Ma Xiuying asked Zhu Yuanzhang for permission, turned around and went to the East Palace again.

Chang Meirong heard that Ma Xiuying was gone and returned, and hurriedly greeted her, although her face was calm as usual, her eager tone still betrayed the uneasiness in her heart, "Queen Mother, is it okay with my father?"

Ma Xiuying gave her a comforting look, "It's okay, your father is reviewing the folds in the imperial study today, and I will come over to have dinner with you two." ”

Chang Meirong stabilized her mind and ordered someone to go to the imperial dining room to inform the additional meal.

There is a plate of crystal osmanthus cake on the desk, which is crystal clear and looks very delicious. Chang Meirong said: "If the queen mother is hungry, eat some osmanthus cake at the bottom first, this is sent by Concubine Niangniang, the oil is not greasy, the entrance is not astringent, the prince likes it very much." ”

"Concubine Qi loves to make these little things. Ma Xiuying chuckled, twisted a piece and put it in her mouth, and the sweet taste immediately filled her mouth.

Chang Meirong said: "Concubine Niangniang will send someone to send snacks to the prince every month. ”

"She treats the prince as her own son, speaking of which, without her help back then, the prince and I almost had an accident...... Ma Xiuying briefly said that Li Qi'er sacrificed herself to save their mother and son.

Chang Meirong immediately said: "Another day, the daughter-in-law will go to thank Concubine Qi in person." ”

The two gossiped for a while, Rao is Ma Xiuying had a clear conscience, but she was still a little ashamed to reach out to her son and daughter-in-law to ask for money, she looked at Chang Meirong kindly, and hesitated for a moment and didn't know how to speak.

"The queen mother has something to say. Chang Meirong's calm heart rose to her throat again, and she was still apprehensive to Ma Xiuying when she said that someone wanted to harm the prince.

Ma Xiuying's face was slightly red, "Just now the emperor told me about the matter of the Guozijian, there are thousands of Taizijian students, and the imperial court will also subsidize their lives, but no one takes care of their families, so I want to prepare a special fund to take care of the families of the Taizijian." Helplessly, the treasury is tight...... I want to embezzle the gift of the prince's wedding first, and when the treasury is full later, I will make up for it for you, don't blame me. ”

"What the queen mother said, there is something in the court, the daughter-in-law and the prince are duty-bound, and it is too late to be happy if they can do their best, how can they blame the queen mother. Chang Meirong put her mind at ease, and immediately instructed the manager to get the list of congratulatory gifts, and said: "The daughter-in-law wants to write a letter to her mother's family, if the mother and eldest brother know about the queen's righteous deeds, they will definitely support it." ”

Ma Xiuying saw that Chang Meirong was not reluctant at all, but asked Chang Fu to donate, and was very happy, "You and the prince can care about the court, and the emperor and I are very pleased." Don't bother your mother's family, Princess Kaiping is rarely quiet for a few days. ”

Chang Meirong smiled shyly, "Mother is fasting and reciting Buddha now, if she doesn't know about such good deeds and accumulation of virtues, I'm afraid she will be angry." ”

Ma Xiuying knew that Chang Meirong wanted to fight for her mother's face, so she responded: "Now that the palace is supported by your eldest brother, you are not allowed to spend too much." I will tell the emperor on his side, and I can't let those students forget the kindness of the palace. ”

Chang Meirong lowered her head embarrassedly, "The daughter-in-law knows that she can't hide it from the queen mother." ”

Ma Xiuying said: "I just like your straightforward nature, you can do it if you want to, you don't have to hide it." However, not everyone in the palace is frank and open, and you have to guard against the small actions of some restless people. I asked the prince to donate the congratulatory gifts not only to take care of the family of the prince, but also to consolidate the sacred heart. ”

Chang Meirong immediately raised her head and sat upright.

Ma Xiuying continued to teach, "I didn't want to tell you about the pickled dirty things in the palace, but someone hit the prince with the idea, so I had to say it." From ancient times to the present day, where there are people, there will be struggles, and these struggles are often filled with ugly passions and unfulfilled hopes. The battlefield is a place where soldiers fight, the court is a place where officials compete, and the harem is a place where women calculate. Don't think that the battlefield can kill people, your father once said that a literati is better than a military general's sword. I want to tell you that women's calculations are sometimes more powerful than literati, and you can't cry out for pain when you kill without seeing blood. Everyone is hungry for power, and the women of the harem are no exception, they either plan for themselves, or pave the way for their children, if it is normal competition, it is just that, and some people will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Concubine Cheng Mu was once drugged to abort her child, and she was infertile for life......"

Chang Meirong was dumbfounded when she heard this, she was born in a military general's family, and she has always been instilled with the concept of decisiveness by Chang Yuchun, plus Chang Yuchun did not take a concubine, and there was no dispute between concubines in the inner house, so she never thought that the intrigue between women would be more intense than the battlefield fight.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, he was still just a child, but Ma Xiuying had to say ruthlessly to this pale-faced girl: "The prince is not in good health, and he has attracted the attention of me and the emperor since he was born, so no one has dared to fight the prince's idea, but after the emperor ascended the throne, he was busy with court politics, and I managed the harem, so it was inevitable that I would be negligent with the prince." In addition, there are many princes now, and some people who are not long-sighted put their minds on the prince. The prince has a benevolent and pure personality, and he doesn't know people's intentions, and I don't want these things to dirty his eyes and ears, so I can only worry about you. ”

Chang Meirong felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, Ma Xiuying didn't want to dirty the prince's eyes, so she could pollute her ears, she was not her own mother. If it were his mother, he would definitely protect her very safely and not let her be hurt at all.

Ma Xiuying took her hand and said earnestly: "Don't complain about the queen mother, the queen mother doesn't let you calculate anyone, just let you be more vigilant." I don't want you to be caught up in intrigue all day long, but you can't hurt others, and you can't do without the heart of guarding against others. The queen mother will take care of the big things for you, and you have to guard against some unpopular means. Some things are not afraid of 10,000, just in case. ”

Chang Meirong was in a better mood, and said, "The daughter-in-law understands." ”

Ma Xiuying repeatedly advised, "With this congratulatory gift, you should clean up the East Palace, don't keep the restless people, and don't take the food outside into the palace." ”

Chang Meirong looked at the crystal osmanthus cake on the table, "Then this snack ......?"

"Concubine Qi will not harm the prince. "Ma Xiuying has eaten Li Qi'er's dim sum many times, and there is no problem, so she doesn't doubt her.

Near evening, the prince returned to the East Palace, saw Ma Xiuying, was very happy, and kept serving the cold and warmth.

Ma Xiuying happily pulled him and looked him up and down, "They are all married, and they are still like children." ”

"Erchen will always be the child of the queen mother. Zhu Biao, who is usually calm, revealed his true feelings in front of Ma Xiuying.

"The queen mother wants to take your congratulatory gift, are you reluctant?" Ma Xiuying said about the preparation of special funds.

Zhu Biao immediately said: "The queen mother is thinking about the court, and the sons dare not disobey, not to mention taking away the congratulatory gifts for the wedding of the sons, they want all the items in the East Palace, and the sons and daughters are willing to do so." ”

Ma Xiuying quipped: "You and your daughter-in-law are quite generous." ”

Zhu Biao said solemnly: "It's not that the sons are generous, this kind of thing is the duty of the sons, but it makes the queen mother worry, and the sons are not filial." ”

"Yes, yes, don't be so serious, relax in front of me. I know that our Biao'er is a good prince, and he will be a good emperor in the future. Ma Xiuying looked at Zhu Biao with a smile, with joy at the corners of her eyebrows and eyes, how satisfied she looked. Such a good boy who is humble and filial has people who don't like it, it's just too hateful. If anyone dares to hurt her son, she will surely crush his bones and scatter his ashes.