Chapter 188 Standing in front of it
In the fifteenth year of Yongxing's reign, it was the twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month and the fourth quarter of Yinshi.
When Meng Changqing got up, Dai Dongwen had already put breakfast in her room, and the ironed court clothes were hanging nearby.
Looking at the breakfast on the table, sauced pork buns, flower rolls, crispy pancakes... they were all things she usually liked to eat.
Unfortunately, she got up too early and had no appetite at all, so she barely took two bites.
"Is there tea?"
As soon as Meng Changqing finished speaking, Dai Dongwen brought a cup of strong tea. The temperature was moderate, just right for the mouth. The bitter taste of the tea immediately filled his mouth, and his mind became clear.
"Master, please eat some more." Dai Dongwen said, "I don't know when the court will end. If you are hungry by then, you can only endure it."
"I'll take two steamed buns to eat on the road." Meng Changqing looked outside, and the sky illuminated by a few lights in his yard became as dark as thick ink.
"The carriage is ready. It's still early and Bafang hasn't gotten up yet. You can change clothes later." Dai Dongwen said, "If you really can't eat, why not go back to bed and take a nap for a while. I'll remember the time. I’ll make sure to wake you up in advance.”
"Thank you, Uncle Dai."
Dai Dongwen tucked the quilt for her, and Meng Changqing closed her eyes but opened them faster, "Uncle Dai, there is a high probability that there will be no problems when I enter the palace today, but there is no guarantee what the outcome will be if something goes wrong. I can't predict it either.
If the emperor becomes angry and puts me in a cell, it is not impossible. ”
"Master, don't say such unlucky words."
"Even if I don't say it, it is still unlucky when it should be unlucky. On the contrary, because I didn't take care of you in advance, you were caught off guard." Meng Changqing continued: "In case of such a situation, as long as His Majesty doesn't kill me immediately, someone will always save me. You Don’t be anxious and don’t let your family do something irreversible.”
"Why are you so worried?" Dai Dongwen asked.
"I met with the prince in private yesterday. The prince told me that the emperor is not the emperor before. I don't know whether he lamented this because he was born in the changing situation, or whether this is the truth."
Dai Dongwen frowned, and then Bafang ran in from outside, "Master! Master!" He was breathing heavily. He hadn't fastened his coat yet. It was obvious that he got up from the bed in a hurry. "Finally you didn't get up late, you are still lying down."
"Young master has already had breakfast. Eat something quickly and then go to the carriage to see if there is anything missing."
Bafang rushed to the table, rolled two pieces of crispy pancakes and stuffed them into his mouth, saying vaguely: "I'll be there right away."
"Master, it's useless to think too much. Let's rest for a while." Dai Dongwen closed the door and stood guard outside.
Meng Changqing didn't lie down for long. When Dai Dongwen opened the door again and came in, she had already put on her court clothes and sat on the chair.
"Go there early, don't let the adults from the Ministry of Etiquette wait for me."
In the early morning of the twelfth lunar month of winter, when the weather is the coldest, not even a breath of cold wind can penetrate into Meng Changqing's carriage.
Everything in the carriage has been warmed in advance, and the steamed pork buns prepared for the road are being warmed on the soup pot.
Bafang leaned against the carriage and yawned, "It's a good thing you're not a Beijing official. If you have to go to court every two days, who can bear it?"
"Anyone who is an official in the court is not struggling to have a place in the court, and he will not shrink back because of this matter."
"That's what you said." Bafang touched the plate, "Master, eat the buns. The car is too stuffed to make charcoal. Once it's cold, it can't be heated again."
When the carriage arrived at the street in front of Zhuque Gate, Meng Changqing had just finished eating his buns. He felt thirsty but did not dare to drink water.
When the carriage stopped, Bafang poked his head out to take a look, "Master, the carriage can't go forward, we have to get off here."
"Get off."
Bafang helped Meng Changqing put on a thick cloak and carefully arranged it to prevent creases in the official uniform.
As soon as the two of them walked onto the white jade stone bridge, the official from the Ministry of Rites greeted them yesterday, "Mr. Meng, you came very early."
"Your Excellency arrived before me. It's not my place as a subordinate." The Lord took Meng Changqing to find a shelter from the wind. "We have to wait a little longer. The palace gate may not open on time, sometimes it will be early."
Meng Changqing asked: "Are we a little far away from the palace gate?"
"It doesn't matter, we'll stand at the end anyway, and we'll just wait until the adults are almost done going in, and then we can follow."
Meng Changqing exchanged a few words with the official. During this period, she noticed that several adults nearby were looking at her from time to time.
In this case, she might as well listen to what those people were saying.
"Do you think the palace gate will open early today?"
"There are many people in the morning, so we should start early, right?"
"How about we make a bet?"
Meng Changqing lowered his eyes and listened carefully, and while he was listening intently, there was a series of discordant footsteps in his voice.
"Master Meng, do you still remember me?"
Meng Changqing saluted him, "Master Zou."
The person who came was none other than Zou Dujuan, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
"Young Master Meng has a good memory." Zou Duwen said, "After the court is over, I would like to treat Young Master Meng to a cup of tea and ask for a favor from Young Master Meng."
"Master Zou invites me, and I will naturally go to the lower official level."
"In that case, it's settled." Zou Duxuan smiled and said, "After the dynasty is over, I will still be waiting for you here."
Meng Changqing nodded and smiled, but after seeing him take a few steps, he immediately pulled Bafang and whispered: "After I enter the palace, you go home immediately, bring my horse, and wait for me at the place closest to the palace gate."
"Master, if you don't want to go, why don't you just refuse him?"
"This man is very verbose. If I don't agree, he will be in trouble."
The official of the Ministry of Rites standing nearby pretended to be temporarily deaf and just looked at the palace gate in the distance.
The gentleman who bet that the palace gate will open early seems to have had bad luck.
The palace door opened, and the guards holding spears lined up one by one.
Meng Changqing followed at the end of the team, watching the people in front approve their seals and sign in, and she followed suit.
Entering the palace again, it is a different door and a different road.
Meng Changqing had looked at this hall from behind countless times, but this was the first time he stood in front of it.
When you first entered the palace gate, you could still hear slight chatter among the ministers, but the further you walked in, the quieter the crowd became.
After climbing several steps, she finally arrived in front of the palace gate. The official took her behind a red pillar nearby and said, "Just wait here."
She watched all the officials go in, and there was silence inside. Then the emperor arrived and began to discuss matters.
The door of the palace was open, and the sound inside was slightly louder. Meng Changqing could hear it clearly from outside.
I heard that Chao Shang was indeed talking about the pirates from the south.
A voice she was not familiar with said: "Yesterday, the southern coast reported that the pirates had not left for three days. The government soldiers used official ships to search the sea, but still could not find the pirates' hiding place."
Another voice said: "After interrogation with the gentlemen from the Seiyi Pavilion, some clues have been drawn. This is the prisoner's confession compiled by the Ministry of Punishment. Your Majesty, please read it."