==Chapter 144==

Zichen Palace, the atmosphere in the hall is very depressing, and there is no trace of festive atmosphere at all.

The entire hall was brightly lit, and the palace attendants on duty were all cautious, and they didn't even dare to take a breath of air, for fear of provoking their eyes and attracting holy wrath.

"This King of Chu is playing with me...... How dare he...... How dare he ......"

With a crackling sound, Ruan Ronghai, who was standing on the side, couldn't help but shrink his neck.

"Ruan Ronghai, what do you think?"

Emperor Chengyuan's eyes slanted, Ruan Ronghai secretly said bitterly, and replied: "It seems that the slave maid listened to what Princess Chu said, it seems to be an unexpected thing. ”

Ruan Ronghai's answer can be regarded as opportunistic, only saying what Princess Chu said, but not saying a word about his thoughts.

"Unexpectedly, unexpectedly, it will be hidden for six months, and now the belly is so big!" Emperor Chengyuan had a gloomy face and snorted with an uncertain attitude.

"This-" Ruan Ronghai pondered for a while and shook his head: "The slave doesn't dare to speak falsely. ”

"I'll allow you to speak falsely."

"As everyone knows, His Royal Highness the King of Chu and the Xiao family have not had a good relationship, since the start of the Chu princess, the Xiao family has repeatedly made small moves in private, and the princess of Chu fainted in front of the Heluan Palace last time, and His Majesty also knew about it, so the slave thought that the reason why the princess of Chu would hide this matter should be to deal with the Xiao family."

No, yes, that's what it is. Even if the truth is not so, it is the same meaning in Ruan Ronghai's mouth.

Sometimes people are so strange, obviously they did it themselves, but they never allowed others to say it, the reason why Emperor Chengyuan was angry was not only because he felt that the wings of the King of Chu were hard and out of his control, but also because the King of Chu and his wife were slapping him in the face. In the past, Princess Zhao had a miscarriage due to an accident, and then Princess Chu was pregnant with Liujia before she was exposed to being pregnant.

Who are the two of Chu Wang and his wife guarding against?

Let Emperor Chengyuan think about it himself, that is, he is defending himself, no wonder he is annoyed and angry.

Ruan Ronghai's rhetoric didn't seem to convince Emperor Chengyuan, he glanced at the other party with a smile, "Is there anything else?" Go on. I think your statement seems a bit bullish and far-fetched. "It's been decades, and this Ruan Ronghai is still so stupid, but he doesn't need a smart person around him.

Obviously it was winter, the earth dragon in the Zichen Hall did not stop day and night, Ruan Ronghai's back also slipped a cold sweat, he half-bowed, crying and mourning, trembling and said: "The slave is stupid, and I still hope that Your Majesty will atone for ......"

Seeing that Emperor Chengyuan was just aiming at himself and didn't speak, he hesitated again: "If it is the Xiao family, it is indeed a bit far-fetched, but there is still a person from the Xiao family in our palace......"

"You mean the Queen?"

Ruan Ronghai knelt down with a thud, bowed his head to the ground, and didn't dare to say anything more.

Emperor Chengyuan after the dragon case, his face was unpredictable.

In fact, if you think about it seriously, Ruan Ronghai's rhetoric is not unreasonable, of course, not only Queen Xiao, but also King Cheng. Emperor Chengyuan was not unclear about some of the actions of Empress Xiao and King Cheng over the years, but because they were harmless, they were all ignored by him.

Before, Empress Xiao used her own hands to install people in the palace of the king of Chu, and Emperor Chengyuan didn't know it, and he happened to have this idea himself, so he pushed the boat and let it go. It's a pity that the Liu Nushi arranged by Empress Xiao was too useless, and she was actually caught and sent back, and Emperor Chengyuan turned a blind eye, anyway, the people he put in the Chu Palace's mansion were still staying there safely.

I have to say that although Ruan Ronghai's rhetoric is a bit superficial, it still makes Emperor Chengyuan feel a lot more comfortable. But the symptom is not the root cause, since this kind of thing has happened, and the people he sent out have not noticed it at all, it means that the king of Chu has been out of his control in this matter.

The following sons have their own thoughts, and Emperor Chengyuan knows them, but Emperor Chengyuan is especially annoyed when King Chu, who has always been obedient, suddenly puts himself on such a scene. Did the king of Chu also have his own thoughts, or was this pregnancy really just an accident, and the reason why the king of Chu would hide it was because he couldn't do it? and Princess Nachu, who is obviously an heir, why did she suddenly get pregnant, is it really luck......

This qiē made Emperor Chengyuan think about it, and he thought of the prince because of it, which couldn't help but make his mood a little heavier. The prince's health is getting worse and worse, and Imperial Doctor Hu has already said that the medicine must be stopped for the time being, and he can't take it anymore......

When Emperor Chengyuan came back to his senses, he saw Ruan Ronghai, who was still prostrate on the ground and looked a little pitiful, after all, he was an old man who had been with him for many years, and even if Emperor Chengyuan occasionally got angry, he never treated him badly.

"Get up."

Ruan Ronghai trembled and kowtowed before he got up from the ground.

"When?"

"Just after the child."

"Sleep in peace, there will be a big court meeting tomorrow."

Serving Emperor Chengyuan rested in the inner hall, Ruan Ronghai went to the door, he held the floating dust in his hand, half leaned on the pillar, and sighed almost uncheckably.

No one likes to be in a mood mood for an emperor all day, because they don't know when they might lose their lives. Others only said that Emperor Chengyuan had a strange temper, and only Ruan Ronghai, who served with him every day, knew what his situation was...... The people who were dragged out of the cane one by one by some trivial things, as well as all the unbelievable actions of Emperor Chengyuan in the past two years......

He knows so many things, but when there comes a time, he will be the first to be buried......

If it was before, Ruan Ronghai didn't care about this, he had suffered in his life, and he had also been beautiful. But who would have thought that the family he thought was dead would still have a root, and his long-lost hard-working brother still had a grandson outside.

The child was only a young man, helpless, and if he did not support him, how could he continue in the future. Ruan Ronghai knew that he was seeking skin with the tiger, but he had no choice, he couldn't watch the Ruan family's incense just break like this. Now I only hope that after the other party achieves a great thing, he can pity him and spare his life, and let him taste the joy of teasing Sun in the future......

Living in this huge palace, everyone has their own weight and dependence, constantly exchanging or plundering resources in the hands of others, just to survive.

*

Just like Princess Zhao was pregnant last year, Princess Chu's pregnancy this time also caused a lot of waves.

The royal family, which has always had a difficult heir, is finally about to give birth to its first grandchildren, whether it is the imperial grandson or the imperial granddaughter, this is a great joy. There are a lot of people talking in private, the whole Chang'an City is boiling, from time to time people come to congratulate the door, for a while, the traffic in front of the Chu Wangfu is busy, and there is an endless stream of people who come to congratulate them.

This craze continued until after the Shangyuan Festival, and it still did not stop, and even intensified. Although the king of Chu is high and powerful, because of his indifferent nature, he rarely has too close contacts with courtiers. Such a fierce momentum made all the houses in Chang'an City look sideways.

When Emperor Chengyuan found out, he was furious again.

Because Jiu Niang is pregnant with Liujia, it is not convenient to come out to meet people, but the recent movements in the house have also fallen into her eyes.

Although these are all things that the king of Chu expected, Jiuniang can't help but be a little worried, but the king of Chu looks like he is at ease.

Seeing this, Jiu Niang's heart could only settle down temporarily.

Either way, the matter has come to this, and they can only go on.

*

It's time to go to the palace again to say goodbye.

It stands to reason that Jiu Niang now has such a big belly, so she can be exempted from entering the palace to ask for peace. It's just that King Chu and Jiuniang didn't mention it, and Queen Xiao didn't know it, so Jiuniang had to go into the palace to ask for peace when the day came.

took a carriage all the way to the inner court, which was specially licensed by Empress Xiao after she learned that Jiu Niang was pregnant.

Jiuniang, supported by Xiaocui and Xiaocan, got out of the carriage.

It's already a seven-month-old belly, it's a little big, Jiuniang is now walking very hard, can't go too fast, once you go in a hurry, your stomach will be hard and painful, or it will be a protest of the child punching and kicking inside.

There was an attendant who wanted to arrange a shoulder chariot for Jiu Niang, but Jiu Niang refused, the shoulder chariot was carried by someone, and the possibility of an accident during it was too great. Jiuniang said that the imperial doctor asked her to walk more during the day to help give birth in the future, but the other party did not insist on it anymore.

From the gate of the inner court to the Heluan Palace, Jiu Niang has walked too many times, and now she can reach it with her eyes closed.

She walked slowly, seemingly leisurely, but in fact very vigilant. Since entering the palace, this vigilance has been maintained, not only Jiuniang, but also Xiaocui and Xiaocan, always paying attention to the palace attendants who come and go, as well as the surrounding situation and the road under their feet.

Jiuniang and King Chu did not consider avoiding entering the palace to ask for peace, but at this time, it was a critical time, and Emperor Chengyuan's attitude was unclear, and the two did not want to anger each other because of this. At this time, Jiuniang and King Chu were like dancing on the edge of a cliff, and one carelessness would be the end of a catastrophe, and they could only be cautious.

When he arrived in front of the Heluan Palace, the palace people guarding the door reported that they had entered, and Jiuniang was soon recruited in.

Today's Heluan Hall is very lively, not only Liu Guifei and several concubines, but also Princess Zhao and Princess Cheng and others. As soon as Jiu Niang stepped into the hall, everyone's eyes were on her.

"Yo, Princess Chu is here, and she came to the palace with such a big belly to ask for peace, but she is really filial to our queen."

The person who spoke was Concubine Shu, the biological mother of Princess Jiahui, this person was a lively person, and he was a little smart, but because he was born to a princess and was still a princess who was not favored, his status in the harem was not high. However, she herself is attached to Queen Xiao, and she is like a fish in water in the palace.

Empress Xiao ordered someone to give Jiu Niang a seat, and after Jiu Niang thanked her, she sat down below, and then bowed her head to Concubine Shu, "Xie Concubine Niangniang's praise, being a junior should be filial piety first, and it should not be praised like this." ”

Concubine Shu stretched out her hand and stroked a big white cat on her lap, and said with a smile: "The little mouth is so sweet, and she can really talk." ”

"You know that she is thin-skinned, and you still tease her like this, and do you look like an elder, Princess Jiahui will be married soon." Empress Xiao said angrily.

Concubine Shu grinned and pretended to slap herself in the face: "It's all the concubines who shouldn't be, knowing that the queen mother loves this daughter-in-law, the concubines also have the audacity to make fun of Princess Chu, but they didn't hit the muzzle of the gun." Wanwang Queen Mother atons for her sins, don't be angry with our Princess Jiahui, Jiahui is still counting on you, the queen mother, to choose a good horse for her. ”

This is obviously funny, Jiu Niang's face is half down, making a shy appearance.

Empress Xiao on the phoenix throne shook her head with a smile, and nodded at Concubine Shu again and again: "You are a person!" He said to Jiu Niang: "She has always been a mess and a messer, you don't pay attention to her." She is also crazy with joy today, Her Majesty opened her mouth yesterday to mention Princess Jiahui's marriage, and our Princess Jiahui is about to get married. ”

Princess Jiahui is the only unmarried princess in the palace at present, she is sixteen years old, and she looks handsome and lovely, but she is a little timid, and the temperament of Concubine Shu, who is a concubine, is very different.

No wonder today and Luan Hall gathered so neatly, it turned out to be a happy event, Jiuniang just entered the hall and had some doubts, but now she also understands.

Princess Zhao Cheng and Jiuniang and others, although they are not very familiar with Princess Jiahui, they are sisters-in-law in terms of name, and it is reasonable to stay and help take a look. Before Fang Jiuniang arrived, a group of female dependents took the roster of eligible children in various families and mansions in Chang'an City, and were picking horses for Princess Jiahui.

Of course, it is definitely not so simple to pick a horse for the princess, first circle the right candidate, and then choose another round, so that Princess Jiahui herself has seen it, and it will be over.

"I've been in good health lately, this kid is still safe? If there is anything uncomfortable, you have to say it, there are so many imperial doctors in the palace, don't be afraid to say it. Empress Xiao asked with a very concerned look.

Jiuniang replied one by one, saying that she was in excellent health.

Seeing this, Empress Xiao nodded, turned her head and went to talk to the other concubines, mostly talking about the situation of the children of each family. At this time, Jiuniang and a few other juniors are not qualified to interject, so they can only sit at the bottom and listen to them.

During this period, Concubine Shu called the palace people to take the big white cat on her lap to feed, and a concubine on the side quipped: "This big white really pleases Concubine Shu, and she doesn't lose her hand in the day, and she looks at it more precious than people." ”

Concubine Shu smiled and said: "Da Bai is docile and likable, and staying in front of the palace can be regarded as a companion." After Princess Jiahui got married in the future, the days in the palace became more and more leisurely, raising cats and planting flowers, and you can also spend some days. ”

This is true, Concubine Shu is also an old man beside Emperor Chengyuan, and she is not young, nearly forty years old. At this age in the palace, there is no favor, not to mention that Concubine Shu is not a favored person, and the reason why she will be promoted to the concubine position is also because of her old qualifications and the birth of a princess.

In this huge palace, there are countless women like Concubine Shu, and they are selected every three years, even if Emperor Chengyuan is not a beauty, every time a few people are added over the years, the palace is gradually full.

After fighting, fighting, some can fight for a moment of grace, some can't even see the holy face, living in this deep palace, if you can't extricate yourself, you won't pass the time, and you can't survive this day.

When Jiuniang heard this, she felt a little concerned.

Princess Cheng, who was sitting next to her, quietly pulled down her sleeves, and when she saw Jiu Niang looking over, she smiled at her implicitly, and whispered, "How are you doing lately?" ”

Jiu Niang nodded and smiled back.

"That's good."

After Princess Cheng got the answer, she didn't say anything more, and set her eyes on Queen Xiao again.

Xiao Sanniang has always been a gentle and virtuous character, and when she was not married in her early years, she also took care of the sisters below. Now she and Jiuniang, one is Princess Cheng and the other is Princess Chu, they should have a close relationship, but in fact, there are many gullies in the middle. On weekdays, the two meet just nodding friends, just like at this time, Jiu Niang felt that she wanted to care about herself, but for some reason, she could only greet her with such a salty and indifferent greeting.

In fact, this is also very good, after all, it is a different position, and the relationship is not deep or shallow, so as not to add trouble.

Several concubines in the harem over there are still discussing, regardless of whether they are harmonious or not, they must make an appearance at this time. Everyone expressed their opinions, but they also picked out a few candidates, but they still need to be discussed.

Empress Xiao patted the roster on her lap and said, "It's useless for us elders to just talk, and the juniors themselves have to be willing." It is a big deal for the princess to choose a horse, so concubine, you order someone to call Princess Jiahui to come, and there is no one else here, let her come and see for herself. "Concubine Shu flattered Queen Xiao very well in the day, and Queen Xiao was also willing to give this face.

Concubine Shu was so happy that the smile on her face widened, and she thanked Queen Xiao for her blessings, and hurriedly ordered the palace people around her to invite Princess Jiahui to come.

After a while, Princess Jiahui arrived, along with the palace people who had just hugged the big white cat to feed.

Concubine Shu took the cat from the palace people, helped it smooth its hair, and put it on her lap.

"Princess, come and see, don't be shy, the mother is also thinking about you."

Princess Jiahui's pink cheeks were flushed, and she bent her knees first to meet the concubines and a few sisters-in-law, and then stepped forward to take the roster handed over by the palace people.

Empress Xiao ordered someone to put a cotton mound next to Concubine Shu, and Princess Jiahui sat there and slowly flipped through the roster. This roster not only has the names and family backgrounds of the children of the various families in Chang'an City, but also the portraits, Princess Jiahui gently flipped through the roster, looking at the portraits on it, her face became more and more red.

Some palace people came up to change tea for everyone present.

Jiu Niang can't drink tea, so what was prepared for her was a walnut dew.

The palace man who changed the tea took walnut dew from the tray held by the palace people around him, and was about to put it on the small table next to Jiu Niang, when suddenly his hand was unstable, and a walnut dew not only splashed himself, but also splashed Jiu Niang's skirt.

This qiē only happened in an instant, Empress Xiao's face was straight, she sat up straight, Concubine Shu also hurriedly stood up, and took two steps to this side, "Princess Chu, are you okay?" He complained to the palace people again, "You are too careless, Princess Chu can be pregnant with the future imperial grandson, how good is it to scare her." ”

The palace people didn't care about the mess on their bodies, and knelt down with a thud.

"The princess spares her life, the princess spares her life, this tea cup with walnut dew is too hot, and the slave maid is not stable......"

In fact, the people in this palace saw that they couldn't hold it, so they subconsciously turned their arms inward, and most of the walnut dew was sprinkled on her body, and Jiu Niang only splashed a little on her skirt. And the clothes were thick, but they didn't burn her, but the back of the palace people's hands were red, and they looked very messy.

Jiuniang shook her hand absently, "This princess is fine, you go down and clean yourself up." He said to Concubine Shu again: "Thank you Concubine Shu for your concern, I'm fine, but the people in this palace have suffered themselves." ”

"Are you really okay?"

Concubine Shu held the white cat in her hand and took two steps forward, looking very concerned.

Jiu Niang shook her head.

Xiaocui squatted down with a handkerchief and wiped the hem of Jiuniang's skirt.

At this moment, only a meow was heard, and a white shadow shot towards Jiu Niang, and at the same time, Concubine Shu hurriedly shouted 'Da Bai'......

It was too late, and as soon as Jiuniang realized that something was wrong, she heard the big white cat scream, and the whole cat flew out upside down, and just landed on Princess Jiahui not far behind Concubine Shu. The white cat was suddenly in pain, as if it was crazy, scratching and kicking, Princess Jiahui howled miserably, covered her head and face and fell to the ground.

This qiē only happened in the blink of an eye, which made people dizzy and couldn't react at all.

For a while, all the ladies on the field screamed again and again, and they all avoided under the protection of the palace attendants, and at the same time, Queen Xiao was angry and ordered people to quickly catch the cat, but Concubine Shu was shocked, turned around and hugged Princess Jiahui, who was moaning in pain, and cried.

Jiuniang didn't understand what was going on for a while, she only knew that the cat was coming at her, but the moment she pounced on her, she was sent flying out by Xiao Cui who was squatting at her feet. As for the fall on Princess Jiahui, it was a complete accident.

Is this someone trying to harm her?

Jiuniang couldn't help clenching the handkerchief in her hand, and her face became solemn.

After a while, the cat was caught, and Princess Jiahui was also helped up, and Concubine Shu trembled and pulled down her daughter's hands covering her face, and screamed almost to break the house.

I saw that Princess Jiahui's originally smooth and fair little face was full of more than a dozen cat paw prints, which made people tremble when they saw it.

"Go and get a doctor." Empress Xiao said in a hurry.

And Concubine Shu turned her head, looked at Jiuniang with red eyes, and shouted sadly: "Princess Chu, why are you so harmful to my daughter-"

She looked like crazy, and rushed towards Jiu Niang while howling.

Because of the suddenness of the matter, the palace attendants on the side did not react in a hurry, seeing that Concubine Shu was about to crash into Jiu Niang, who was pregnant with Liujia, Xiao Cui on the side made a move, and it was still as clean and neat as Fang Cai, everyone just had a flower in their eyes, and they saw that Concubine Shu was thrown out.

"Oh my God, Lady Lady......"

, The scene was even more chaotic, and the palace people around Concubine Shu hurriedly ran over and sat up with Concubine Shu, who was dizzy.

"Concubine Shuniang, what you said is really ridiculous, the cat is yours, why did I harm Princess Jiahui?" Jiu Niang sneered.

It was originally a concubine who was moaning in pain, her body stiffened, and she cried again, and crawled to Queen Xiao while crying: "Queen Mother, you have to be the master of the concubine." You know the concubine's big whiteness, she has always been docile and obedient, she went to the side of Princess Chu, and she has always liked to be close to people, and she will never do evil. But the maidservant girl next to Princess Chu beat it with a dog, otherwise how could it be painful and crazy to scratch Princess Jiahui. You know how important your daughter's face is, how will Jiahui ......live in the future?"

Listening to what Concubine Shu said, she wanted to avoid the seriousness and completely blamed this matter on Jiuniang or Xiaocui. didn't mention why Da Bai suddenly wanted to 'get close' to Jiu Niang, and in such an abrupt way. If there is no Xiaocui astute, Jiu Niang will inevitably be frightened, she is now pregnant with Liujia, and she is sitting on a cotton pier, suddenly frightened, she will inevitably fall backwards, what will happen when the time comes, needless to say.

This concubine is worthy of being a sharp tooth, and in this case, she still wants to reverse black and white.

However, because of the suddenness of the incident, Concubine Shu was very close to Jiu Niang, and the cat's movements were extremely agile, everyone did not see Da Bai's action of wanting to pounce on Jiu Niang, only to see Da Bai being beaten out and falling on the head and face of Princess Jiahui. In addition, Princess Jiahui was injured tragically, and Concubine Fang Cai was angry and hit Princess Chu's body, which looked like a ball of muddy water, so no one dared to intervene.

Concubine Liu Guifei hooked the corners of her lips almost undetectably, glanced at Empress Xiao, who was embarrassed, and did not speak.

"Princess Chu, what do you say?" Empress Xiao asked.

Jiu Niang's face was calm: "Queen Mother, Concubine Niangniang, she reversed black and white, this cat pounced on the concubine, but I didn't see what likes to be close to people, docile and obedient." If it weren't for the concubine's ability, Princess Jiahui's fate at this time would have happened to the concubine. ”

"You are talking nonsense, if Da Bai didn't suddenly get hurt, how could he go crazy and scratch Princess Jiahui? It's just a cat, it's still a docile and obedient cat, Princess Chu is making such a fuss, and when she sees the cat coming up, she lets people hit it! ”

"If it hadn't tried to pounce on me, my maid wouldn't have beaten it."

"This-" Empress Xiao's face became even more embarrassed, and she asked the palace people serving on the side: "Did you just see the situation at that time?" ”

"The slave and the maid didn't see it."

Empress Xiao asked the concubines again, and the concubines looked at each other and shook their heads.

"The concubines and others didn't see it clearly, and they only cared about whether Princess Chu was burned at that time."

Empress Xiao looked at Princess Zhao and the others again.

Princess Zhao only said that she didn't see it clearly, but Concubine Meng of the Zhao Palace's mansion said: "The concubine didn't see whether the cat pounced on Princess Chu, but saw the maid beat the cat out with a palm, and the cat just landed on Princess Jiahui." I didn't expect Princess Chu to have such a skilled maid by her side, which is really surprising. ”

Meng Changxi sighed twice, and hooked the corners of her lips to Jiuniang with her side face.

Jiu Niang's heart suddenly chuckled.

It would be impossible for so many people to say that they didn't see it. But others don't want to wade into this muddy water, and Jiuniang understands it in her heart. But she also knew very well that if there was no testimony in her favor, she would not be in any big trouble, but Xiaocui ......

Jiuniang didn't care about Meng Changxi's provocation, but turned her head sideways to look at Princess Cheng on the side.

Princess Fang Caicheng has always been by her side, and she is relatively close to her, if others didn't see it, she should have seen it. Is it just that Princess Cheng will testify for herself?

Jiu Niang was very unsure in her heart.