The two were silent for a while.

In the second year of Yongyuan, in early June.

In the early morning, the streets are crowded with people, and they are probing one after another.

At this time, the main gate of the capital was opened, the soldiers returned triumphantly, two years to resist the northern Xiongnu campaign, under the leadership of the general Xiao Hussar, all victorious, entered the city by the people of the long street thousands of miles to welcome. The emperor was overjoyed and held a banquet in the palace, because of General Xiao's heavy contributions, so he was relieved of the suspicion of assassinating the Empress Dowager's fortunate minister Liu San.

In the Xuanshu Palace, the emperor rewarded countless people, and the Xiao family thanked the emperor in public.

The Xiao and Chen families were originally generations of military generals, and today, when the country and the people have gradually become safe, they have been honored for a while through the First World War.

In the Changle Palace, listening to the lively singing and dancing sheng flute from the front hall, Shen Shuzhao sneered, and threw a pile of bamboo rolls on the hard rattan case, and the strong wind outside the window blew the pages of the other scattered books on the case. The voice is so irritable. She took a deep breath and rested her hand on the corner of the desk, only to feel that it was pitch black in front of her.

On the bamboo shaft, these four words were clearly written, and Shen Shuzhao's fingertips weakly crossed a line of words in between, "In the middle of May of the sixth year of Qianhe, Liu San, the Marquis of Guannei, died on the outskirts of the capital, and his head was found in a different place, and his head was found five days later. The court lieutenant interrogated the cavalry general Xiao Zhuru about the assassination of the suspected assassins, and the trial lasted until the end of the same year. ”

She shook her head after reading it, how could she leave this one out so lightly?

Wang Xian, who was on the side, looked at Miss Shen Er's face and withdrew his gaze in fear. This morning, Shen Shuzhao entrusted him to bring this bamboo scroll from the prison in the name of the Queen Mother, and when the second lady read it, it looked like this.

Shen Shuzhao frowned, and finally sighed: "Wang Xian, do you know about the assassination of Guan Neihou two years ago?" ”

Wang Xian's eyes rolled and said: "Second Miss Hui, the slave maid remembers that because of this incident, the harem and the front court were full of smoke!" At that time, the judgment of Tingwei was extremely difficult, and it is said that people were panicked when they were arrested, for fear of being implicated. ”

After hearing this, Shen Shuzhao closed his eyes and said interestingly: "It seems that you are very concerned about the affairs of the court." ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, Wang Xian's life is tied to the Queen Mother, but the impact of this matter was too great back then, and the Marquis of Guan Nei was the new celebrity around the Queen Mother at that time, so the Queen Mother was very angry about this, and the slave maid was serving in the front hall of Changle Palace at that time, and she heard some things."

Pressing one hand on Wang Xian's shoulder, Shen Shuzhao appreciated: "Two years ago, you were only sixteen, but you have learned to analyze the affairs of the previous dynasty reasonably. Now that you are gradually ascending to the throne in Changle Palace, but there are many old people around the Queen Mother, and there are Gao Dezhong and others there, and you will never get the opportunity to serve in person. I can guess that when you heard that you could serve the Queen Mother's niece, you were secretly happy in your heart, because you knew that this was a good opportunity, but you were assigned to the second lady, and she was only a concubine. When you find out, you're a little depressed, aren't you? ”

Wang Xian hurriedly knelt down heavily: "The slave has never thought like this!" ”

Shen Shuzhao looked at the person in front of her who was kneeling and whispering to her, and her tone was even more intriguing: "After all this time, you must now know who is the really useful minions around the Queen Mother." If the eldest sister is the destined imperial concubine, and the other ladies are just passers-by who temporarily live in the palace, you who were ordered by the queen mother at the beginning, so you don't plan to reveal anything about the palace to me too much. When I first came to Qinglian Pavilion that day to ask about the eldest princess, Lu Rong inadvertently told me that she was the queen mother's favorite daughter, so I was secretly glanced at by you with an embarrassed face, and I silently watched these in my eyes. ”

Wang Xian was shocked by these words, his heart jumped suddenly, the second lady observed the words and expressions to such an extent, it was really the person who was reused by the Queen Mother, no wonder it was so terrible! Although he lowered his head, he felt that his neck was very heavy, as if he was being pressed by a boulder.

"I sue you," Shen Shuzhao put his hands behind his back, looked into the distance from a long time, and said word by word: "The first concubine must be the eldest sister." ”

Wang Xian listened quietly.

"Although I can't give you the title of the first-class eunuch beside the imperial concubine, I will not disappear from the palace lightly, the queen mother needs me, and the eldest sister needs me. If you are loyal to me wholeheartedly, I will give you the glory, luxury, wealth, and nobility you want. Shen Shuzhao's face was hidden in the dark shadow of the backlight, and even the words were stained with an incomprehensible sense of surrender.

She stepped forward slowly, and a pair of cloud silk embroidered shoes stopped in front of Wang Xian's line of sight, and at the same time there was silence for a long time. Wang Xian waited for a moment, and finally raised his head hesitantly, he saw Shen Shuzhao's dark face, in the dimness, her eyes couldn't tell whether it was deterrence or her own aura, he only heard her say the last:

"Wang Xian, be loyal to me."

At that moment, Wang Xian seemed to feel that the girl in front of him was not a simple concubine. He seemed to be in the sunlight projection outside the window, and saw Shen Shuzhao, who was dressed in a golden Luo Luo and gorgeous clothes, combed with a terrifying bun that only had the level of a concubine, she was wearing a heavy sixteen-fold purple gold flying phoenix and jade wings, and her clothes were wide and swaying, like a cold and long-lived high-ranking concubine in the harem, looking at him expressionlessly, a humble little person who was small and needed to rely on her, giving him power and giving him a ladder.

He suddenly felt as if a lead stone had been poured into his knees, and he knelt even more tightly, and Wang Xian knocked his head firmly on the ground: "The slave will obey the second lady in the future." When the slave maid served the second lady, she never had a different heart, and the second lady was the only master of the slave and maid. Only the second lady is glorious, and the slave is glorious. There is no one else. ”

The corners of Shen Shuzhao's lips curled, it seemed that he was also an understanding person, and the last sentence was to express that he and Gao Dezhong had recently gotten too close in private, but in fact, there was nothing behind it.

She turned her back, she was suspicious, but she couldn't show it now.

"One wins, one loses." Shen Shuzhao finished speaking calmly, as if he was talking to himself. The power struggle made her hate the Shen family, but she still had to cling to the Queen Mother and send Shen Zhuangzhao as a concubine. Because they are one, no one can be destroyed first.

But the Queen Mother didn't tell her that General Xiao was guilty of going to the battlefield, wasn't she enough for her to trust her?

Shen Shuzhao said: "How many times did you see Gao Dezhong a few days ago? ”

Wang Xian replied honestly: "Not a few times." ”

"Why?"

"......Forehead" Wang Xian was suddenly speechless, but looking at Shen Shuzhao's compelling look, he remembered the oath he had just made, and made up his mind and said: "High school nobles go in and out of the palace very frequently, and slaves and maids are not allowed to see him often, and Miss Shen San, who has also been going to the Yongshou Palace to find the Queen Mother recently." ”

Shen Shuzhao stopped, she didn't need to hear about Shen Xiaozhao. She just stared at Wang Xian silently, and sure enough, the embarrassing atmosphere made Wang Xian continue: "There are ...... The slave maid had seen King Liang, the son and wife of the Jiang family, and some new-faced officials coming, but the slave and maid couldn't recognize who these nobles were......

The worst fear has happened.

Shen Shuzhao immediately said: "Check." ”

Wang Xian was stunned when he heard this, and then said, "Yes." ”

She looked out the window with a melancholy face, without saying a word, is the Queen Mother going to abandon her again? Just like in the previous life, the route was decided for her early, that is, to marry the Jiang family. She is still the most useful pawn of the Queen Mother in the harem, but once the selection of concubines is over, and new ministers are pouring into the Queen Mother, is she still the most powerful one?

Seemingly...... In this battle, not only to win the Xiao family, but also to become famous in one fell swoop.

To get rid of the fate of being arbitrarily decided by the chess player, the first thing is to make yourself important. Shen Shuzhao thought about it, and she felt that the opportunity to win over Zhen Shangze again should not be delayed.

And Zhen Shangze will also allow her to control it more firmly-

Yan Hanshan is a "lackey literati" who makes a big noise for the Queen Mother.

Shen Shuzhao turned to look at Wang Xian, and ordered coldly: "Since you have made an oath of loyalty to me, I hope you will not make mistakes in the future, otherwise I will let you taste the fate of betrayal." But if all that I have commanded you is done, you will be treated better than anyone else. From now on, you have kept a strict eye on the movements of the Eternal Longevity Hall for me from Gao Dezhong. ”

"Yes." Wang Xian surrendered.

At this point, the Queen Mother monitored Shen Shuzhao, and she also began to monitor the Queen Mother.

"Let's go, go to the front hall to see the Queen Mother." She took it on the table and walked out quickly, Wang Xian hurriedly got up to keep up, Huizhuang and Lu Rong and others at the door saw the second lady appear and walked in a hurry, and they all wanted to keep up with the pace, Shen Shuzhao didn't reply: "No need, Wang Xian can serve." As soon as he said this, everyone except Wang Xian stopped walking, and Wang Xian hurriedly followed behind Shen Shuzhao, but his back straightened even more in the crowd, with a shallow smug look on his face.

Who is Miss Shen Er's henchman, in one move, in the eyes of everyone, it is clear.

Passing by the high platform, Shen Shuzhao saw the prosperity and liveliness of the Xuanshu Hall from afar, she rolled up her sleeves on the deserted stairs of the clouds and smoke at the heights, and looked around, the huge nine-fold palace was constricted, and the power center of the entire country was gathered. The place where the towering palace is connected is the epitome of these thousands of miles of rivers and mountains. The war of the foreign enemies of the northern Xiongnu has just ended, and the war between the harem and the former dynasty has just begun.

Suddenly feeling cold all over her body, there was an air conditioner pressing, she subconsciously stepped back, but her shoulder was gently supported by a hand. She turned her head and was Wei Yang's beautiful and beautiful face.

"Princess......" Shen Shuzhao said in disbelief. Once again, she was shocked by Wei Yang's chance.

Wei Yang smiled faintly at her, like a mist in front of the two, she said, "Are you going to find the Queen Mother?" ”

"Yes."

Wei Yang's hand went along her shoulder, slowly stroked down, came to her wrist, came to her hand, and then tightly held Shen Shuzhao's pale and bloodless hand, and said, "It's just that Lone is going too, it's better to be together." ”

Shen Shuzhao asked, "Are you from the Empty Cicada Palace?" ”

"Well, Gu happened to see you coming out of Qinglian Pavilion, and his steps were in a hurry, and he couldn't keep up with you for a while, so he and the palace maids slowly followed you, only looking at your back from a distance. It wasn't until you suddenly stopped here that Lone came over. ”

After hearing this, Shen Shuzhao blushed for a while, thinking that Wei Yang was not far from her, and had been quietly watching her walking figure, she covered her heartbeat and said, "Since they are all here...... Let's go together. ”

Wei Yang stared at her quietly and replied, "Okay." ”

It is said that the beauty is not in the skin, Wei Yang's face is soft, the jaw outlines a perfect arc, but the eyebrows are cold and glamorous, and the natural eldest princess is not close to the style. But that's how she is, but she treats herself as gentle as water.

Shen Shuzhao took pity on her and said: "The storm in the palace is coming, and it is likely that there will be a big change this time, and the courtiers only hope that the princess can save herself." ”

"You should worry more about yourself than about being alone." Wei Yang was silent, "In this storm, there is a lone companion for you." ”

The two looked at each other tacitly, and the morning sun on the opposite side gradually rose to a higher place, and the golden scales of Huiyang sprinkled on them, reflecting each other brighter in their eyes.

Then they took the eldest princess and the car to the Xuande Palace, when passing the Long Live Palace, Shen Shuzhao saw a person take off the official hat and kneel at the front door of the palace, the face was gray and dejected, she carefully observed the person's crown and hat, and concluded that this person's identity was noble.

Wei Yang saw Shen Shuzhao looking at him, and raised his eyebrows: "He is Qian Changshi." ”

The front hall was holding a ceremony, but Qian Changshi took off his hat and knelt in front of the emperor's palace, Shen Shuzhao immediately understood in her heart, and she immediately asked, "Did he play?" ”

"Hmm. I went to the Changshi Mansion yesterday and told him the emperor's 'meaning', saying that the Xiao family should be rewarded for too much merit, but there are still ministers in the court who oppose it, so the emperor needs someone to bear the brunt of the performance of General Xiao as General Sima, so that the emperor has a reason to be promoted at the banquet, so he happily played. After Wei Yang finished speaking, he smiled contemptuously, "Except for General Xiao Chen, who fought with Gu, who knew Gu's identity, everyone else regarded Gu as the emperor's cronies. ”

After Shen Shuzhao listened, he looked in the direction of the Xuanshu Palace, and the corners of his mouth also sipped a touch of mockery. The Xiao family was majestic at the ceremony at this time, they received the emperor's grace at the banquet, and for the sake of the Xiao family's Qian Changshi, they knelt alone at the door of the Long Live Hall at this time to plead guilty.

Sarcasm, really sarcasm!

Thinking about the emperor's secret suspicion that the Xiao family was still angered by the performance, and at the same time treating the Xiao family calmly and rewarding them to the ministers at the banquet, she felt very funny.

came to the front hall, and Shen Shuzhao waited elsewhere for the Queen Mother to come out after the banquet. After a long time, the banquet finally dispersed, the emperor wanted to go to Ganquan Palace with the ministers to have fun, the queen mother said that she was unwell and left, leaving the remaining hours for the Son of Heaven and the heroes to talk about state affairs alone.

Shen Shuzhao and Wei Yang knelt down together after seeing the Queen Mother: "Meet the Queen Mother." ”

The Queen Mother's bad face changed to surprise after leaving the banquet: "Why are you coming together?" ”

"The courtiers have something to talk to the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother saw the bamboo shaft in her hand and said nothing.

"The queen mother, the sons also have important things to tell."

"Let's all get up and talk while going back to Changle Palace." The Queen Mother was helped forward by the female imperial chief, and Shen Shuzhao and the others got up to follow.

On that side, at the main entrance of the front hall, General Xiao Zhuru stared at the departing Queen Mother from afar with a gloomy face, suppressing his anger in his heart, if it weren't for that woman, General Sima would have been in his pocket today!

When he saw the familiar figure of the eldest princess, he suddenly felt a trace of fear in his heart, this woman was cold and bloodthirsty. He will never forget her standing motionless with the blood of the enemy stained on her white clothes, he only whispered to the princess behind his back, and then she turned around and held a long sword and almost pierced his heart, this woman is crazy, bloodthirsty on the battlefield, her eyes are red! What made him even more disgusting was that on her body, it was the blood of the Queen Mother, and it was also the blood of the Shen family! Xiao Zhuru clenched her fists, the women of the Shen family - all of them are terrible poisonous women!

"Why aren't you leaving?" Hearing his father's voice in his ears, he turned around - it was Prime Minister Xiao Cheng.

Prime Minister Xiao Cheng followed his gaze, and then frowned and said, "The time has not yet come, forbearance is the best policy." ”

Xiao Zhuru endured the green tendons on the back of his hand and said, "Daddy, my son knows." "All of them thought that today the emperor would canonize him as the Great Sima at the ceremony, but no.

He saw the slender and weak girl beside the Queen Mother, and suddenly asked curiously: "Who is that woman next to the Queen Mother?" ”

Prime Minister Xiao Cheng pondered and said: "It should be a niece." ”

"Could it be the second niece?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, if it were. My sister said that she was the lobbyist for the Queen Mother, and she attracted many concubines to defect to the Queen Mother. The last time the assassins were following Li Chong, she was also among the people in the palace who were almost killed. If it weren't for the female devil to save her, she wouldn't be here alive. If it had been her, I would have remembered her abominable face. ”

Prime Minister Xiao Cheng glanced back at the emperor who was surrounded by ministers in the distance, and then suppressed his voice: "Confused, how dare you say these words in the imperial city!" Could it be that today's banquet made you forgetful? ”

Xiao Zhuru gritted her teeth and said, "My son knows his mistake...... It's just that my sister is the middle palace of the world, and those concubines covet the queen's position before defecting to the queen mother, and the son is afraid that his sister will be wronged in the palace and bullied by vicious women! ”

"You take care of yourself." Prime Minister Xiao shook his head.

"Daddy...... In fact, the son originally thought that it was not bad to marry the eldest princess, but it was simply impossible, so we went to ask for the marriage of the eldest princess for the Li family, and now it seems that it is ......" Xiao Zhuru touched his chin and said: "My son thinks that it is not impossible to marry a concubine of the Shen family." ”