The door of the hall is slightly hidden, and there are two glass lamps hanging under the high eaves of the corridor, and the dim light can only illuminate the bluestone slab floor that is square inches. The red palace wall has a long shadow, and a hazy slender figure stands silently under the palace wall, almost blending in with the darkness.

Finally, the door of the palace was opened, and the female official Yao carried a glass lantern and carried the corner of her skirt, and walked out. She smiled at the slender figure in the shadows and said, "Niangniang, please come in!" The person who came nodded slowly, moved the lotus step lightly, and followed Lady Yao into the palace gate.

Queen Guo sat alone in front of the huge dressing table, took off her luxurious phoenix robe, and changed into a light and homely coat. The delicate and luxurious Lingyun bun was removed, and the crow-covered and hip-length hair was casually draped. At this moment, Empress Guo looks a little less dignified and dignified than in the daytime, and a little more casual and friendly.

Lady Yao blew out the lantern in her hand and said with a smile: "Niangniang, the moon beauty is here." ”

Yue Meiren untied the dark green bamboo shawl on her shoulders and handed it to Jing'er, and then Ying Ying Yifu said crisply: "I've seen the queen's mother." Empress Guo hummed softly, and then she got up calmly and looked up.

Empress Guo half-lowered her eyes, slowly took the shining red gold armor on her fingertips, and said casually: "It's getting late, the moon beauty is not in the Qianqing Palace, what are you doing when you come to the Kunning Palace?" ”

Yue Meiren pursed her lips and smiled, and said: "Back to Niangniang's words, the concubine thinks that Niangniang has to take care of trivial matters in the harem during the day, and she must not get out, and she must be worried about whether the emperor's dragon body is Kangtai from time to time." In order to avoid the mother's memory, the concubines took advantage of the emperor's sleep. I came to report to my mother. ”

"Oh!" Empress Guo finally raised her eyes and glanced at her with a smile through the bronze mirror. said: "It's really difficult for you, and you still remember this little bit of the palace." Just tell me how the emperor is doing today! ”

"When the concubine went, the emperor was in good spirits, and after taking the medicine, he rested for a while, and then drank all the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, and let Zhao Quangong stay outside the palace. Left alone the concubines to wait for the review and review. ”

Empress Guo snapped, threw the armor she had just taken off onto the dressing table, and said in a deep voice with a long frown: "Nonsense." Nonsense, the emperor's body is so weak, how can he review the folds? ”

Yue Meiren accompanied her and said carefully: "The concubine also persuaded the emperor to come up, but was reprimanded by the emperor. So I don't dare to say more. It was the concubines who did not serve well. ”

Empress Guo nodded, slowed down her tone and said, "The emperor's temperament is not even in this palace, let alone you!" How long has the emperor approved the excerpt? Are you tired? ”

"The emperor couldn't hold it for half an hour, and his spirit was slightly better after taking a longevity pill."

"Longevity again?" Empress Guo frowned and said, "Although that thing is good, it is too hot, and I am afraid that the cough will get worse if I eat too much!" ”

"Not really! When the emperor watched the recital, he coughed several times and almost lost his breath, and he was not allowed to call the imperial doctor. But the concubines were frightened. After a pause, Yue Meiren lowered her voice and said, "Especially when I saw several adults mentioning it." The emperor was seriously ill, the crown prince was young, and when he suggested that Prince Rui temporarily supervise the country, the emperor also smashed the medicine bowl and tore the fold, and almost fainted. ”

"Let Prince Rui be regent?" Empress Guo said suspiciously: "Can you see clearly, which adults are on such an excerpt?" ”

Yue Meiren thought about it carefully and said a few names, which immediately made Queen Guo's hesitant expression become more and more solemn. Because these adults occupy very important and prominent positions in the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of War. Queen Guo's face gradually revealed a sense of anger, but she kept her back to Yue Meiren, and Yue Meiren didn't notice it.

After half a ring, Empress Guo changed the topic casually: "Are you literate?" ”

This topic changed too quickly, and Yue Meiren was stunned, and then smiled shyly and said: "I don't know, after entering the palace, the emperor has taught his concubines a few times." It's a pity that the concubines are stupid, and the emperor only knows his name after teaching him a few times, which makes the emperor lose interest later. The concubines were afraid of the emperor's jokes, so when the literate stewards and palace maids around them were fine, they taught the concubines to read the "Three Character Classic", "Women's Rules" and "Women's Training", and after a few months, they finally recognized a few words. ”

Empress Guo nodded, knowing in her heart. When Zhu Xian used to review the recitals, he didn't like to have someone in front of him to serve, because he was afraid that the people in the harem would leave and right the court openly and secretly for their own interests. It's a pity that now he is lingering on the sickbed, his spirit is not good, and he no longer has the energy to take care of the government as much as in the past, so he will allow the illiterate Yue Meiren in his memory to serve in front of him.

It's a pity that with Zhu Xian's extremely greedy and arbitrary nature, he has held all the rights tightly in his hands over the years. Now that he is sick, the excerpts from all directions are still **** carried into the imperial study like snowflakes, and they soon pile up. Without Zhu Xian to control the overall situation, the people below did not dare to make decisions on their own, resulting in the paralysis of the entire government affairs of the entire court bureau now.

It is said that someone proposed that Prince Rui should stand up and supervise the country at this moment, but it was a selfless idea. After all, Prince Rui is the only one in the emperor, the younger brother of a compatriot, and has the full support of the Queen Mother, so it is time to stand up and take on this responsibility.

It's a pity that Empress Guo knows that this matter is definitely not that simple. Because after Zhu Xian fell, she could no longer see the humility and meekness of the past in the eyes of Prince Rui, but was replaced by an increasingly inflated arrogance, recklessness and ambition. I'm afraid that the regent is fake, and the seizure of the throne is real.

Empress Guo finally turned around and took a closer look at the moon beauty. Seeing her standing in front of her with low eyebrows, wearing a light green dark flower cloud brocade palace dress, combing a simple and delicate double-ring bun, and pinning a crystal butterfly tassel hairpin to her sideburns, she looked both delicate and cute, but also unassumingly dazzling. Comparing it with the lady concubine, who has always liked luxurious and bright colors, it will always make people feel incredible. is the same girl from the Jiang family, but it is such a world of difference.

Empress Guo smiled and said angrily: "Why do you stand and reply?" I'm not too tired to panic, and I don't sit down to rest. Jing'er, why haven't you served tea to Yuemei? ”

Only then did the moon beauty sit down on the chair next to her, blushing slightly. Said: "The concubine thinks it's just a matter of a few words, and it won't take long for Miss Jing'er to pour tea." Annoys the mother. It's the concubine's fault! ”

Empress Guo said quite kindly: "Where is your fault, the palace maid herself knows that she is the most lazy and slippery, and she has been pampered." ”

As she spoke, Jing'er had already brought out two glass cups from the inner room with a small vermilion lacquer tea tray, and said with a smile: "Niangniang wronged the slave again, and the slave refused to use tea when she saw the beauty of the moon." took it upon himself to deliberately serve an extra cup of almond cheese that the mother loved, so he delayed his efforts. ”

"Well, you're still mindful." Empress Guo nodded with satisfaction. Then he said to Yue Mei: "This almond cheese is sweet but not greasy, smooth and moist, much stronger than what is made in the imperial dining room, you can taste it." ”

Moon Beauty is flattered. Hurriedly got up and curtsied. said: "Thank you for the reward." ”

Seeing that she was respectful and careful in her words, the smile on her face became thicker and her tone became gentler: "Don't be polite, I know that you have worked very hard to serve the emperor, and you are a safe and sensible person." This almond cheese is nothing, if the emperor is better, this palace will definitely say a few good words for you. Get you promoted to the top sooner. ”

Yue Meiren's face was a little red, and she said earnestly: "Waiting for the emperor is the blessing of the concubine. The concubines must do their best, and ask for nothing. ”

With the bowl of almond cheese, Moon Beauty put on her cloak again and said goodbye.

Empress Guo was silent alone for a moment before she instructed Jing'er to polish the ink, and she took a pen to repair a family letter, sealed it with vermilion lacquer, and asked her henchmen eunuch to send it to the Zhenguo Mansion. After doing all this, she breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, "Chenghei, you have to come back soon, my sister will point to you."

In the time that followed, the court became more and more chaotic. In addition to Chang'an, there are more and more excerpts of vassal kings flying into the Qianqing Palace like snowflakes from all over the country, and they have only one content, that is, asking Prince Rui to be regent.

Zhu Xian fainted several times in anger, which shocked the entire Tai Hospital. Finally, when Zhu Xian's condition stabilized, he relied on the support of Wanshou Dan and secretly summoned several loyal and powerful old ministers to the Qianqing Palace for secret talks.

After the secret talk, countless secret guards, pro-army, and Beijing camps began to move frequently, and countless people were secretly ordered to leave the palace and go to various towns to closely monitor the vassal king's every move.

Especially outside Prince Rui's mansion, there are many strange hawkers and merchants. None of them had any intention of buying or selling, just staring closely at Prince Rui's gate, side door, corner gate, and even the dog's hole. As long as someone enters or leaves, they will be secretly taken down and thrown into a desolate and uninhabited place for severe interrogation.

During this time, everyone became cautious, at this moment the emperor is seriously ill, the crown prince is young, and it may have reached the critical moment of the replacement of the old and the new supreme power. In addition to those radicals who jumped out to cheer for Prince Rui, there are more conservatives who just want to survive this extraordinary period and not offend both sides.

Prince Rui seems to be unaware of this tense situation, he still rides a high-headed horse every day to swagger through the market, swaggering into the palace to visit the queen mother, visit Zhu Xian, and sometimes give the crown prince, the second prince with the folk children's favorite gadgets, but the two children are extremely happy.

On the twelfth day, Prince Rui staggered back to the study with a drunken body and a moonlight like a silver veil. Mingyue hid in the shadows and saw it, and immediately ran back to find her own lady happily.

Liu Yuqing was dressed in homely clothes, sitting quietly under the oil lamp and copying scriptures, while Caixia sat opposite her and bowed her head. Hearing the sound of the door opening, Caixia raised her head and glanced at Mingyue fiercely, and said dissatisfiedly: "Where did you go to drill sand this night?" I thought you couldn't climb out of a pit you fell into. ”

Mingyue looked out a few times, but didn't see anything unusual, so she carefully covered the door. She walked up to Liu Yuqing, pursed her lips and smiled, and said, "I saw that Miss didn't use a few bites for dinner, so I wanted to go to the kitchen to find a few eggs for Miss to make a bowl of egg custard to fill her stomach, so I delayed for so long." ”

Caixia glanced at her empty hands and teased, "That's great, but where is this egg custard?" ”

Mingyue laughed a few times and said, "I forgot it on the stone table in front of the study, I don't remember to take it!" ”

Caixia rolled her eyes and said extremely dissatisfied: "When will you be able to change your problem?" Don't go get the custard back yet. No matter how late it is, I am afraid that it will be cooled by the night breeze, so I can't eat it. ”

Liu Yuqing put down the pen in his hand, raised his thin cheeks, and said with a light smile: "No need, I'm not hungry." Mingyue, you still come to help me sharpen the ink! ”

"Oops! My good young lady, there are piles of scriptures and books, so there is nothing to worry about copying less. Mingyue stomped her feet and said eagerly: "I'll tell you something very important!" ”

"What is it? What makes you so anxious? Liu Yuqing was a little interested.

Mingyue smiled mysteriously, approached her ear, and whispered: "Just now when I passed the study with egg custard, I happened to see the prince walking in alone. And his steps are faltering, and he can still smell the smell of alcohol on him from afar. I thought, this is a great opportunity!

Baoqin's little hooves have been sick for the past two days and can't pester the prince, and the prince has drunk too much wine and is alone in the study without anyone to take care of him. At this time, if you serve a cup of fragrant tea to the prince, and then say a few soft words, maybe you can take back the prince's heart. So I hurried back and forgot the bowl of egg custard on the stone table outside the study. ”

When Caixia heard this, her eyes immediately lit up, and she was busy looking at her young lady.

The faint smile on the corner of Liu Yuqing's mouth had gradually faded, and Caixia saw that her face was wrong, so she couldn't help but whisper: "Miss, I think Mingyue's method is feasible, you might as well try it." If you can coax the prince to change his mind, you will have a better life in the future! ”

Liu Yuqing raised his eyes to look at the flickering dim candlelight on the table, and after half a ring, he said in a deep voice: "The warmth you begged for, don't do it!" If I want to compete with a concubine for favor, I might as well accompany this green lantern Buddha for a lifetime. ”

The words have been said to this point, Caixia Mingyue looked at each other, and had to give up!

Zhu Yi sat alone in the study, a little stunned, his thoughts seemed to have drifted far, far away. The sharp eyes of the day are a little dazed and empty at the moment. I don't know how long I sat there, but a very slight creaking sound suddenly sounded in the dark part of the room, and Zhu Yi's body shook slightly, before he pulled back his distant thoughts.

Right before his eyes, the huge bookcase that took up the entire wall slowly parted, and the entrance to a dark room was just behind the bookcase. The criminal university walked out of the dark room, hugged his fist at Zhu Yi, and said in a deep voice: "Lord Wang, this person's mouth is really tight, his subordinates have exhausted the punishment, and he still refuses to hand over the account book." ”

Zhu Yi's eyes suddenly became extremely gloomy, and he snorted coldly and said, "Useless things!" Everything must be done by the king himself. He jerked to his feet and strode towards the dark room. (To be continued.) )