Imperial Physician Xing checked Jingyu's pulse, but it was an ordinary wind and cold, and he hurried to the queen's Chengqing Palace after prescribing a prescription. I heard that the emperor and the queen mother were staying there, and summoned the lama to enter the palace overnight to pray for blessings. However, until nightfall, I did not hear the good news of the emperor's heir from Chengqing Palace.

And Ah Yuan here, because of the high fever in Jingyu, he kept pulling her to talk nonsense, and refused to let go no matter what. When it was almost midnight, Jingyu finally fell asleep, and Ah Yuan pulled out and returned to his room. She couldn't sleep, so she sat on the couch and pondered, and happened to meet Makika returning from the Chengqing Palace, so she asked her, "How is the queen mother?" ”

While taking off her headdress, Makka said, "It's not good, it looks weird and scary." ”

Ah Yuan didn't ask anymore, she actually really hoped that the queen's baby would be safe and sound. If there is a son-in-law in the middle palace, the status can be secured, which may also make the Yuntai Palace no longer so eye-catching.

After the two of them finished washing, they talked for a while, and then went to sleep. I don't know how many hours I slept, and I heard the sound of firecrackers outside in a daze, Ah Yuan slept lightly, and woke up first: "Why did you set off firecrackers in the middle of the night?" ”

Makika listened carefully and said, "It seems to be from Chengqing Palace, could it be that the queen mother gave birth?" ”

"Maybe." Ah Yuan thought for a while and said, "Is there a custom in the palace to give birth to children and set off firecrackers?" ”

Makika shook her head: "I haven't heard of it." ”

However, they soon knew the reason for the firecrackers in the middle of the night, and early the next morning, the "ghost cub said" spread up and down in the palace: it is said that in the middle of the year in July, the little ghosts wandered in the sun, and the queen mother caught up with this day to give birth to a dragon descendant, and the ten ** is a ghost cub! If it weren't for the exorcism of ghosts, how could it be that firecrackers were suddenly set off and lamas were invited to recite sutras?

It was not until late afternoon that the Queen Mother returned to Changning Palace. Chengqing Palace is tightly guarded, what is the situation of the queen's fetus, whether it is a boy or a girl, no one is sure.

For a while, all kinds of rumors arose, and some said that the children born on Halloween were all reincarnated by evil ghosts, and their lives were hard. The male baby will kill his parents and brothers, and the female baby will be the future of the baby. Some people say that when the child comes out of the womb, he has a very heavy yin qi, and he is afraid that it will be difficult to feed, so he keeps it a secret.

On the evening of the 15th, the emperor also returned to Xihe Palace, leaving only those lamas still reciting Buddhist scriptures in Chengqing Palace.

Just when there were many speculations about the queen's womb, in the early morning of July 16 of the first year of Yuanfeng, the emperor announced in the Rende Palace: The queen Chun Yu inherited the comprehensive qi of heaven and earth, collected the glory of the sun and the moon, and gave birth to the eldest son of the emperor in Chengqing Palace. The first birth of this son has the difference of divine light, and it must be the mandate of heaven, which is the womb of heaven, so it is given the name Chonghui, in order to inherit the virtue of the Ming sage.

The emperor's attitude gradually calmed down the gossip about the "ghost cub". However, Chonghui was associated with the Yin Ghost Theory as soon as he was born, and he was not yet full-term, and his body was extremely weak, which inevitably left a shadow in the Queen Mother's heart. So that whenever I talk about the eldest son of the emperor, the queen mother cares about it, and there is always something that can't be said.

On this day, the nurse took Chonghui to Changning Palace to visit the Queen Mother, and when she saw the child's yellow face and thin muscles, and her sick appearance, the Queen Mother was a little dissatisfied: "It's been more than ten days since I was born, why haven't I seen any better?" How do you nurses take care of the emperor's eldest son! ”

The two nurses hurriedly knelt down to plead guilty, and one of them said: "The eldest son of the emperor is weaker, and he eats less, at most three or four times a day, and the slaves and maids see that there is nothing they can do." ”

The Queen Mother asked, "Eating three or four meals is not enough?" Could it be that you don't have enough milk? ”

The nurse replied: "The queen mother doesn't know, it's not that the slaves and maids don't have enough milk. It's just that the newborn has a weak spleen and stomach, and usually it has to be fed more than ten times a day......"

As soon as these words came out, the Queen Mother felt that she had not given birth and did not know the habits of young children, so she said: "If he doesn't eat, you won't feed it?" ”

The nurse's voice trembled a little, and she said timidly: "If you go back to the queen mother, you will feed it, but the eldest son of the emperor will either not eat it, or vomit after eating......"

The Queen Mother looked at Chonghui, whose face was blue in swaddling clothes, the child didn't cry or make trouble, and it was a little distressing, so she asked, "Have you seen it all?" ”

The nurse said: "After reading it, it is said that it is congenital deficiency, yin deficiency and weakness, so it can only be raised slowly." ”

After the nurse hugged Chonghui and left, the queen mother looked solemn, and she didn't see Sun Zhixi at all, so she asked the red calyx on her side: "You said this child, why is it not good to look at it all the time?" ”

Hongcao replied with a smile: "It's just a few days of premature, and it will be raised in the future." After all, he is the eldest son of the emperor, and the blessings in the future will not be used up. ”

The Queen Mother frowned: "Speaking of the queen's premature birth, the mourning family also feels a little strange, and the hospital is obviously counting the end of July......

Hongcao said: "It's only ten days away, and it's not important to think about it, where is this delivery period so accurate?" ”

It happened that the incense made new tea and served it in a transparent crystal lotus cup, with a few bitter chrysanthemums floating on it. The Queen Mother tasted the tea and praised: "This tea is the most relieving of the heat, and it looks comfortable." ”

Zhu Xiang said: "The queen mother doesn't have to worry too much about the eldest son of the emperor, when the younger brother of the slave maid family was born, he was also so thin and small, and it will be fine after the first birthday." What's more, the eldest son of the emperor is the heir of the dragon, he has the blessing of God, and there are so many imperial doctors and grandmothers in the palace to take care of him, how can it be bad? ”

The Queen Mother said with a smile: "I haven't seen you talk so well before." She took another sip of tea and asked her, "I heard that you live with that sister of Lan Concubine?" ”

Makika replied: "Yes, Ah Yuan also prays for the emperor's eldest son day and night. ”

The Queen Mother's smile instantly condensed: "What blessing does she pray?" Could it be that everyone thinks that the queen's birth is unusual! ”

Makka no longer dared to reply. The queen gave birth to the prince on the first day, and everyone in the palace knew about it, although the emperor declared that it was July 16, but it was just for the sake of the queen and the emperor's eldest son. And what the Queen Mother is most worried about is not only Chonghui's body, but also the fate of the "ghost cub......

The Queen Mother drank half a cup of tea, and suddenly sighed: "Now that the queen also has a son-in-law, the mourning family looks at the emperor's harem, there are really few outstanding people, and it is no wonder that the emperor always cares about these things." ”

She is right, looking at the harem of Emperor Yuan Feng, in addition to the queen, there is only one concubine, that is, Concubine Min Zhang Jingjing. Next is the Lan concubine Yang Muzhi who was demoted, as well as Rong Concubine, Ying Guiren, Zheng Baolin, Sun Meiren and the newly promoted Fumei. There are only seven or eight people in the count, not to mention that the emperor only focuses on Yang Muzhi. Even if Yang Muzhi fell out of favor for a while, the emperor did not go to the other concubines. Even the nearest Fume was fortunate to have been visited once and never heard from again. If this continues, sooner or later the imperial heir will be a big problem.

The Queen Mother leaned on the back pillow embroidered with "Prolonging Life and Benefiting the Descendants", held her forehead, and asked Hongcalyx: "How old is that girl from the Mei family this year?" ”

Red Calyx calculated and said, "It's estimated that it's almost fifteen." ”

The Queen Mother said: "When the first emperor was selected two years ago, she was still young, but now she is fast. That girl can write poetry and paint, and her appearance is also good, if she doesn't have anyone yet, find a day to let her enter the palace to serve the emperor. ”

Hongcao smiled: "The Queen Mother is still worried about her, this is really a blessing for the Mei family." ”

The Queen Mother said: "In the past, when the emperor was a prince, he was afraid of arousing the suspicion of the first emperor, and he didn't dare to pick a few more ladies from famous families, and even the queen came out of a small portal. Coupled with Jingjing's temper and not pleasing the emperor, this made the Yang family cheaper. The mourning family thought that if he could choose a few good ones for the emperor, maybe he would no longer be able to tolerate only the Yang family in his eyes. ”

Hongcao tidied up the tea set and said with a smile: "The Queen Mother is reasonable. He motioned to Makka to bring down the tea set.

It was already night, and she didn't go back to the next place, but went directly out of Changning Palace. She has always served by the side of the Queen Mother, and sometimes she is ordered to go to the palaces to spread the word, so no one pays special attention to her whereabouts.

Walk straight south along the palace wall to the end, turn to the long street on the left, and enter the first palace gate headed by in the blink of an eye. This palace is very magnificently renovated, although at night, you can also see the beasts on the top of the heavy eaves, and the golden green tiles and the moonlight reflect the dazzling brilliance.

Makika didn't have the heart to look at this majestic and gorgeous palace, so she only lowered her head and walked quickly into the west room of the main hall.

"The slave maid greets Concubine Min."

Concubine Min was not surprised when she saw her coming, and only waved away the two palace maids serving beside her. After the two of them withdrew, the corners of their mouths were raised: "It's so late, what do you want to see this palace?" ”

Mai Xiang changed her usual warm tone, and her voice was cold and calm: "The slaves and maids have paid attention to the things that the mother ordered. ”

Concubine Min, when she smiled, she didn't look like the childish Zhang Jingjing before: "Let's listen to it." ”

Zhu Xiang said: "Although the Queen Mother feels sorry for her grandson, she still doesn't seem to be very happy because of those rumors about "ghost cubs". The slave maid felt that the queen mother also took it to heart. ”

"My aunt has always done things for the sake of perfection, and she can't see anything that is not in line with her wishes, not to mention that the life of the eldest son is related to the fortune of the country. After a long time, these gossips naturally became a thorn in her heart. Concubine Min asked again: "In addition to these, did she not suspect that the queen's premature birth was done by someone?" ”

Makika said: "I did ask about it, but it was all perfunctory by the red calyx." This matter is done carefully, and it is not a few days away from the delivery date, the queen mother is suspicious, and she can't find any evidence. ”

Concubine Min nodded with satisfaction: "Now that the Yang family is not in the climate, and the queen has given birth to an unpleasant prince, this palace may have a bright day." ”

Mu Xiang thought for a moment and asked the doubts in her heart: "The slave is puzzled, in fact, the Queen Mother is Niangniang's aunt, and she helps Niangniang in everything, why does Niangniang hide these things from the Queen Mother?" ”

Concubine Min glanced up at her and didn't answer. Long before marrying into King Su's mansion, she knew that although the queen mother was an aunt and nephew with her, she would not be allowed to be the queen. The queen mother's meaning is very clear, sooner or later, the position of the imperial concubine will be her Zhang Jingjing's, this status can not only protect the glory of the Zhang family, but also will not make the emperor jealous. The so-called tree is a big wind, and the height is not cold, and what the Queen Mother values most is the way of balance, which is also her long-term plan to seek wealth and peace for her mother's family. Moreover, Chun Yu Leyi is also the queen she personally selected, although she is not smart and beautiful, she is obedient and responsible enough, which is her greatest expectation of the queen.

And she, Zhang Jingjing, has only one wish since she was a child, that is, to put on a phoenix crown and stand beside the emperor. Like her aunt, be a woman that everyone in the world looks up to!

Seeing that she was silent, she hurriedly leaned over: "The slave has said a lot." ”

Concubine Min said: "This palace keeps you by the side of the Queen Mother, you just need to watch and listen more, as for the reason, you don't have to ask more, and it will not be good for you to ask." ”

Makika said respectfully: "The slave understands. ”

"Does that cousin of the Yang family still live with you?"

"Yes."

Concubine Min sneered: "The Queen Mother is really kind to this girl, knowing that she is the one who gave the first emperor a funeral, she actually didn't kill her." ”

Zhu Xiang said: "That day, Concubine Lan recognized her as a righteous sister on the spot, and the emperor was the guarantor, and the queen mother was not good at doing it directly. Later, she climbed up to the Fourth Emperor, and the Fourth Emperor seemed to be very dependent on her, and obeyed her words......"

Concubine Min interrupted her and said, "Fourth Emperor? Didn't you hear that you're already a waste? ”

"Well, the brain is not very bright, but the Queen Mother still loves him very much, after all, he is the son who was raised by his own hands. The slave felt that if this continued, the queen mother might give Ah Yuan Xu to him as a concubine. ”

Concubine Min shook the palace fan and sneered: "Marry that fool? He sneered again: "In vain, these two sisters worked hard, one wanted to capture and indulge the emperor, and the other wanted to be a fool in the end." ”

As the night got cooler, she glanced at the copper leak on the table and said in a low voice, "It's not too early, the slave has to go back." Suddenly, he remembered something, and said, "Oh, there is another thing, the slave and maid almost forgot." ”