After a few snowfalls, the New Year came as scheduled.

Due to the death of the emperor a few years ago, there has been no banquet in the palace, so this Chinese New Year's Eve dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve is the first official dinner of the new emperor's family.

For the first time to cook a family banquet for the new emperor, the imperial chefs of the chef did not dare to slack off, inquired about the preferences of each master half a month in advance, finalized the dishes, and waited until the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, the masters drove to the brightly lit Yuhe Hall, and the royal Chinese New Year's Eve dinner officially began.

Several concubines took leave very self-consciously, so all the people in the hall were from Song Chen's own family. And this New Year's dinner is also the first Chinese New Year's Eve dinner that Song Chen's mother and son have gathered together after 20 years of separation, so the atmosphere is very warm, plus there are children, and there are laughter and laughter in the hall.

Xu Jinhe also put on a warm smile, but when she saw Song Qi and Chu Xue's obviously bulging abdomen sitting next to Li Jiaoyun, she was so angry with hatred in her heart. Originally, she had the most children in her hands, but now she only accounts for two, Li Jiaoyun has two, and Chu Xue's one is about to be born, and according to Song Chen's favor for Chu Xue, she will definitely have a second and a third...... In comparison, it seems that he has no absolute advantage at all.

However, if you want to balance Chu Xue, it is not impossible.

Xu Jinhe pretended to glance at the palace of Nuoda, and said with a smile: "Seeing that Concubine Yi's sister will be born in summer, next year's New Year's Day, our palace should be more lively." ”

Chu Xue lowered her head and smiled yes, but vaguely felt that Xu Jinhe had something to say.

Sure enough, I listened to her: "But after the New Year's Eve is warm, the emperor should also think about the draft, and now in the harem of Nuoda, there are only two younger sisters, Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi, which is really a little deserted." ”

Chu Xue held the chopsticks for a moment, and subconsciously glanced at Song Chen.

It is true that for an emperor of his age, there are only one queen and two concubines in the harem, which is indeed a little deserted, and in these three palaces, he only spends the night in his own palace.

It's just that I don't know what he thinks.

Li Jiaoyun also looked up at Song Chen silently.

Song Chen didn't reply immediately, Xu Jinhe saw this, thinking that he was moved, so he further admonished, "The concubines have recently heard that there are many ladies of school age in Beijing, and there are many of them with outstanding appearances, if the emperor is interested, the concubines are willing to handle this matter for you." ”

After Xu Jinhe finished his thoughts, Song Chen put down the wine glass in his hand and spoke, "This matter is not in a hurry for the time being, the important affairs of the previous dynasty have been cumbersome recently, and I have no time to take care of it." In the future, let's think about it in the long run! ”

In a simple sentence, Xu Jinhe's thoughts were broken.

According to common sense, what wife is willing to marry a concubine? But Xu Jinhe is now forced to be helpless. The last time Song Chen wanted to promote Chu Xue, he was stopped by the Ministry of Rites on the grounds that he had nothing to do, but in a few months, once Chu Xue gave birth to a child, especially if he gave birth to a prince, it was difficult to guarantee that Song Chen would not bring up the old matter again.

At that time, once Chu Xue is promoted to a noble concubine, she will hold a prince in her hand, and then rely on Song Chen's favor for her, it is not impossible to overpower herself.

Moreover, I heard a few days ago that the Chu family has become friendly with the Qin family, since she knew about the Yue family's Yingyue bloody case, she understood the grievances between her brother Xu Jilin and the Chu family......

Therefore, she will never allow Chu Xue to be strong.

Even if there are ten more concubines, as long as she can get rid of one Chu Xue's favor, she will not hesitate to do it.

But now Song Chen refused, but she didn't want to give up, and turned her attention to the Queen Mother.

The queen mother saw the meaning of asking for help in her eyes, smiled slightly, and said: "The emperor attaches great importance to the community, which is the blessing of the world; For the sake of the royal heirs, the queen is really virtuous and rare, according to the mourning family, the people are noble and the monarch is light, this matter will be according to the emperor's will first, and after a while, the political affairs will be easier, and it will not be too late to discuss it. ”

The queen mother and the emperor both spoke like this, and Xu Jinhe had no choice but to stop talking.

Chu Xue was at peace in her heart, she knew that he was thinking about herself.

After the three rounds of the banquet, the night was getting darker, and the Queen Mother returned to Funing Palace first. Although the elders left, the juniors had more and more joy, the boys got the permission of their father, and went out to set off firecrackers as usual, although Song Ning was a year older, he was still afraid of the sound of cannons, and hid in his mother's arms as usual.

Due to the death of the first emperor, there is no plan to set off fireworks in the palace this year, and it is cold outside, and the family is talking in the hot hall. The little girl was bored in her mother's arms, so she went to Chu Xue to wander around, Chu Xue sat on the chair, her bulging abdomen was bulging like a leather ball through the clothes, Xiao Song Ning noticed it, she was ignorant, and ran over to ask her, "Auntie, why are you so drummed here?" ”

Chu Xue couldn't help laughing, and explained to her with a smile, "Because my aunt has a little baby in her belly, the bigger the baby gets, the more bulging my aunt's belly becomes." ”

The little girl nodded, and then asked, "When will the little baby come out?" ”

Chu Xue thought for a while, "In the summer, when you can eat zongzi, the baby will be able to come out." ”

The little girl followed the imagination for a while, and suddenly clapped her hands happily, "Great! By the time the summer comes, I'm not the youngest, I'm going to be his sister, and I'm going to play with him! ”

The whole family laughed, and Chu Xue was also laughing, just looking at the little people cheering in front of him, a scene from his childhood came to mind again.

At that time, my mother was also pregnant, she was older than Song Ning now, and she knew that there was a baby in her mother's womb, but she was curious to look around all day long, wondering when he would come out and when she could be a sister. The mother said that the baby can come out after the Mid-Autumn Festival, she is full of anticipation, waiting for the Mid-Autumn Festival with her fingers, waiting for the day when she will be a sister......

But that day never came.

There was some mist in her eyes, she picked up a cup of warm tea, and was drinking it, when she heard Xu Jinhe ask Song Ning, "Ning Ning, tell your mother, do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?" ”

The villain thought seriously for a while, and replied: "I want my sister, my sister can play with me, my sister doesn't set off firecrackers, I tie my sister's hair." ”

The villain is straightforward, but her mother-in-law Li Jiaoyun looked at Chu Xue apologetically, "The child said casually, sister, don't take it to heart." ”

Ordinary people understand that harem mothers are expensive by their sons, and most people want to have their sons.

Chu Xue said with a smile: "I also want a daughter, like Ning Ning is well-behaved and likable, if she is as naughty as a boy, I will have a headache, I'm afraid I won't be able to control it." ”

Li Jiaoyun smiled and nodded, and didn't say anything more, but Xu Jinhe asked, "Has the imperial doctor diagnosed men and women?" ”

She shook her head, "The imperial doctor didn't have a complete grasp of what happened in the womb, but ...... It seems to be more like a daughter's pulse. ”

"Then it looks like my sister is going to get her wish." Xu Jinhe smiled, and there was a faint sense of relief in his smile.

Chu Xue saw the change in her expression, only smiled slightly, and didn't say anything more.

Song Chen opened his mouth, "Both men and women are good, they are all my children, and the safety of mother and child is the most important." ”

As if being brought up again, Xu Jinhe's eyebrows jumped slightly.

Li Jiaoyun quipped: "If it is really a princess, the emperor will have another little padded jacket." ”

"Hmm." Song Chen nodded, got up and went to look for his current little padded jacket, "Ning Ning, my father will take you out to watch my brother fire a cannon." ”

The little man immediately threw himself into his arms, and the father and daughter put on their cloaks and walked out of the temple gate.

After laughing and talking for two hours, the dinner in the Yuhe Palace ended, and everyone went back to the palaces.

Listening to the sound of firecrackers outside the palace, the mother and son sighed in their hearts, and just after a few sips of tea, they saw the female official Ning Yuan coming in a few steps, and the look on her face was a little unnatural.

"What's wrong?" The Queen Mother asked.

Ning Yuan looked at the two masters separately, lowered his head and said softly: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, the people from Yongle Palace have come to report, that one is ...... Dead. ”

The Queen Mother's eyes froze, put down the teacup, and said, "Got it." He turned his head to look at Song Chen, thought to himself for a while, and ordered: "Ming'er is the New Year, as the old saying goes, funerals can't be celebrated, find a few people, take advantage of now, bury it!" ”

"Yes." Ning Yuan bowed her head in response, but did not move immediately, and said: "The slave and maid dare not hide it, but I heard the palace people say that that person is crying out for injustice until death, saying yes, I have never poisoned the Queen Mother...... Do you see anything strange about this? ”

"She's wronged?" The Queen Mother sneered, "Even if it wasn't her this time, are there still fewer souls who died in her hands in the past?" The mourning family has been merciful to keep her until now, what grievance does she have to redress? If there is really a grievance, just wait for Jiuquan to complain to the first emperor! ”

Seeing that the queen mother was already sad again, Song Chen said: "Do what the queen mother wants." ”

"Yes." Ning Yuan bowed and retreated.

When the palace is clean again, Song Chen thought about Ning Yuan's words, and he was also slightly puzzled, people are about to die, and their words are good, maybe Yongle Palace was really planted this time?

He looked at the queen mother, wanting to find a solution, the queen mother looked out the window, and said lightly: "It's not Yongle Palace, maybe it's Concubine Duan, her son King Ning can install someone to provoke the prince to rebel, Concubine Duan may not be able to think of such a means of planting blame." But no matter who it is, at this point, how much better can it be than death? ”

Yes, the husband is dead, the son is imprisoned, and he is imprisoned, is this taste better than death?

Song Chen was silent, today is Chinese New Year's Eve, he is not very willing to recall that time.

The Queen Mother also understood his thoughts, so she changed the topic and said: "During the banquet, the things mentioned by the queen should really be considered. From ancient times to the present, there are only two or three people in the harem of few emperors, and besides, from the perspective of the mourning family, you have long not gone to the queen and Concubine Rong to spend the night, and now that Concubine Yi has a body, you really don't want to enter the newcomer? ”

Song Chen smiled, "What the son said is true, now that his son has just ascended the throne, there are many things to figure out and take over, and there is really no time for him to take care of it." As for what is new or not, my son is never too interested. Moreover...... Concubine Yi has a body now, let's wait for her to give birth to the child safely. ”

Speaking of this, the Queen Mother didn't persuade anymore, nodded, and took his words: "Concubine Yi is the first child, it is inevitable to be more delicate, no matter what, if you want her to give birth well, the mourning family will also watch it for you." ”

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Song Chen smiled.

There was a distant sound of cannon fire outside the window, and the mother and son looked up and looked at the distant night sky together.