In early September, Xiao's murder case gradually settled, and there was basically no possibility of overturning the case. Prime Minister Xiao claimed in the court that he was seriously ill and needed time to recuperate, and the emperor allowed him to return to Xiao Mansion to recuperate in peace of mind because he had assisted in state affairs for many years and had worked hard.

The queen no longer often comes forward in the palace, saying that she wants to copy scriptures and pray for her biological father day and night in the Jiaofang Palace, and the emperor quickly raised his hand after hearing it, and handed over the power of the assistant six palaces that the queen has been holding so far to the virtuous concubine in the blink of an eye.

Queen Xiao is a person who is good at controlling power like Empress Lu, and the matters of the assistant have never been lightly given to other concubines, and the favored Concubine Ruxi has also begged the emperor for a long time but has not gotten it, and this time because she is pregnant, she can't get it, but she is cheap and virtuous for no reason.

Last month, the daughter of the Shen family was the concubine, the power of the queen mother rose, under the general trend, the biological father of the concubine was awarded the title of King Yanhe by the emperor in the court because of the meritorious examination of General Xiao Sima, and the eldest son can inherit the title in the future.

Shen Shuzhao was not qualified to be the lord because of her identity as a concubine, but because she was the queen mother's confidant, the queen mother gently changed her words, and the name of the lord fell on her. As for the other young ladies born to concubines, there is no need to think about it and know that it is impossible for them to come into contact with this honor.

With the identity of the lord of Weng, Shen Shuzhao's future marriage is naturally no longer entirely decided by the eldest lady, in the eyes of others, she can be regarded as half a foot into the door where she can be a wife, and there is also a court to take, and the young ladies in the backyard are blushing.

Ruan looked forward to his daughter's return to the palace in the deep courtyard, but he had no choice but to hope for the eldest lady, begging her to ask someone to go to the palace and ask when the little girl would come back. In fact, the eldest lady also wanted to know when Shen Shuzhao would return home, but this was in the desired purpose...... She and Nguyen are very different.

After that, the eldest lady often sent letters to the palace to inquire, but all she got was the news that she didn't know exactly when Shen Shuzhao would return home.

The eldest lady had no choice but to sigh that Shen Shuzhao, a shrewd girl, was really different from the past since she climbed onto the queen mother's dragon gate. So she began to pay attention to Ruan's life, and when she saw the poor situation, she quickly ordered someone to make up for it, so as not to give Shen Shuzhao a chance to say anything after returning home.

At the same time, the Queen Mother's Yongshou Hall is more than twice as lively as before, and there is an endless stream of concubines who come to curry favor. On this day, after the concubines decided to save the province on time every day, the queen mother left the concubine Shen Zhuangzhao alone, and asked the female imperial chief to call Shen Shuzhao, who had been waiting in the cabinet, and asked them all to come and serve together.

After Shen Shuzhao came in, she saw Shen Zhuangzhao who was full of pearls and emeralds beside the Queen Mother, she smiled slightly, and respectfully blessed the person opposite, "The courtiers pay a visit to Concubine Yuan." ”

When Shen Zhuangzhao heard this, he raised his head and was slightly surprised, "Why is my sister still in the palace today?" After speaking, she didn't let Shen Shuzhao get up, turned her head and got up to feed the queen mother a piece of crisp cake, and after serving the old ancestor, she said to Shen Shuzhao, who had been half-kneeling: "Why is my sister still kneeling?" You and I are a family, so you don't have to be so restrained, come and sit down. ”

Then Yuxuan, the big palace maid standing next to her, immediately moved a small chair for Shen Shuzhao, Shen Shuzhao got up and sat down quietly, and the queen mother spoke: "Your second sister is because she is comfortable serving the mourning family, so the mourning family is reluctant to let her go back, so that she can stay in the palace to accompany you more, what do you think?" ”

Shen Zhuangzhao's lips were slightly dyed with a shallow smile, like a plain wind, "The concubine didn't expect the queen mother to love the second sister so much, and even her return to the house was postponed to September, and the concubine felt happy as a younger sister." The concubine has just entered the palace, and the queen mother let the second sister stay for a long time in order not to feel lonely and lonely for the concubine, thank you for the queen mother's thoughtfulness. ”

The Queen Mother replied: "You are the most favored child of the mourning family, these are what should be done, how to thank you." ”

After getting the Queen Mother's personal admission, Shen Zhuangzhao smiled lightly, she pretended to glance at Shen Shuzhao inadvertently after talking happily with the Queen Mother, but saw that she had no expression on her face, so she didn't look at her anymore, in fact, Shen Zhuangzhao just wanted her to taste what kind of mood they had when they faced Shen Shuzhao and the old lady when they were in the Shen Mansion.

The eldest lady once said that the second girl is best at pleasing the elderly, and after coming to the palace, it was even more unexpected, the queen mother was very fond of this second sister and was reluctant to leave.

When she fell into deep thought, Shen Shuzhao blinked her eyelashes at this time, as if innocently asked: "Concubine Yuan Niangniang is a concubine in the harem, and with the Nine Dragons Heavenly Son by her side, how can she feel lonely?" ”

"This ......" Shen Zhuang Zhao suddenly felt embarrassed, and swallowed all the previous words in an instant. Since this matter has been mentioned, the Queen Mother also took the opportunity to ask her beside her: "Has the emperor ever come to your Chengqian Palace in the past few days?" ”

Shen Zhuangzhao lowered his gaze uneasily, "No, the emperor has been ...... for the past few days." Haven't been here. ”

The Queen Mother sighed, "The emperor has been busy with Beidan Yu recently, so he rarely stepped into the harem for half a step, and occasionally came a few times and only went to Concubine Xi as a companion, it is difficult for you and Concubine Chen Rou, the two children who have just entered the palace." ”

"Queen Mother, the concubine doesn't feel anything embarrassed," Shen Zhuangzhao shook his head shyly, and said in a manic voice: "The emperor always has to focus on state affairs, and the emperor is not unconcerned about the concubine, he is afraid that the concubine will be lonely, so he sent someone to send an exotic Persian cat to pass the time for the concubine, so the concubine does not complain about the days waiting in the palace." What's more, Concubine Xi is pregnant, and it doesn't hurt for the emperor to accompany her for a while longer. ”

When she mentioned that Concubine Xi was pregnant, the Queen Mother and Shen Shuzhao glanced at each other meaningfully, and then replied calmly: "Zhuang Zhao, you don't have to worry about Concubine Xi being pregnant in the future. ”

Shen Zhuangzhao's eyes were full of doubts, "The concubine is puzzled, what does the Queen Mother mean by this?" ”

The Queen Mother didn't continue, and Shen Shuzhao spoke, only to see that her expression was full of disapproval, and explained to the unknown person in front of her, "That's because Concubine Xi Niangniang won't be pregnant at all." ”

Shen Zhuang Zhao saw that she said it so calmly, she didn't react at the moment and was just stunned, and then she quickly reacted to the meaning of her words, so she felt faintly uneasy, could it be that the meaning of this sentence was...... "Concubine Xi, can't she give birth to a prince?" Shen Zhuangzhao asked cautiously tentatively.

The Queen Mother immediately replied coldly: "She didn't know it before, and she won't in the future." ”

These words suddenly poured Shen Zhuangzhao soberly and thoroughly like a basin of cold water, Concubine Xi is the emperor's favorite concubine for many years, or the eldest daughter of the Xu family, except for the queen, she is the most powerful, and now she is said by the queen mother that she is destined not to be pregnant? What a game of chess the Queen Mother played!

She buried her head and thought to herself, thinking about what might have happened in the past, and gradually had a bottom in her heart, on the first day she entered the palace, she knew the shocking secrets of a deep palace, and how many secrets were waiting for her in the future?

Gao Dezhong came to the Queen Mother's side at this time, "Queen Mother, the imperial doctor outside the door has something to report." ”

"Announce him in."

"Yes."

A slender figure walked in, the imperial doctor shook his robe, half-knelt down and said: "See the queen mother, the minister just happened to see the situation of Concubine Xi's medicine in the imperial hospital, all of which are some precious supplements collected by the emperor's library, and the minister deduced from the medicine that the fetus in Niangniang's womb is healthy, and then the minister knocked on the side and asked other imperial doctors who had diagnosed Niangniang's pulse, and the conclusion was the same, so the minister thought that she should be able to spend the first three months of the dragon in peace." ”

The Queen Mother sneered and said, "Concubine Xi is the only pregnant concubine in the palace for several years, can't she be taken care of by the emperor?" Go down, and tell me about other things. ”

"Resignation."

After Imperial Doctor Zhang left, everyone was silent, and no one dared to speak without waiting for the Queen Mother to speak. Shen Zhuangzhao looked at Shen Shuzhao, Shen Shuzhao was indifferent, the female imperial chief lowered her head, and everyone didn't say a word anymore.

The Queen Mother picked up the Buddha beads placed on the table, her expression was very stiff, her ink pupils revealed a thick Yan sù, and asked word by word: "Zhuang Zhao, do you know what this means?" ”

Shen Zhuangzhao knew that the Queen Mother was testing her, and after thinking for a while, she raised her head worriedly and replied: "I see the concubine's body slightly, so Concubine Xi wants to strike first, and then she wants to occupy the emperor for a long time in the name of fake pregnancy." Although the means are inferior, she has to admit that it is extremely effective, and now she is afraid that she plans to firmly occupy the emperor for these three months and not give her a chance, and wants to wait for the emperor to slowly forget about the concubine and Concubine Chen Rou, and then ......"

The Queen Mother interrupted, "What else? ”

"Her fake pregnancy can be hidden for a while, and it can't be hidden for a lifetime, Queen Mother, if we can expose her as soon as possible......"

"You're wrong."

Shen Zhuangzhao was still a little afraid of the Queen Mother in front of her, so she lowered her voice humbly, "It's because the concubine is stupid, so what is the opinion of the Queen Mother?" ”

At this time, Shen Shuzhao, who was on the other side, stroked the bamboo fan bone joint in his hand with his fingers, and replied for the Queen Mother in an unfinished tone: "Concubine Yuan, this represents Concubine Xi's palace...... It's time to have a slippery tire. ”

"Zhuang Zhao, do you understand?"

Shen Zhuangzhao hurriedly bowed his head and said yes, and the Queen Mother continued: "You must stay away from Concubine Xi recently, the queen has already escaped from the world and has no chance to be calculated by her, you and Concubine Chen Rou are new concubines, and you should be the most careful." Others only think that her mother and child are healthy, and they will not take the fetus in the womb as a bet, but only you and I in the huge palace know that she is destined not to get pregnant, so you must remember not to get too close to her. ”

"Well, the concubine obeys the teachings of the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother nodded, "When you first come to the harem, there are still many things you don't understand, and there are some places to learn more from Shuzhao." ”

"Yes......"

Shen Zhuangzhao was unwilling, but he could only endure it at the moment.

After the Queen Mother asked them to retreat, outside the hall, Shen Shuzhao slowly passed by the eldest sister, and said softly: "Sister, there are still many places you have to learn in this palace." Then he chuckled and walked away.

She didn't mind being a two-faced figure in front of Shen Zhuangzhao at all, after all, sometimes false overtures can't get anything in return from some people, the eldest lady won't, and neither will her daughter.

After walking a few steps, Shen Zhuangzhao scolded her behind her to stop, "Slow! At this time, Shen Shuzhao raised her eyebrows slightly, but she didn't look back, Shen Zhuangzhao stepped forward and said in her ear: "Bengong Nian you have helped me, so I don't deliberately target you, but since Bengong has become the imperial concubine, you still stay with the Queen Mother and refuse to leave, why don't you go back?" Do you dare to say that you didn't pay any attention to the identity of this concubine? ”

"Niangniang, the courtiers will not be the imperial concubine, you can be a favorite concubine with peace of mind, the courtiers wish you to win the hearts of the monarch in the harem as soon as possible, so that the queen and Concubine Xi can be embarrassed."

"You ......"

"Could it be that Niangniang thinks what the courtiers said is true? Of the so many women who have entered the harem, who hasn't come with the intention of becoming a queen? ”

Shen Zhuangzhao's tone became implicitly stern, "Even if there is, it has nothing to do with you." It's time for you to go home, the harem is not a place where you should stay for a long time, haven't you considered your mother's feelings? ”

"The harem has its own reasons why I want to stay."

"What reason?"

"What are you discussing?"

A voice sounded from behind Shen Zhuangzhao, incomparably soft, loud, Shen Zhuangzhao followed Shen Shuzhao's slightly affectionate gaze, and the long line of the eldest princess Wei Yang appeared very close to them.

"Lone sees that you are talking very vigorously, so I am curious, what are the cousins discussing, can you talk to Lone?"

Shen Shuzhao saluted with a smile, and then replied: "Concubine Yuan Niangniang is concerned about whether the courtiers miss their family if they don't return home for a long time, and the courtiers just talked to the mother a few more words, which is not a big matter. ”

"It's hard for Concubine Yuan to go home in the future, so she should be more homesick, right?"

"The eldest princess smiled, although the palace misses the Shen Mansion, compared to the palace, this is the home of the palace." Shen Zhuangzhao's answer was watertight.

Wei Yang bowed, "It's good that Concubine Yuan understands." ”

"The palace wants to prepare some refreshments for the emperor and order someone to send them over, so as not to disturb the eldest princess and the second sister." Shen Zhuangzhao retired directly, since she accidentally bumped into Wei Yang and Shen Shuzhao last time, she still has lingering feelings about this. So when she saw Wei Yang appear, she understood that Buxiao must be on Shen Shuzhao's side, so she quickly pulled away and didn't bother too much.

Seeing that she was leaving so quickly, Shen Shuzhao quietly walked over and took Wei Yang's hand hidden in his long sleeve, and said, "The tone you asked her just now is stranger than usual. ”

"Really?"

"Yes. By the way, why are you here? I see that you were clearly heading in the direction of the Empty Cicada Hall earlier. ”

"Don't you want me to just stand there and watch you be embarrassed?"

Shen Shuzhao's heart was like candied fruit, her heart was sweet, Wei Yang's eyes were like a quiet lake, rippling with layers of tenderness, and the ripples that melted inside really made her reluctant to look away, so she had to say angrily: "Actually, I didn't take her words to heart, but you, the tone suddenly dropped so cold, maybe she would think that you don't like her, I don't want her to have a bad impression of you." ”

"So what."

Shen Shuzhao knew that Wei Yang didn't care much about what the eldest sister was, but he still wanted to calm things down as much as possible, "The eldest sister won't take anything from me, you can rest assured." ”

Wei Yang was noncommittal,

Wei Yang wrinkled his brows and pondered, "Your eldest sister doesn't seem to be ready to enter the palace as a concubine. ”

"Not only that, but Concubine Xi's fake pregnancy is also very tricky, but I don't know what she plans to do next. The reason why the Queen Mother kept me was only because my advice was useful, and whether it would succeed or fail after that still depended on the eldest sister herself. ”

Wei Yang's expression on the other side suddenly became subtle, she moved her gaze slightly, her calm eyes were like countless sparks hidden in the hazy mist, so vague, hidden, distant, incomprehensible, Wei Yang's voice sounded like it came from outside the sky, "Concubine Xi's matter...... Your eldest sister should be careful. ”

Shen Shuzhao unintentionally lowered his body, fiddled with the flowers stained with morning dew on the case, and replied casually: "The harem will always be a place of right and wrong, this time pay attention to Concubine Xi, and I don't know who to pay attention to next time." ”

Wei Yang quietly walked to the side of the celadon vase, her apricot eyes lowered to look at Shen Shuzhao, who was leaning down to show her graceful figure, a wisp of tassel brushed to her forehead, raised her finger, and saw the delicate appearance of the person under her who was bored to pass the time, so she pursed her lips and smiled, "Even if there is always anyone, you and I are just outsiders, so we can see the chess game the most thoroughly." The one who should be most worried should be the concubine, not you. ”

Shen Shuzhao saw that Wei Yang also buried her body, and the gentle whispers of her moving heartstrings fell in her ears, she felt the strong possessive breath and breath of the other party from the bottom of her heart, and kneaded the cold and faint fragrance that only smelled from Wei Yang's light skirt and long skirt when it was close to her neck, Shen Shuzhao immediately recalled the various curtains on the lonely boat in the middle of the night when they were in the villa, and couldn't help but feel pounding in her heart, her face was red for a while, and the gesture in her hand was slightly flustered.

Wei Yang wrapped one hand around her waist, "Why is your body so stiff, are you afraid of me?" ”

"No, there is no ......" Shen Shuzhao pretended to be calm, and brushed the scattered green silk in disguise, in fact, whenever she thought of the events of that night, she would be filled with countless happiness in her chest, and just thinking of a fragment by the lake, she couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips.

"Good." Wei Yang hugged her tightly from behind, Shen Shuzhao stood there, and then Wei Yang rested his head on the bare white muscle on his shoulder, and whispered ambiguously like ear and temples, "Then it's good that you know one thing." ”

Shen Shuzhao couldn't help but look back, "What's the matter?" ”

In fact, in the bottom of her heart, she likes Wei Yang's strength in hugging her very much, and every inch of the place is so well handled, like being a treasure, mixed with a trace of the other party's hard-won cherished feelings, such a feeling of attachment makes her also infected by Wei Yang's deep affection, and she sinks into the atmosphere little by little.

Wei Yang gently pinched her chin, Shen Shuzhao was tickled physically and mentally, moved her body, asked her not to touch it, Wei Yang spoke softly, but there was a stubborn calm between his eyebrows, "No matter what happens in the future, I won't hurt you." Do you understand? ”

Hurt me?

Shen Shuzhao was stunned, and it took a while to react to what Wei Yang said, and she felt a little suspicious, why did she say that? Could it be that something will happen later?

"Guardian ......"

However, Wei Yang put his finger against her lips, and couldn't help but shout, she raised her eyebrows, the voice was calm and calm enough, like a midnight wind and rain in the dense forest, like a residual candle and spark on the wasteland, not to be shaken at all, with a ghostly look of a wolf who seemed to have the demeanor of a battlefield king, in a convincing tone, he said to Shen Shuzhao: "In this place, you just need to believe in me." ”