won't be able to spare her.

After dinner, Ruan Muyang sat in front of the desk, reading miscellaneous books with great interest.

When Zhang Anyi came back from the study, seeing that she still had no intention of stopping, he smiled and tried to divert her attention.

"For the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet on August [-]th this year, the queen will entertain the wives of ministers of the fifth rank and above in the palace." He paused, seeing Ruan Muyang put down the book in his hand, and said, "Madam should be able to receive the queen's wife tomorrow." Yizhi."

Today is the second day of August, and it is still ten days away from the fifteenth day of August.

Ruan Muyang looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Is there any deep meaning in the queen's sudden banquet invitation?"

It was two months since the late emperor passed away. Even though the national mourning period had already passed, it was still inappropriate to have such a big feast.

Zhang Anyi walked up to Ruan Muyang, took out the book in her hand, glanced at the title on the book cover, then put it aside and said: "The queen's move is naturally to win over the minister. Now Lingdi doesn't care In government affairs, Luo Jie is in the middle of the court, and the queen is guarding against Luo Jie."

Ruan Muyang was surprised.

She has never seen Queen Qiu in this life, but in her last life she met Qiu who was still the Crown Princess.At that time she looked very kind, a gentle southern woman.

The Qiu family is not a daughter of a noble family in the capital, her natal family is in Jinling, a well-known nobleman in Jinling, who is in charge of the economic lifeline of that area, and her father is in charge of the Weaving Mansion, and was highly valued and trusted by the late emperor.

Ruan Muyang didn't expect that a woman like Qiu Shi, who seemed weak and weak, would have such thoughts.Although Emperor Ling was much more benevolent than Emperor Wu, he was indecisive and in poor health. Now he was even more superstitious about alchemy.In such a situation where there was Luo Jie covering the sky with one hand in the front, and the Emperor Ling was ineffective in the future, Empress Qiu actually wanted to break this situation.

"I didn't expect the Queen to be a woman with a delicate mind." Ruan Muyang sighed sincerely, "She actually wanted to win over the minister by herself."

Luo Jie loves power, so he wants to support the prince to ascend to the throne more than King Yong'an.Now Emperor Ling is weak and addicted to alchemy, and he doesn't know when he will leave, leaving the queen and the little prince orphaned and widowed, isn't it more restrained by Luo Jie?

Zhang Anyi said: "It may be very difficult for the Queen to do this."

Ruan Muyang nodded, deeply agreeing.

Without Xu Hou's restraint, Luo Jie's power in the court is getting bigger and bigger.

"Ma'am, it's getting late."

Zhang Anyi's voice brought Ruan Muyang back to his senses, and he realized that the book in his hand had long since disappeared, and he was standing beside him.

"I took a nap in the afternoon, and I'm not sleepy yet, why don't Second Master go to bed first?" Ruan Muyang said.

Zhang Anyi curled his lips, and said in an ambiguous tone: "Since Madam is not sleepy, let's do something else first." He bent down and picked her up while she was sitting.

His body flew into the air suddenly, his strength was so great that he couldn't be shaken, Ruan Muyang could only wrap his arms around his neck and kept struggling and said, "Today - no."

Zhang Anyi put her on the brocade quilt, leaned over to kiss her, but Ruan Muyang turned his head to avoid it.

Although it was passively endured almost every time, more often it was because of thin skin and the reservedness of the young lady of the family.What Ruan Muyang showed was only refusal and welcome.Every time he sees her like this, Zhang Anyi's eyes always get darker.

Only this time it's not the same as before.

Zhang Anyi didn't continue either, but just looked down at her with the same posture.

Ruan Muyang felt that his eyes were so deep that he couldn't see clearly, and was afraid that he might misunderstand, so he thought for a while and said, "Today the doctor came to take a look at my body and said that I am cold in the palace. "Because of Bizitang, she felt a little guilty and guilty, and when she spoke, she unconsciously averted her eyes.

These small actions naturally fell into Zhang Anyi's eyes.

The next moment, a gentle smile appeared on his face, he got up from her body, and said in the usual tone: "Of course the lady's body is important."

Ruan Muyang heaved a sigh of relief, seeing him lying down beside her, he voluntarily snuggled into his arms and said, "Second Master, I want to give birth to a child for you."

"it is good."

She pressed her face against his chest, but she didn't notice the change in Zhang Anyi's eyes when she said this.

August [-]th, Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Spirit Emperor, who had been refining alchemy in the bedroom all day, appeared and entertained all the officials.It's just that he hasn't appeared for half a month, and everyone can feel that Lingdi's face is paler than before, and there is a sickness between his brows.

At the same time, the queen hosted a banquet in the harem to entertain the wives of the ministers of the fifth rank and above.

As soon as Ruan Muyang entered the palace, he saw Luo Yu and Han Ruo.Jiang Hanyun is the Guozijian Jijiu, from the fourth rank, and Luo Yu is the granddaughter of Luojie, so it is naturally included in the banquet.

Han Ruo married a Jinshi of this year, who was originally assigned to Shuntian Mansion as a general judge, and a few days ago was promoted to Shuntian Mansion Zhizhong, the fifth rank.So Han Ruo was also invited.

They haven't seen each other for a long time since both of them got married.

"How are you doing now?" Ruan Muyang asked.

Luo Yu smiled and said: "Han Ruo is fine now, it's only been a long time since we got married, and I'm pregnant."

Ruan Muyang looked at Han Ruo in surprise and asked, "How long has it been?"

Han Ruo pulled La Luoyu to signal her to whisper, and said with a blushing face, "It's only been a month."

Seeing her ruddy complexion, which was even better than when she was not married, Ruan Muyang knew that she was doing well, but it was Luo Yu who still looked like a young lady in Luo's family.She asked with concern: "How are you doing?"

"I'm not bad. The Jiang family is very kind to me." Luo Yu said it very easily, but Ruan Muyang noticed the flash of loneliness on her face.

She was there on the day Luo Yu got married, and she also saw Jiang Hanyun.Jiang Hanyun is indeed a handsome and handsome gentleman as Zhang Anyi said.

Ruan Muyang didn't know why the flash of loneliness flashed across Luo Yu's face.Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite, and she doesn't want to talk about it, and it's not easy for her to ask.

Fortunately, the relationship between Luo Jie and Zhang Anyi is a bit delicate now, but it didn't affect them.

Although Luo Jie and Zhang Anyi are still friendly on the surface, in fact Luo Jie has been secretly suppressing them.

They chatted together for a while, and the queen brought Lingdi's two concubines here.

One of them, Concubine Luo, was Luo Jie's youngest daughter, Luo Yu's little aunt, not much older than Luo Yu, and was promised by Luo Jie to Lingdi, who was still a prince, to be his side concubine.

The queen was born beautiful and charming, while Concubine Luo was glamorous and charming.

"The empress is a thousand years old, a thousand years old."

"Get up."

The women are seated.

The order of admission is not by age but by rank.Luo Yu's grandmother passed away many years ago, so the one sitting on the lower left of the queen is Ruan Muyang.

As the second assistant of the cabinet, Zhang Anyi's position in the cabinet was second only to Luo Jie, so of course Ruan Muyang had to sit in that position.

Although Jiang Hanyun was from the fourth rank, Luo Yu was the granddaughter of Luo Jie and the niece of Concubine Luo, so she was placed at the lower right of the queen.

"Mrs. Zhang is the imperial order of the first emperor, and it is an example for all the ladies sitting here."

Ruan Muyang seemed to be the empress's main concern, and she took good care of her during the dinner, and she was full of praise.

Zhang Anyi became the cabinet secretary at a young age. Even Luo Jie and Xu Hou were not as good as him at this age. He was originally the object of jealousy and dissatisfaction among some people in the court, and now Luo Jie is secretly suppressing them. Very good at seeing the direction of the wind and making troubles, these ladies will naturally not be very friendly to Ruan Muyang.

Ruan Muyang saw the envious and dissatisfied gazes, his face was still dignified and calm, and he respectfully said to the queen: "The empress has praised you, so our role model should naturally be the empress."

Luo Jie controls the government, and everyone is a person who can control the situation. Concubine Luo is more respected than the queen in the harem, and Queen Qiu naturally sees everyone's attitude towards her.Seeing that Ruan Muyang is neither arrogant nor senior, she is very satisfied with her in her heart. "I feel that I have hit it off with Mrs. Zhang. In the future, Mrs. Zhang can visit the palace more often."

Ruan Muyang naturally did not dare to refuse: "Yes, empress."

When the banquet was more than halfway through, the palace people came to say that the little prince came to congratulate the empress.

The queen is naturally smiling.

The little prince, Xie Shen, is eight years old this year. He looks like a queen. He behaves well at such a young age, showing a royal demeanor.

Ruan Muyang looked at the little prince, then his eyes fell on Yin Ji who came with the prince and then stood beside him.He is now a servant of the Imperial Academy, concurrently You Zhongyun, and a lecturer for the prince.Compared with others in the same subject, his promotion speed is a bit slow.Since he can survive in such a murderous Yin family after returning to Yangzhou, it must be not easy.

She didn't know why he had been dormant.

Previously Luo Jie and Xu Hou fought so fiercely, courting forces everywhere, most of the same subjects as him joined the faction, now they are either promoted or died, he is still unknown, he is a special one.

As soon as Yin Ji came in with the prince, he saw Ruan Muyang.

Realizing that she was looking at him, he turned his head slightly and gave her a frivolous smile in return.

Long time no see.

Ruan Muyang was terrified by his frivolous smile, and immediately looked away.

How dare he smile at her in the presence of so many people?If they were seen, something would happen to both of them.

Fortunately no one noticed.

After talking with the prince for a few words, the queen began to urge the prince to study, and asked Yin Ji: "Master Yin, how is the prince's schoolwork recently?" Obviously she had high hopes for the little prince.

Yin Ji put away his flirtatious appearance just now, and replied respectfully: "Go back to the empress, the prince is talented and intelligent, and he is very motivated, it is my honor."

The queen nodded in satisfaction, but looked at the prince but did not praise, but reminded: "Don't be proud and slack."

"Yes."

After the prince and Yin Ji left, the banquet continued.

Not long after, the queen left the table because she was dizzy after drinking a few glasses of wine.The rest of the women stayed for a while and then dispersed.

"Mrs. Zhang, step carefully."

The eunuch who sent Ruan Muyang out was extremely obsequious, and after a few words, Ruan Muyang saw that he was still talking endlessly, so he said: "Eunuch, this is not far from the gate of the palace, I want to walk by myself, please stay for a while."

Seeing Ruan Muyang's insistence, the eunuch would not go against her will: "That Mrs. Zhang has a smooth journey."

After taking the lamp from the eunuch, Ruan Muyang walked slowly alone.

Zhang Anyi's thinking is not over yet.

Not long after walking, a figure suddenly appeared at a turning point startled her.

Seeing that Ruan Muyang was about to cry out, Yin Ji stretched out his hand to cover her mouth.Fortunately, Ruan Muyang had excellent self-control, he didn't call out, and took a step back to keep some distance from him.

"Why are you here?" Frightened, Ruan Muyang's tone was not very good.

"Mrs. Zhang was surprised." Yin Ji bowed to her apologetically, then stood up straight and said, "I am waiting for Mrs. Zhang specially."

For some reason, Ruan Muyang saw a trace of rascal in his polite appearance, and asked with vigilance in his words: "What are you waiting for me?"

"Settle accounts." Yin Ji replied confidently.

Ruan Muyang raised his eyebrows, always feeling that he was making trouble for no reason.

Yin Ji continued: "Did Mrs. Zhang forget about the lower officials after using them?"

His tone was really not serious, Ruan Muyang was vigilant about his surroundings, he felt a little headache, but his face was dignified and indifferent.Because she knew that this person liked to push his nose on his face very much, and he couldn't show a good face. "Master Yin was joking. I always remember how Master Yin helped you. If you need any help in the future, you can find me or my husband."

Hearing this, Yin Ji's eyelids moved, his attitude became even worse, and he took a step closer to Ruan Muyang, and said jokingly, "Mrs. Into the rank?"

Ruan Muyang stepped back a little.

She knew how Yin Ji stalked her when she was outside Yangzhou City back then. Although she doesn't know if he still has that kind of thought about her now, it's better to keep a distance just in case. Leave him a thought, let him misunderstand.So they haven't seen each other for more than half a year. If they didn't meet by chance at the Queen's Empress's banquet, they might be able to see each other very few times in the future.

Seeing that Ruan Muyang kept a distance from him, Yin Ji smiled and said mysteriously: "It's just a coincidence that Mrs. Zhang asked Xiaguan to investigate the matter earlier, and let Xiaguan know a big secret."

When Shen Lian was mentioned, Ruan Muyang was startled.

To prevent him from framing the truth, she kept calm and asked tentatively, "What do you know?"

Yin Ji curled his lips proudly, and said in a low voice: "I know Lord Shen Lian was supposed to be murdered by his entire family, but he left behind a son who lived in the world, and later became an official in the court. This man is the same as Mr. Zhang Ge Very close."

He was talking about Shen Wei.

Ruan Muyang was surprised, but at the same time he breathed a sigh of relief.Fortunately, he didn't know that Shen Wei was a woman.

Originally, Shen Wei's identity was probably only known to Zhang Anyi, but later she found out by accident, and now there is Yin Ji, who knows more than half of it.

What if Yin Ji used this to blackmail Zhang Anyi and Shen Wei, and they learned that the news leaked from her?
Ruan Muyang might not know how to explain Zhang Anyi's question.There are too many things involved in this.

"How did you find out?" Her voice became colder.

"I just checked because I was curious, and I checked for half a year." Noticing Ruan Muyang's vigilance, Yin Ji smiled, and said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, Mrs. Zhang, this official is a very strict person. I haven't been with you for so long. I have told about the acquaintance of Mrs. Zhang, so Mrs. Zhang should rest assured."

He paused and said again: "And I don't have any intentions, I just tried to check it because I was bored in the Hanlin Academy for the past six months."

In the past six months, the prince fought fiercely with King Yong'an, Luo Jie and Xu Hou, and no one cared to pay attention to him, a small Hanlin editor.Apart from doing some light editing, he spent the rest of his time doing nothing in the Imperial Academy.

"Really?" Ruan Muyang asked suspiciously.

Yin Ji nodded: "Really."

"Besides, I know that Mrs. Zhang is hiding this matter from Mr. Zhang, let alone tell it." His eyes softened, and he was not aggressive at all, and his frivolous tone was the same as that in the temple outside Yangzhou City. Same as when I first met her.

With Zhang Anyi's relationship, it was easy to find someone in the documents of the Imperial Academy. Ruan Muyang didn't ask him for help, but asked himself, so obviously Zhang Anyi didn't know what she was doing in private.

Maybe the relationship between their husband and wife is not as good as he thought.

Thinking of this, he hooked his lips.

Ruan Muyang's heart beat like thunder because of Yin Ji's words.I didn't expect him to be so thoughtful.

In time, he must be a very terrifying existence.

Yin Ji asked curiously: "The lower official wants to know why Mrs. Zhang would investigate Master Shen."

Sensing his temptation, Ruan Muyang said vigilantly: "No comment."

She has a tough attitude and still looks aloof and inviolable.

Yin Ji touched his chin feeling helpless.Obviously he is threatening her now, but how does her attitude seem to be threatening?Are you sure that he will not tell the secret?

But it's true that he won't say it.

And he just likes her attitude towards him.

It's really cheap.

Ruan Muyang didn't know what he was thinking, but somehow believed in his heart that he had no bad intentions for him.There were so many people in the palace, she was always afraid of being seen, she said: "It's getting late, Master Yin, take your leave."

"Madam Zhang, go slowly."

Seeing Ruan Muyang's figure slowly disappearing into the night, Yin Jicai withdrew his gaze.When he was about to return to the East Palace, he noticed footsteps.

"Who?" His eyes turned cold instantly.

"Lord Yin, it's my palace." The little prince Xie Shen came out from the corner, looked in the direction where Ruan Muyang disappeared, and said, "I came out to look for Lord Yin, but I saw Lord Yin talking with a lady from a distance. Who is the lady?"

Xie Shen was still young, and his tone was innocent.

Yin Ji curled his lips, and there was a flash of tenderness in his eyes, and he said: "She...is an old friend of the minister. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, must not tell this matter, otherwise the position of the subordinate official may not be guaranteed. .”

Xie Shen nodded and said: "Naturally. If someone wants to embarrass Mr. Yin, I will definitely not spare him."

Ruan Muyang returned to the carriage, recalling Yin Ji's words, he felt lingering fear.

Not long after, Zhang Anyi got into the carriage.

"What happened to Madam at the empress's place?" he asked.

Ruan Muyang shook his head and said with a smile: "For the blessing of the second master, the Empress has treated me very courteously and taken great care of me."

Then, she asked again, "Where is Second Master?"

"I finally met the Holy One." Although Zhang Anyi replied lightly, it was actually not very good.

With the sound of wheels rolling across the stone road at the gate of the palace, the carriage slowly left the palace.

After the carriage drove into Zhang's house, Ruan Muyang got out of the carriage first, and when she saw the two people she happened to meet, she was stunned.

It was Zhang Anyu and Hu Yunxi.

The two of them obviously didn't expect anyone to come back so late, and they were stunned for a while.

"Fourth brother, fourth sibling." Ruan Muyang called out in embarrassment.

Afterwards, Zhang Anyi got off the carriage.

The faces of Zhang Anyu and Hu Yunxi turned red all of a sudden.

Because at this moment, Zhang Anyu was carrying Hu Yunxi on his back, the two seemed a little close.

"Second brother, second sister-in-law." Zhang Anyu's voice was a little unnatural, "Yunxi - her ankle is sprained."

Seeing Zhang Anyu's shy look for the first time, Ruan Muyang almost couldn't help laughing.

(End of this chapter)