After the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was soon time for autumn. The ancestors of the Great Zhou Dynasty originated from the nomadic tribes in the north, and their riding and archery skills were passed down by the children of the royal family in successive generations, so they also attached great importance to the annual autumn hunting.

The Qishan enclosure of this hunting trip is surrounded by mountains on three sides, facing water on one side, with both lush grasslands and lush mountain forests. Beginning at the end of August, the Ministry of Industry first went to the Qishan enclosure on the outskirts of Beijing to set up camp. At the beginning of September, under the escort of the left and right guards of the Imperial Forest Army and the cavalry of the Gyeonggi battalion, Emperor Yuan Feng led Prince Ke, Prince Xun and courtiers to the Qishan enclosure on the outskirts of Beijing. The queen mother stayed in the court to listen to the government, and the queen was in charge of the affairs of the harem, and neither of them accompanied her.

As a member of the attendants, Ah Yuan also followed Jingyu to the Qishan enclosure. The tents of the princes and courtiers were separated from the main tent of the imperial concubine, but not very far away, in order to narrow the safe area of the camp and to facilitate their daily riding and hunting activities.

Because Jingyu was not familiar with cavalry and archery, the emperor sent his left guard, Xing Shiyuan, to teach him personally. Therefore, although he came to the paddock, in the first few days, Jingyu had to honestly go to the outside of the camp and learn from the most basic horseback riding with him. That Xing Shiyuan is a man with thick eyebrows and a broad face, although he is only a third-grade guard, he is unambiguous when he teaches riding and shooting, and the requirements are extremely strict in all aspects, and he doesn't care much about Prince Ke's face.

On the third day, when Ah Yuan came to deliver food, he saw Jingyu sitting on the grass with a bitter face, looking extremely depressed.

"Fourth Prince, what's wrong?"

When Jingyu saw her coming with a food box, she didn't run over excitedly as usual, she just squatted there and said sullenly: "Sister Bodhisattva, I don't want to learn to ride a horse." ”

Ah Yuan said softly: "Okay, if you don't want to learn, don't learn first." Let's have dinner first, with your favorite eight-treasure pigeon and lotus root dumplings. ”

Jingyu pointed back: "Then you tell him to go first!" ”

The person he was referring to was Xing Shiyuan, who was in charge of teaching riding and archery. Ah Yuan looked up and saw the man standing by the horse with a straight face, without any reaction.

"Guard Xing, let the four princes eat first, rest for a while and then practice."

Xing Shiyuan firmly refused: "No, the emperor instructed Weichen to teach the fourth prince to ride a horse within three days." If not, it is the responsibility of the micro-minister, and the micro-minister does not dare to slack off. ”

Ah Yuan said patiently: "No matter how anxious you are, you can't let the fourth prince learn to ride a horse hungry, right?" The temper of the fourth prince is a little bigger, you should take care of it a little more, teach it slowly, he will definitely be able to learn. ”

Before the words fell, I listened to Jingyu's angry voice: "I don't want to learn from him!" He ran over and grabbed Ah Yuan's arm, "Sister, let's go to dinner, don't pay attention to this wooden man, it's not fun at all." ”

The end of his troubles was to forcibly drag Ah Yuan to play for an afternoon, and he refused to learn to ride and shoot with Xing Shiyuan no matter what. The next day, Jingyu and the emperor were to participate in the largest siege since the Autumn Festival as agreed. This siege would last for two whole days and one night, and as a rule, women were not allowed to accompany him, so Ah Yuan sent him outside the main tent, and repeatedly told Xing Shiyuan and several other personal guards to pay attention to Prince Ke's safety.

After autumn, snakes and insects are particularly active in the mountains and forests, and Ah Yuan has already been prepared. Before leaving, she took out a small sachet embroidered with the pattern of magpie dengmei, filled with realgar and other herbs, and carefully tied it around Jingyu's waist.

"When you go out hunting, remember not to run around alone, and follow the guards who follow you......"

"Sister, I know!" I don't know if it's out of excitement, Jingyu's originally white and transparent skin has a faint flush under the morning light, "Sister, wait for me to come back!" ”

Ah Yuan nodded, and said to Xing Shiyuan: "Guard Xing, the fourth prince will ask you to take care of it." ”

Xing Shiyuan said with a straight face: "The girl has a heart, and Weichen must ensure Prince Ke's thoughtfulness!" ”

The two faced each other, and Ah Yuan noticed his appearance at this time, and suddenly asked: "Dare to ask Ling Zun of Xing's guards, but Xing Yuan, who works in Tai Hospital?" ”

Xing Shiyuan said: "It's the father, does the girl know the father?" ”

Ah Yuan smiled: "It's just that I am fortunate to have a few encounters with Xing Yuanju." Not mentioning that she was once given poisoned wine, Yang Muzhi secretly asked Taiyi Xing to save her life.

Seeing them go away, Ah Yuan turned around and walked back to the tent where the palace maid lived. Just after walking a few steps, I heard Concubine Min's delicate voice in my ears: "Where are you going, Miss Ayuan?" ”

Her heart jumped suddenly, and when she looked back, she saw Concubine Min wearing a rose-red riding costume, looking at her with a smile: "What, Concubine Lan's sister-in-law, you don't need to say hello when you see this palace?" ”

Ah Yuan was blessed: "The slave maid asks Concubine Min for her mother, and the mother is auspicious." ”

Concubine Min walked around her, and praised her: "What a delicate and transparent beauty, no less than your sister, is really determined to follow this fool?" ”

Ah Yuan didn't want to pay attention to her, he just wanted to withdraw quickly, but he heard Concubine Min sneer again: "This palace really didn't see it before, you little lewd woman, you can't seduce the emperor, and now you can make eye contact with a fool, and you also give sachets privately." It seems that compared to your sister, you are even better. ”

Ah Yuan raised his eyes and said coldly: "Please pay attention to your words, the fourth prince is the emperor and the queen mother personally named Prince Ke, not some fool in your mouth." ”

Concubine Min sneered: "When do you need a slave to teach the palace to be proportionate?" She crossed her eyebrows and looked at the palace people around her, "Qiaoling, give this palace her mouth!" Sue her, what is the measure of speaking! ”

Qiao Ling didn't say a word, she stepped forward and slapped Ah Yuan on the left side of the face, and she wanted to backhand again, but Ah Yuan grabbed her wrist-

"You're bold!" Concubine Min screamed angrily.

Ah Yuan raised her head, and a wisp of green silk on her forehead was scattered by Qiaoling's slap, coupled with the pair of apricot eyes that widened angrily, she became a little arrogant: "Concubine Min wants to teach slaves and maids a lesson, but she also has to tell a clear reason." The slave maid is ordered by the queen mother to serve the four princes, if the mother is dissatisfied, she can find the queen mother to say, there is no need to find the bad luck of the slave and maid. ”

Seeing that she dared to resist and spoke disrespectfully, Concubine Min couldn't help but say angrily: "Ridiculous! Could it be that this palace wants to teach a slave a lesson, and it still needs to return to the queen mother? Who do you think you are, the concubine of the fourth prince? Or the righteous sister of the abandoned woman of Yuntai Palace? Don't say that you are a cheap maid, even if it is your sister, this palace is a concubine, she is a concubine, this palace wants to teach her a lesson, she will never dare to say a 'no' word! ”

Ah Yuan was about to refute, but the corner of her eye swept behind Concubine Min, and suddenly saw that the curtain there moved slightly, she turned to chuckle and asked, "Niangniang just talked about Yuntai Palace, I don't know if you still remember a palace maid named Sango?" ”

A trace of panic flashed in Concubine Min's eyes, and she hurriedly cleared up: "What does this remnant of the Mu Party who committed suicide in fear of crime have to do with this palace!" ”

Ah Yuan said softly: "Regardless of whether the coral is as you say, it is the spy left by the Mu family in the palace." Just because she committed suicide in fear of sin, only the emperor, the queen mother and Concubine Lan knew, how did Concubine Min know about it? ”

Concubine Min saw that she had something to say, and she deliberately set a trap to lure her into the urn, her heart sank, and she said to herself: "Naturally, my aunt said that she listened to this palace, and after this palace is Zhangmen, she is of the same clan as the queen mother, will she secretly communicate with the Mu Party?" You're ridiculous. ”

Ah Yuan said: "Niangniang's words are serious, and the slave maid has no such meaning. Niangniang and the Queen Mother are in the same spirit, of course, they will not collude with the Mu traitor. I'm afraid, someone wants to borrow a knife to kill people and blame the Mu Party, but they make Coral die unjustly......"

"You ......" Concubine Min was annoyed and panicked, her eyes were already a little ruthless, and she said sharply, "Do you think this palace won't dare to kill you?" ”

Ah Yuan smiled behind her: "A slave maid is cheap, not enough to worry about." However, it is best for Niangniang to think of the reason for killing the slave maid first, so that Aunt Yiqiu can explain to the Queen Mother. ”

Concubine Min was stunned, and suddenly turned around, only to see Yiqiu standing in front of the tent curtain, looking at her with a solemn expression. Concubine Min couldn't help but be stunned, embarrassed for a moment, and hurriedly said, "Why is my aunt here?" ”

Yiqiu has served by the side of Empress Dowager Zhang for many years, and her status is similar to that of Hongcalyx, and even Concubine Min, who has always been arrogant and domineering, has to respect her for three points. This time, the Queen Mother could not come in person, so she sent one of her henchmen to follow the royal car to make sure that everything was perfect.

Yiqiu also heard a little about the previous poison dumpling case, and at that time the emperor thought that this case had nothing to do with the Mu Party, and the Queen Mother would still be suspicious. At this time, she heard the conversation between the two, and she couldn't help but be suspicious, but she still didn't change her gentle temperament in the past, and only bowed slightly: "The old slave sees the allergic concubine Niangniang, Niangniang Wan'an." ”

Concubine Min was dressed and said, "It turned out to be Aunt Yiqiu, why did she get up early in the morning and catch a cold carefully." ”

Yiqiu said: "As soon as I sent the emperor back to the tent, I heard that the mother was annoyed, so let's take a look." ”

Concubine Min asked, "What did that auntie hear?" ”

Yiqiu glanced at her deeply, and smiled like the morning breeze in the forest: "The old slave has never heard what Niangniang and Miss Ayuan said. I just want to persuade the mother, to be forgiving and forgiving, don't let down the queen mother's expectations for the mother. ”

Concubine Min's expression slowed down slightly, but she still refused to bow her head, and said to herself: "This palace maid has committed a crime, slandered and bullied the palace, can't the palace punish her?" ”

"Niangniang's words are wrong. According to the palace rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, concubines are not allowed to use lynching to punish low-ranking palace people, and they must first report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for ruling, and then hand them over to the master of the guilty palace. If the circumstances are strict, they must be reported to the person in charge of the harem, such as the current queen mother. Yiqiu talked about the palace rules, and every word was logical. She said again: "Of course, if the mother is angry for a while, she has to slap this palace maid a few times to relieve her anger, it is understandable." After all, the master is the master, the slave is the slave, and the master wants to take out the anger of the slave, and the slave has nothing to say. ”

Yiqiu's attitude has become clear, even if Concubine Min is the most arrogant, she has to sell her a few thin noodles regardless of her relationship with the Queen Mother. In addition, she is a thief again, and she can't count how much her conversation with Ah Yuan made Yiqiu listen to a few words and understand how much. had to leave Ah Yuan behind and leave in a huff.

When she was far away, Ah Yuan couldn't help but bend her knees and say earnestly: "Thank you aunt for your help, Ah Yuan is grateful." ”

Yiqiu helped her up, and her voice was as gentle as usual: "You don't have to thank me. Concubine Min is the niece of the Queen Mother, so I really shouldn't stand up for you, so I ...... I am also a slave, and I know that ignoring and pretending to be deaf and dumb is the way to survive in this palace. She pointed to the tent behind her, "Thank you, you can go to Xie Meijieyu." ”