"Your Highness, you really don't need me to stay?" Chang Xiu asked with concern.

Ji Ya had returned to her old residence, and it could be seen that it had been newly cleaned. Otherwise, even Emperor Zhou is in a palace that only seeks self-preservation, who would care about the former residence of a concubine who was born as a dancer of different races.

Ji Ya dismissed the slaves and maids sent by Emperor Ji of Zhou to serve, leaving only two female guards to obey. Chang Xiu saw that Ji Ya was a little worried about staying in the palace overnight, and proposed to accompany him here.

But Ji Ya didn't mean that. Now that they have entered the capital, there are many things to do, Ruan Yu and Wu Yan have partnered, and they cooperate with each other, not only to sort out their own interests in the capital, but also to negotiate with the Chu army, and Su Shun also secretly contacted the mutual aid association to assist. The general Chun Yu Wuji is the commander of the army, beware of any accidents. Monmonda was inconvenient to participate in politics because of his alien status, so he went to preside over the transcription of the royal family's book collection, and plunged headlong into the mountains and seas of books.

Chang Xiu was arranged to defend the palace, if it weren't for Ji Ya to stay overnight, she should be at her post. After all, Ji Ya's mother's former residence is relatively remote compared to the entire palace, and if Chang Xiu stays, it will take a little effort for her subordinates to find her, so Ji Ya doesn't want to delay Chang Xiu's work because of herself.

Ji Ya smiled: "No need Sister Chang Xiu, you have so many affairs, you don't need to be distracted to take care of me, I have lived in this palace for more than ten years, and I am very familiar with it." ”

Chang Xiu is still not at ease: "But today's palace is no longer as good as it was at the beginning, many old people in the palace have been purged, and the rest of the people can hardly say whether there are any spies sent by any forces, and the Chu army is now in the capital, I am really not at ease." "As usual, the meaning of embroidery is that in fact, Ji Ya had better be with her army all the time outside.

Ji Ya still didn't care: "Sister Chang Xiu, how many people do you think can hurt me in the capital at the moment? Besides, I won't stay here alone, at least Yanzi will accompany me." ”

At this time, Qi Diaoyan, who had been hiding her figure, appeared out of nowhere: "Yes." ”

In fact, when I met just now, Qi Diaoyan had already hidden around, for fear that something would be unfavorable to Ji Ya. If it was before, don't talk about lacquer carving swallows. Even Qi Diaoling didn't dare to sneak into the palace like this, after all, there was also a powerful royal family in the palace. But since the local princes entered Beijing and the royal power fell, these offerings have either left or been removed.

Today's palace has gone through several rounds of purging, and all the guards, chamberlains, servants, and slaves are only one-third lower than when Ji Ya left. Don't say that the elite of the lacquer carving family is a snitch with some fame in the rivers and lakes, and it is not difficult to enter and exit the palace now.

Seeing that Ji Ya insisted, and there were Qi Diaoyan secretly guarding her, Chang Xiu could only agree to leave first.

Ji Ya couldn't help but cry when she looked at the familiar residence, it was here that she and her mother lived for more than ten years, although it was not a childhood worth remembering, but recalling her mother's dedicated care still warmed her heart. In fact, there are many vacancies in the palace now, if she wants, she just needs to say it, and Emperor Zhou Ji will promise to prepare the best and most luxurious palace for her. But Emperor Ji Zhun of Zhou also understands that Ji Ya is not an ordinary prince, and she will not be satisfied with some acts of usurping royal power, she is the princess of the Great Zhou, her own royal sister, and only emotions can have a relationship with her.

Ji Ya, who was already preparing to rest, suddenly heard a report from the female guard outside that several highnesses wanted to see her. Ji Ya was very puzzled, but asked the female guard to bring them in. Unexpectedly, there were five or six children, the oldest of whom should not be more than six years old.

After careful questioning, I found out that these were Ji Ya's youngest brothers and sisters, and it stands to reason that they are also princes and princesses. Although Ji Ya's mother and daughter were excluded and oppressed by many concubines when they were in the palace, after leaving the palace for so many years, these young brothers and sisters, except for the two who were still in infancy, knew that the rest should be new in these years. Ji Ya didn't have any ill feelings towards them, but wondered why they would come to the door so late.

But after all, it is her younger brother and sister, Ji Ya is still ready to entertain them, because she used to walk the rivers and lakes to eat and sleep, so Ji Ya sometimes brings some food around for emergencies, this time a few children came suddenly, Ji Ya can only untie the spell and release some pastries and milk tea that have been prepared.

Unexpectedly, the eyes of several little princes and princesses were straight, and without waiting for Ji Ya to ask them about their intentions, they immediately devoured them. Ji Ya could only persuade: "Eat slowly, don't choke." At the same time, it is strange how these children can eat so good when they see ordinary folk pastries.

The children were so well fed and drunk that they almost forgot the purpose of their visit, and one of the younger girls asked, "Sister Wang, can I still come in the future?"

Ji Ya was stunned for a moment and then said, "Yes." ”

The little girl and the other children were very happy, and at first they were asked by their respective mothers to come over, but they didn't know anything about it. Just came to say hello and met a sister Wang who I had never met before. It was even specifically mentioned that this sister has blonde hair. But when I saw her, I was not allowed to say anything, and I was not allowed to ask anything.

Originally, the children were still a little curious, and they almost wanted to talk about blonde hair, but in the end, they were attracted by milk tea and pastries, and they were sent away after a nonsensical meal.

Ji Ya didn't ask these younger brothers and sisters, it's hard to say how much they know, maybe someone prepared a draft of a lie first, and it doesn't make sense to ask. However, Ji Ya knew that it would be no problem to ask Qi Diaoyan.

"Swallow!" Ji Ya called, and the lacquer eagle swallow immediately appeared. Just now, when these children came to the door, she had already arranged for eyeliner to go out to investigate.

Ji Ya asked, "What do you think of this situation?"

Qi Diaoyan said: "I think...... It should be a temptation. Then she reported a few names, and these Ji Ya knew that they were the mothers of these children and the concubines of their father. Among them, there are many people who have bullied their mother and daughter.

Ji Ya nodded and said, "It seems that Brother Wang also acquiesced to tonight's matter." ”

Emperor Ji Zhun of Zhou was willing to do his best to curry favor with Ji Ya, and these people in the palace also had this in mind. After all, compared with those outside princes, Ji Ya is a member of the royal family or a woman. Maybe it really saved them from the sea of suffering. But because of some reasons in the past, does Ji Ya still have a problem with the past? Does she hate some people? These are not clear to everyone, so I asked some young children who have nothing to do with Ji Ya to see Ji Ya's attitude first.

Originally, she was still in the arms of her mother, but when she thought of these people's small methods, Ji Ya suddenly felt bored, and asked casually: "Do these children usually not have enough to eat?

Qi Diaoyan replied, "Indeed, maybe the situation is worse. ”

"Oh?

The capital was originally sufficient, but since the Shu army entered the city, all the troops took over the past, and at the peak of the Shu army lineup, there were more than 300,000 troops entrenched in the capital, and because of the Eastern Expedition, Shu was almost squeezed dry, so that Xi Ze Yaoshi also transported away a batch of relief, so the part belonging to the palace was deducted. Coupled with the battle of Chuanyunguan, which lasted for nearly a year, the reserves of the capital were no longer so abundant.

The above are only external factors, and there are many internal reasons, because he is not worried about the stability of the palace, for fear that the forces loyal to the royal family inside and outside the palace will collude, especially for fear of making trouble when he is not there, Yuzawa Yaoshi purged a large number of officials and palace personnel loyal to the royal family. And there are a lot of henchmen and eyeliners arranged in the palace, and in addition to monitoring, these people have to make profits for themselves, take sheep with their hands, and hide the treasures of the palace privately, not to mention, and even the rations of these harems are also deducted.

Emperor Ji Zhun of Zhou, as the nominal emperor, these people did not dare to make a mistake, but those people in the helpless harem suffered, and it was normal to not have enough to eat, and they also lost things at three ends for three days. Sometimes they are even asked to exchange some furniture.

Saying that Qi Diaoyan gave an example here, a concubine took out a jade golden hairpin, just to change the meat for her two children, but only got a fish, she herself was reluctant to eat, all to the children. You must know that the golden hairpin of the palace is taken out, and even the best fishing village in Dazhou can't get it back for a year's fish.

Ji Ya frowned, couldn't she have imagined that the royal family had reached such a point? Qi Diaoyan was silent for a moment and then said, "Actually, there are also concubines here who were forced to be thieves!"

Ji Ya was instantly angry, of course she understood what this meant, in fact, usurping the royal power is a desire that everyone will have in the bottom of their hearts, and people with noble status naturally have a domineering way, such as Xi Ze Yaoshi dares to be the king. These little people don't have any great skills, but once they have the authority, even if it is just the distribution of food in the palace, they will feel superior, and even persecute the original palace maids and low-level concubines, these people have no support, and they don't even have a place to cry out for grievances.

If something happens, the consequence of going to Emperor Ji Zhun of Zhou is not to seek justice, and it may even be cleaned up on the grounds of disgrace to the royal family. How sad it is, the supreme emperor of a country, but even the servants of the king of Shu dare not make a move, and can only solve the royal harem that he can manage.

Ji Ya now understands the desire of this group of people, they regard Ji Ya as a lifesaver, and it is no wonder that Emperor Zhou Ji Zhun wants to crown her as the princess of Zhenguo, she is really afraid of being bullied.

As he was talking, the female guard outside came to tell someone to visit, and the group of children just left not long ago, who is this?

Ji Ya came out to see that it was a woman with a two or three-year-old girl, the girl was eating her fingers and looking at Ji Ya curiously. The woman Ji Ya also knew her, her surname Yang was not low-grade, and she was a concubine.

This Concubine Yang had bullied her mother and daughter in front of the palace people before, and the little girl didn't know that Concubine Yang had a child before, could it be that she was born later.

Before Ji Ya could speak, Concubine Yang pounced, pulled the child to kneel in front of her, recalling the past, Ji Ya's voice was a little cold: "What do you mean by this?"

"I know that you still hold a grudge against me, princess, and I am not here to ask for forgiveness, but I just hope that you can save this child for the sake of being sisters. ”

She ...... How did you get here? Why did you ask me to save her?"

Concubine Yang told Ji Ya about the past, the young Concubine Yang was born beautiful, and she was favored when she first entered the court. Since she was pregnant, she was even more arrogant, and in the end, she didn't know who secretly poisoned her, the child almost died without herself, and when she was pregnant, a new generation replaced the old people, and the attention of the first king was no longer her, she became obedient by this big change, but she couldn't make any waves when she was more and more unfavored, and she could only bully the existence that was weaker than herself.

Especially later, the demon concubine Su Lian enjoyed the grace alone, and she became more and more disgraced. A few years after Ji Ya left, she was getting older, and she could only grow old in the corner of the palace, who would have thought that he and the former king would meet again three years ago, maybe they wanted to miss the taste of the past, or maybe it was simply that the former king was interested at that time, and he casually pulled her and began to pamper her. That time also made her pregnant with the youngest princess.

Concubine Yang cried: "I know that I have done many wrong things in my life, and I am sorry for your mother and daughter, Your Highness can punish me as much as you want, even if it takes my life, but this child has suffered a lot, almost all her life is that she can only spend her life in this palace wall, she is only three years old, she should not and can't, Your Highness, I beg you to take her away, even if it is handed over to a civilian to raise." ”

In fact, this little girl is indeed not having an easy time, Ji Ya is visibly malnourished. When she was born three years ago, her mother was not taken seriously, and in the past year or so, she has caught up with the most turbulent moment of the royal family.

Qi Diaoyan secretly said a few words in Ji Ya's ear, Ji Ya nodded, it turned out that those who sold their bodies for the sake of the child included this Concubine Yang. What a beautiful and proud person he used to be, but now in retrospect, although his mother was ostracized, she was not harmed, and the reason is simple, it is her alien blood. Don't say that Ji Ya is just a princess, even if she is a prince, she will not be able to achieve great achievements in the future, even if she herself works hard.

There is no conflict of interest in itself, and Ji Ya's mother is not favored and does not cause trouble, so outside the circle where the mother and daughter are excluded, in fact, the battle between the harem concubines is also filled with their lives.

Ji Ya took a breath: "I can't promise you......"

"Your Highness......"

"I can only guarantee that your mother and daughter will not live in humiliation for a period of time in the future, you can eat enough, that's all. Ji Ya has lost the idea of seeking justice from her, she bullied her mother and daughter, of course she can pay back today, but Ji Ya doesn't want to do it, it's not that she wants to let them go, she really feels that even if it's revenge, she doesn't feel like she can vent her anger. On the contrary, it will feel even sadder.

For an elephant, stepping on a few ant nests can't vent anger, let alone her flying dragon.

Asked someone to send the mother and daughter away, Ji Ya got up and said, "Let's go, I won't live here tonight." ”

……

Knowing that Princess Ji Ya was leaving so late, Chang Xiu immediately came: "Your Highness, why don't you stay again?"

Ji Ya told what happened just now, and Chang Xiu smiled bitterly: "No wonder, Your Highness, do you know? When we first took over the palace, those harem people were very happy. ”

The last time Ruan Yu and Chang Xiu followed Chai Shengnan to guard the palace, Lin Yue occupied the capital alone, but he didn't have the intention of offending. The people in the harem don't think there's anything, after all, what's the problem with the stability of the Great Thursday for more than a hundred years?

This time, Xi Ze Yaoshi called the king, and woke everyone up, it turned out that the court had no strength to protect itself for a long time, the people in the palace said to kill, and the inner courtyard of the harem said to enter, the noble lady on the top, those powerful servants can fiddle with whatever they want. At that time, they knew how difficult it was to survive in troubled times.

So when Ruan Yu and Chang Xiu reappeared, they almost cried with joy. Knowing that Ji Ya controlled part of the capital, she was shocked and thought about how to please the blonde princess.

Ji Ya said: "If I leave like this, maybe someone will be embarrassed for Concubine Yang's mother and daughter, you can help take care of it." There are also some additions to the supply of all the royal families, which are not too good, according to the standard of generally good families, there are meat and vegetarian food for them. She was afraid that someone would misunderstand that Concubine Yang brought her daughter to the door to provoke her to leave, and Concubine Yang's mother and daughter would become excluded in the future, so she reminded her.

"Yes. Chang Xiu thought that Ji Ya couldn't stand the repeated interruptions before leaving, but in fact it was not like this.

If you hadn't left, maybe it would have ended up like this. In order to cut off the implication, his mother sacrificed her life. In order to give himself the ability to protect himself, the eldest brother passed on his skills, and his master Lin Yue not only taught him various skills, but even asked for rain to establish his status. How lucky I am to have them to protect me......

Ji Ya looked back at the majestic palace at night: "This is not home. ”

This is a quagmire, this is a fire pit, this is a place of sin, and it is also a pitiful place, where the powerful people of the world are wantonly toyed with. I've been sent out, so I don't need to come back, no matter what way it is.