Yijing Palace

The eldest palace maid Cui Wan took the little palace maid's food box, carefully took out the warm tonic soup inside, and brought it to Concubine Zhang.

"Niangniang, you have done a noon needlework, and now it is not as good as before, you must not be tired. Take a break, this is the tonic soup just made in the dining room, you can drink it first. ”

The needle and thread in Concubine Zhang's hand finally tied a delicate knot, approached the corner of her mouth and gently bit off the remaining thread, and then handed it to Cui Wan.

Cui Wan took the little palace maid's food box, carefully took out the warm tonic soup inside, and brought it to Concubine Zhang.

"Niangniang, you have done a noon needlework, and now it is not as good as before, you must not be tired. Take a break, this is the tonic soup just made in the dining room, you can drink it first. ”

The needle and thread in Concubine Zhang's hand finally pulled a delicate knot, approached the corner of her mouth and gently bit off the remaining thread, and then handed it to Cui Wan.

Cui Wan sent the tonic soup to Concubine Zhang's hand, and exclaimed: "Niangniang's embroidery is so good, is it a small coat for the little prince in the future?"

Concubine Zhang scooped the soup and smiled: "What prince is not a prince, don't talk nonsense, it makes people sound like I'm arrogant, it's good if it's a princess." ”

Concubine Zhang touched her lower abdomen, which was still flat, and a smile appeared on her face.

"It must be the little prince, the slave can see it at a glance. Cui Wan said firmly, and then sighed, "It's better here, it's all our own people, whether it's Changqiu Palace or Lizheng Palace, there are always people watching, and people are always frightened for fear of saying the wrong thing and causing trouble to Niangniang." ”

Concubine Zhang bowed slightly, thinking of the days when she was trembling in the Changqiu Palace, being arbitrarily oppressed by the concubine, and unable to raise her head, as if it was just yesterday.

A beauty is nothing, and a concubine is naturally not ranked, but she is still young and beautiful, and now that she has a child, there will always be a day when she will get ahead, so she is not in a hurry.

The jade hand holding the soup bowl gradually tightened, Zhang Meiren's eyes deepened, became more and more determined, and murmured: "Niangniang, you said that the harem is a life-and-death struggle for you, why can't you see through it at the beginning?"

Cui Wan asked suspiciously, "Niangniang, what did you say?"

Concubine Zhang was stunned, "It's nothing." She came back to her senses, drank a few sips of soup and handed it back to Cui Wan, and asked casually, "Have you been to see it before?"

Cui Wan replied: "Xiao Cen has already gone, I guess it is time to come back now, the emperor will come to sit here these days, there must be something delayed today." ”

Concubine Zhang nodded, and as she was talking, the eunuch Xiao Cen stepped into the inner hall and said, "Niangniang, the emperor has just come out of the imperial study and is driving to us and Yijing Palace, but Father-in-law Fang of Changqiu Palace came, and I don't know what to say, so the emperor changed his route to Changqiu Palace." ”

Hearing this, Concubine Zhang's willow eyebrows raised, "Do you know what?"

Xiao Cen lowered his head and thought for a while, and replied in a low voice: "The slave maid is not very clear, but listening to Gonggong Liu, who is on duty today, it seems that Chongwen Pavilion has been mentioned." ”

Concubine Zhang looked puzzled and looked at Cui Wan, that is the place where the prince and grandson study, what is the concubine going to do?

Cui Wan thought for a while and said hesitantly: "It seems that the third son of King Liang has turned six years old. ”

Entering the Chongwen Pavilion at the age of six, this is the royal rule, how can there be anything to discuss?

Concubine Zhang's finger tapped on the table.

Cui Wan looked out, "Niangniang, it's time for dinner." ”

"Then let's start the banquet, by the way, the emperor can't come today, Cui Wan called Jingyu to eat with me, I haven't seen this child for a long time." ”

"Yes, sis. Xiao Cen said happily, turned around and left.

Cui Wan helped Concubine Zhang out of the dormitory, and said as she walked: "The same prince, the difference is really big, since Concubine Min's accident, the Nine Emperors seem to have been forgotten by everyone, if it weren't for Niangniang to take care of him, I don't know if this child can grow up safely." ”

"After I lived in Changqiu Palace, he also came to see me a few times, but he left secretly without saying a few words. Concubine Zhang felt quite guilty.

"Our Nine Emperors are sensible, for fear that you will be embarrassed by the concubine, so I don't dare to come to see you often, don't blame Your Highness, he often asks the slaves and maids about Niangniang. ”

Concubine Zhang smiled: "How can I blame him, Jingyu is a good boy, just like Concubine Min's mother." ”

"That's not it, let's move to Yijing Palace, I thought His Royal Highness could come over from time to time, but the emperor will come to see you these days, so His Royal Highness just looked outside and left, and came every day. ”

Concubine Zhang was astringent in her heart, a prince who should have been proud of his superiority, but he ended up in such a situation......

remembered that in the days when he was still a little palace maid by Concubine Min's side, this prince who was just a toddler but was favored by the emperor has now become transparent in the harem, and even Chongwen Hall has forgotten him.

Who would have thought that Concubine Min, who was once used to pampering the harem, and the high-profile Nine Emperor Princes?

The mother is honored by the son, and there are also children who are implicated by the mother.

"Niangniang, the Nine Emperor Princes are here. ”

Eunuch Xiao Cen came a boy of seven or eight years old, wearing half-new clothes, but he looked neat and clean, a little thin, and his spirit was quite good, his eyes were indifferent, and his face was calm.

"Aunt Zhang. The moment he saw Concubine Zhang, Zhao Jingyu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he finally had a hint of a child's appearance.

No one expected that Emperor Xia Jing would come to Yijing Palace.

The little palace maid outside the door ran in in a panic to report: "Niangniang, the emperor is here, and he has arrived at the door." ”

Zhang Concubine stood up suddenly, a little fiercely, but fortunately, the Nine Emperor Princes were able to stand firm with a quick hand.

Cui Wan also held Zhang Concubine, looked at Zhao Jingyu, and her face became flustered, "Niangniang, the Nine Emperors are still here, what should I do?"

Emperor Xia Jing forbade the harem to talk about Concubine Min's words, and the Nine Emperor Princes did not want to see it.

Zhao Jingyu's eyes looked at the back room, "Aunt Zhang, I'll hide first." ”

Concubine Zhang looked at Zhao Jingyu's calm little face sideways, stunned for a moment, but suddenly pressed his shoulder, "No need, just follow Aunt Zhang to take over." ”

As she became a concubine, had a child, and stood in the harem, this matter could not be hidden, and sooner or later she would be stabbed in front of the emperor.

At this moment, Concubine Zhang subconsciously stroked her lower abdomen and made a decision.

The arrival of Emperor Xia Jing did not let anyone pass the word, and when he walked into the dining room, he picked up Concubine Zhang, who was bowing and bowed, and said with a smile: "You are in a body, didn't you say it, you don't have to salute, be careful." ”

Concubine Zhang smiled shyly, "Etiquette cannot be abolished, the body of the concubine understands in body and mind, and it will not be messed around." He said angrily, "The emperor didn't pass it on in advance, the concubine had prepared earlier, and now she was eating, and it was not sightful to be seen by the emperor, but then again, the emperor had already eaten? Look at what I said, the concubine has always been thoughtful, and she must have served the emperor." ”

Speaking of this, Concubine Zhang showed a coquettish vinegar appearance, which couldn't help but make Emperor Xia Jing laugh, "Not yet, I can't eat in front of her today, let's set up chopsticks." ”

Concubine Zhang suddenly showed a happy smile on her face, hurriedly turned around and instructed Cui Wan to add vegetables to the dining room, and diligently helped the emperor to the dining table.

At this time, Zhao Jingyu could no longer pretend that he had not seen it, and bowed his head and bowed, "Jingyu sees his father." ”

In an instant, the smile on Xia Jingdi's face disappeared, and the needles around him could be heard instantly.

Emperor Xia Jingdi looked at Zhao Jingyu with deep eyes, and then looked back at Concubine Zhang, who was cramped and uneasy, "What does Concubine Ai mean?"

Concubine Zhang instantly knelt on the ground and hurriedly said: "The emperor is angry, and the concubines are ...... The concubine deserves death. ”

Zhao Jingyu looked up at Concubine Zhang, and then lowered his head even lower.

"Humph!" Emperor Xia Jing stood with his hands behind his back, his face quite displeased.

Concubine Zhang immediately took two steps, grabbed the emperor's hem, and begged: "Your Majesty, please listen to the concubine's explanation." Before the concubine was favored by the emperor, she once went to the Qinglan Palace on the order of her grandmother, and when the time was pressing, she copied the path, so she walked a little remotely, but she happened to see the inner servant insulting the Nine Emperors, and even made a move, and it was not once or twice to see that familiar look. The emperor asked them to take good care of the Nine Emperors, but these hateful minions took advantage of your daily situation to bully their masters, which is simply too much! Your Majesty, you know, the concubines had served by the side of Concubine Min earlier, and had received some favors from her, so they didn't want to take care of things, but after coming back, they couldn't bear to turn around, and they hesitated for a long time before they made up their minds to take the time to send gold sore medicine to the Nine Emperors. The concubines don't read much and don't know any big truths, but they know the grace of dripping water. No matter how unforgivable the sinful concubine is, the Nine Emperor Princes are always innocent when they are still young, and he is the flesh and blood of the emperor, and he has noble royal blood, so he is the master, how can he ignore it! It's just that the concubines are cowardly and dare not sue the emperor, and the concubines are guilty. ”

Emperor Xia Jing turned around when he was said by Concubine Zhang, just in time to see the beauty and his party silently left in tears, and his heart suddenly moved, "So Concubine Ai took care of the Nine Emperor Princes for me because of her kindness?"

"Why else can the emperor think about it? Concubine Zhang sniffed.

Emperor Xia Jing was silent, as if he was contemplating, but he was obviously loose.

Concubine Zhang suddenly stroked her lower abdomen and said, "The concubine is fortunate to be pregnant with the emperor's child, and she can't see that the emperor's flesh and blood are not doing well, so she doesn't have the courage to sue you, so she has to take care of it secretly...... Your Majesty, the concubine is wrong, spare me. ”

As she spoke, she cried so much that she was raining, and Cui Wan on the side immediately persuaded: "Niangniang, you are still pregnant, don't cry like this!"

These words seemed to remind Emperor Xia Jingdi, so he sighed, bent down to help Concubine Zhang up, stretched out his hand to wipe the tears on his face, and said helplessly: "Don't cry, look carefully, the child who is pregnant with me still dares to cry like this, where is timid, it is simply bold, if there is anything good, see how I clean you up." ”

Concubine Zhang didn't listen, and still wept silently.

Emperor Xia Jing was out of choice now, and coaxed: "Okay, okay, don't cry anymore, look at the appearance of the little flower cat, I'm hungry, why don't you eat more with me?"

Then he looked at the kneeling people around him, and raised his hand, "Get up, serve your master, and Jingyu, don't kneel, sit down and eat." ”

When Zhao Jingyu heard this, he got up, and after respectfully kowtowing to Emperor Xia Jing, he supported Concubine Zhang, "Aunt Zhang, I'll help you sit down." ”

At this time, a few dishes happened to be added to the dining room, and the three of them sat together without saying a word and continued to eat, and they were all right.

Concubine Zhang secretly glanced at Emperor Xia Jing a few times, and happened to be caught, "What's the matter, Concubine Ai is shy?"

Concubine Zhang nodded shyly, "It's all concubines, when the emperor came in, his face was not very good, I'm afraid there is something to worry about, which makes you even more annoyed." ”

"It's nothing, it's just a trifle. ”

Concubine Zhang lowered her eyes, and then smiled: "Since it is a trivial matter, it is better to say it and let the concubines hear it, maybe you can give the emperor an idea." ”

Speaking of this, Emperor Xia Jing didn't care, "Our generalissimo of soldiers and horses has won battles one after another, and the shape is very good, and it is estimated that it will not be long before the division returns to the dynasty." ”

"That's a good thing, Your Majesty. ”

Emperor Xia Jing glanced at her and continued: "Jingyi has a heavy army in his hand, and his prestige in the army is even greater. Prince Rui's son reached the age of six, and as a rule, he entered the Chongwen Hall to study, accompanied by the emperor's sons and grandchildren, even if he was a deterrent. It's just that Rong'er is weak, and I think it's not too late to wait for him to get better. ”

Concubine Zhang poured wine for Emperor Xia Jing, her eyes moved slightly, and said: "I saw the prince of Rui Wang a few days ago, and it is indeed lovely, but it looks like he is acting normally, not like he is sick. ”

"Indeed, otherwise the courtiers would not have played the invitation. ”

Concubine Zhang tilted her head and said puzzledly: "The concubine doesn't understand, I heard that the lecturers in the Chongwen Hall are the most learned Confucians, isn't it a happy thing that the prince has such a teacher to teach?"

Emperor Xia Jing pinched Concubine Zhang's cheek and laughed in a low voice: "As smart as you are, why did you ask the concubine to come over today?"

Concubine Zhang held Xia Jingdi's hand, wrinkled her nose, and shook her head.

"Yuan Qi entered the Chongwen Pavilion last year, and he didn't have a companion by his side. ”

Concubine Zhang sighed, "The concubine has a good idea." ”

Emperor Xia Jing shook Concubine Zhang's little hand back and rubbed it, "Not only the concubine, but even the virtuous concubine is not idle, there is only one Rong'er, and it is unsatisfactory to choose any of them, hum, what kind of thoughts are in this, I am clear." ”

Concubine Zhang smiled softly.

Emperor Xia Jing sighed with emotion, "When my son is older, his mind will be active, and I am old." ”

Hearing this, Concubine Zhang said angrily: "What do you say, if you are old, where can the concubine come from here?" said and took Xia Jingdi's hand and touched his lower abdomen.

Emperor Xia Jing suddenly laughed, "Yes, I'm not old, it's still your little thing that hurts." ”

"The emperor is worried too much, if you don't want to choose any mother, it's better to find someone who doesn't rely on anyone, so that no one wants to trouble you. ”

"That makes sense. ”

It's just this candidate, Emperor Xia Jingdi frowned and thought for a while, and his eyes suddenly fell on the Nine Emperor Princes, who had not spoken a word so far, and became deep.

Concubine Zhang still smiled softly like a bird, and the light flashed in her eyes.

When the holy decree descended on the Yongning Marquis Mansion and finished reading it, Lin Xi's heart suddenly clicked.

"Nephew Yuanrong received the order of thanks. ”

Zhao Yuanrong got up after bowing to the ground and thanked him, calmly accepted the holy decree, and then watched the eunuch leave with the decree, showing the bearing of a prince and a prince.

However, as soon as he turned around, he grabbed Lin Xi's sleeve and asked distressedly with a wrinkled face: "Cousin, what should I do, Rong'er doesn't want to enter the palace at all." ”