Three or five days later, at night, the sound of drizzle, the sound of dingdong, knocked on the wooden lattice window, hit the bluestone slab road.

Shen Wanzhen sat in the house all day, borrowed two idle books from Wu Yulian to read, it was still early before dinner, she called Xiuju to take an oil-paper umbrella, Qiaoshan was so depressed in the house that she wanted to go out, and she was afraid that her embroidered shoes would get wet, so she dispelled the idea of going out with her.

The Zhang family's house has a corner door next to the store, so that it is easy to walk, you don't need to go through the store, Shen Wanzhen and Xiuju came out of the small door, and walked along the ancient and heavy bluestone road, the town was empty, and there were few pedestrians on rainy days, which also saved the town from the curious eyes.

Shen Wanzhen knew from Wu Yulian's mouth that the women in this town have a good hand in embroidery, and the women in Jiangnan are ingenious, and there is an embroidery workshop opposite where Shen Wanzhen lives, and the silk woven is exquisite.

"Master, if you can live here for the rest of your life, the slave and maid are willing." Embroidered chrysanthemum personality chaste, do not like the hustle and bustle, especially love this kind of charm of the small place.

"Then find you a son-in-law here and marry you." Shen Wanzhen quipped, and said in her heart, the days go by so fast, the two girls are old in the blink of an eye, and in a year or two, it will be time to get married.

"Xiuju would rather accompany her master and never marry." Xiuju blushed and raised the oil-paper umbrella higher, for fear of blocking the master's vision.

Shen Wanzhen thought, this maid is honest and sincere, and she is dedicated to serving her master, unlike Qiaoshan's girl, who has only been here for three or five days, and she is familiar with Xiao Gongzi's subordinates.

So he asked, "Qiao Shan's girl also thinks it's good here?" ”

"Qiao Shan said, it's freer than the capital." Shen Wanzhen pursed her lips and smiled, where this girl has a strong adaptability, she will be familiar with it in a few days.

"It would be nice if the prince came along." Xiuju peeked at the master's face, the prince wanted to follow that day, but the master didn't agree, and Xiuju didn't understand.

Shen Wanzhen's heart was pricked, her face froze, and then she said in a light tone: "If the prince comes, you still have such a peaceful day." ”

Xiuju lowered her head, looked at the tip of the embroidered shoe was wet, and stopped talking.

The two walked to the lake outside the town, and stood on the shore to look at the vast lake, shrouded in gray rain and mist, and the smoke was vast.

In a pavilion in the distance, a small servant pointed and said, "Look, it's not the girl who lives at the opposite door, it seems to be with a maid named Xiuju." ”

Xiao Gongzi glanced at him and said in his heart, good boy, he has only been here for a few days, and he even knows his name.

Looking in the direction he pointed, through the fine and dense rain and mist, he saw two girls standing on the shore of the lake, holding oil-paper umbrellas, the maid pointed to the lake, the woman stared into the distance, her flowing clothes were like smoke, she was a very different woman he had ever seen.

His eyes narrowed, and he kept looking at where the master and servant were standing, and he did not withdraw his gaze until the master and servant were gone.

"Master, it's time to go back." The little guy next to him reminded.

He glanced at the empty shore, and then got out of the pavilion, and the little servant hurriedly put up his umbrella and walked back.

The waterway in the town was unblocked, and the master and servant in front of him didn't know where to go in a blink of an eye, and he was a little disappointed all of a sudden, and when he came to the door of an embroidery workshop, the master and servant came out of it.

At this time, the rain stopped, Xiao Gongzi's little servant put away the umbrella, Shen Wanzhen saw him, and unexpectedly met Xiao Gongzi on a rainy day, smiled and blessed himself, "Childe is good!" ”

"Hello girl!" Xiao Gongzi unconsciously did not reject people as he had in the first few days.

Since it was difficult to avoid it, Shen Xuanzhen and Xiao Gongzi walked half a step towards the Zhang family's house.

"Does the girl like it here?" Xiao Gongzi first looked for a topic and took the initiative to ask.

"Yes, this place is quiet and quaint, comfortable and peaceful, I like it very much, and Childe likes it too?" Shen Wanzhen likes it here, the air is always so pure, the stream is always so clear, and the people are simple and kind.

"I've been to a lot of places, and when I come here, I don't want to leave, like something is tied to my feet and I can't move my steps." Xiao Gongzi said in a fluttering voice.

At this time, the little guy also talked to Xiuju in a whisper, the set was close, Xiuju blushed, and rarely spoke.

The little guy heard what the master said, and answered: "Don't go, just live here, Miss Wu won't leave, wouldn't it be lively to live together." "Shen Wanzhen is now unmarried, not surnamed Shen, surnamed Wu, Wu Yulian's sister.

Xiao Gongzi turned his head and glared at him, coughed, the little guy stuck out his tongue, and knew that he had spoken for a while, but he didn't know it that well, but he thought that Miss Wu's two maids were very good, and they wanted to be close, and it was boring elsewhere.

Shen Wanzhen looked back at the two of them, and she didn't feel funny.

But I thought in my heart that if it was like what Xiuju said, he could also come here, and it wouldn't be too long to live a lifetime.

"Miss Wu, please." When he arrived at the corner gate of the Zhang family's house, Xiao Gongzi let Shen Xuanzhen go first.

The two entered the main courtyard, Shen Wanzhen squatted down to say goodbye, and took Xiuju to the west across the courtyard, Xiao Gongzi paused and took the little girl to the east across the courtyard.

When Shen Wanzhen entered the West Cross Courtyard, Qiao Shan saw it through the crack in the bamboo curtain in the hall house that was blown by the wind, and hurriedly raised the bamboo curtain, "Girl, Cousin Wu and Grandma Wu called someone to urge her to come over for dinner." ”

As soon as I entered the house, a few rain stars fell outside, Xiuju held up an oil-paper umbrella, and the three of them went to the main courtyard to go to the room and eat in the east room.

When I walked to the main courtyard, I saw the mother-in-law of the Zhang family holding an umbrella in one hand and a food box in the other hand to send it to the east across the courtyard. ”

The mother-in-law looked at Shen Wanzhen and said with a smile: "Miss Wu can regulate people, and even the people around her have the eyesight." ”

Shen Wanzhen said with a smile; "Mom asked her to lift it, she is young and fast."

During the meal, Wu Yulian said; "If my sister finds it boring, I'll accompany my sister to walk around the town another day."

Shen Wanzhen smiled: "Aren't you busy? If you want your grandmother to take the idea of big and small things at home, and worry about business matters, then you have time to accompany me as an idler. ”

Wu Yulian smiled, "Look at what my sister said, accompanying my sister is the biggest thing." ”

Half a month later

Shen Xuanzhen leaned on the bamboo collapse to read, in the winter in the south of the Yangtze River, the sun came out, warmer than in the house, she ordered the embroidery chrysanthemum to be half opened through the window, and the warm sunlight shone in, suddenly, she listened carefully, as if she heard the noise in the main courtyard.

Qiao Shan came in from outside and said in a panic: "Master, it seems that the government is inquiring about outsiders, and I heard that it is mainly about women." ”

Shen Wanzhen's eyebrows jumped, her intuition was not good, whether it was aimed at her, she didn't dare to be careless.

Hurriedly walked out of the house, walked to the main courtyard, and walked to the wall door leading to the main courtyard, I heard Wu Yulian talking loudly in the upper room, Shen Wanzhen's pace slowed down, walked towards the upper room and listened carefully, and listened to the voice of an official, "Zhang family lady, it's not that I don't talk about human feelings, it's really that the top is very tight." ”

Shen Wanzhen vaguely saw Wu Yulian stuffing silver into the chief's hand through the bamboo curtain, but the chief there insisted and didn't dare to accept it, it is said that these small officials such as the chief usually rely on looting money, but it seems that he didn't deliberately shirk, he really didn't dare to accept it, Shen Wanzhen's heart sank, and he guessed that it must be a major matter supervised by the imperial court, and he didn't dare to show favoritism.

Wu Yulian thought that he was too little, so she added another piece of silver, where the long eyes stared at the white silver, and did not dare to reach out to take it, and her attitude became more and more relaxed, "Zhang Niangzi, this is a major matter appointed by the imperial court, not to mention that I am a small captain, even the county master does not dare to be accommodating." ”

When Shen Wanzhen heard this, she couldn't embarrass Wu Yulian, so she lifted the curtain and walked in, Wu Yulian was grinding soft and hard bubbles there, listening to the sound of 'bang', she was startled when she saw Shen Wanzhen coming in, and hurriedly walked over, "Sister, it's okay, you go back to the house!" "Say it, and push her out.

As soon as the chief saw her, his little eyes narrowed, Miss Shen he had seen once, Mrs. Zhang informed him that there were relatives at home, he was not at ease, he came to check in person, and saw that a woman with a few domestic servants did not take it to heart, he had a good impression of this Miss Shen, she looked good, looked comfortable, and said with a smile here: "Miss Shen is Mrs. Zhang's maiden relative, Mrs. Zhang has long said it, and she didn't hide it, but this time it was not me who was deliberately embarrassed, it was an official document under the government, and all women from outside the village and town must go to the county office." , hide and don't report, I have to sit here for a long time. ”

Li Chang usually buys Zhang Ji dim sum, never gave money, since ancient times, take people with short hands, eat people with short mouths, take people's money, and eliminate disasters with people, he is suddenly honest today, he always has to explain to Wu Yulian with good words, so he said to Wu Yulian embarrassed: "It's really not that I don't give face, the peak is strict, I dare not disobey, if there is a mistake or two mistakes, the above can not afford to be guilty, since Miss Shen is a relative of your house, it is expected to be fine, I will personally send Miss Shen to the county government to recognize people"

was entangled, and the bamboo curtain was 'bang' again, and it was vigorously thrown on the door frames on both sides, and the chief there, when he saw the person who came in, put down the entanglement with Wu Yulian, and asked the person who came: "Aren't you a tenant here?" ”

Wu Yulian looked at it and pulled Xiao Gongzi again, and said busily; "You're not looking for a woman, so you don't need to ask."

"Huh? Whoever says that I will look for a woman, the man will not be checked, who knows if he is a good person or a robber, and he will also be taken to the county office. Shen Xuanzhen looked at him as a bit of a ripper, obviously asking for benefits, and it meant that there would be nothing to do with some money.

Xiao Gongzi's expression was calm, and he spoke coldly, "This chief, please take a step to speak." "When you speak directly to the chief, you understand that it is not good to give money in front of people, and you want to mean it in private.

happily went out with him, and the two went to the courtyard, Shen Wanzhen stood in the door, lifted the bamboo curtain with her bare hands, and watched Xiao Gongzi talk to the chief there.

I saw that Xiao Gongzi was not in a hurry, and took out something from his sleeve, far away, Shen Wanzhen couldn't see clearly, and Xiao Gongzi's sleeve was blocked, and he reached out and only showed it, and when he saw it, his eyes were straight, and he stared at that thing in a daze, Xiao Gongzi took it back, and he stared at his hand with straight eyebrows, for a long time, his legs were weak, Shen Wanzhen looked at him and bent his knees, as if he was going to kneel, Xiao Gongzi said something, he didn't kneel, his legs didn't stand so straight, his legs were a bit like he couldn't stand, as if he was going to kneel down at any time, Xiao Gongzi raised his legs and walked to the main room, where the chief still stood respectfully, and waited for a long time to see him enter the upper room, before wiping the cold sweat on his forehead, and somehow walked out of the Zhang family's house, and walked to the door, there was no one, so he muttered in a low voice, "I didn't count when I went out, I almost got into trouble." ”

Shen Wanzhen saw Xiao Gongzi walking towards the upper room, it was not good to continue to stand at the door, so she opened the curtain and walked out, that Xiao Gongzi was not as cold as before, his face was gentle, and he looked at Shen Wanzhen, "It's okay, Miss Wu." ”

Shen Wanzhen bowed a few times, "Gongzi Xie has lifted the siege." ”

Xiao Gongzi actually looked at her and smiled, "You're welcome, Miss Wu can live in peace, they won't be looking for trouble." ”

Shen Xuanzhen thanked her in the third place,

At the end of the year, the show girl named on the sign of the palace draft, after staying in the palace accommodation inspection, going to stay has been decided, the emperor issued a decree, canonized, Xu Shangshu's daughter, it is natural that among these show girls, the highest rank, from the third grade Jieyu.

As soon as the emperor decreed, the queen mother closed the door and did not come out, and the concubines and concubines of the emperor's harem did not see her, saying that she was not happy, she was pure and afraid of disturbing, and she concentrated on worshipping the Buddha and did not ask about external affairs.

Emperor Zhao Shixian didn't expect the queen mother to react so violently at first, even he didn't save face, and couldn't help but be troubled, the emperor went to Cining Palace several times a day to ask for peace, and was told that the queen mother didn't want to see people, and the emperor was worried all day about this.

Kunning Palace

"The queen mother is locked in the palace and can't come out, and the emperor can't eat for the past few days." Empress Li looked in the direction of Cining Palace, worried about the tunnel.

"The Queen Mother was angry for a while, and it would be good if the anger disappeared after a while, and the Queen Mother didn't need to worry." Mama Kang comforted the queen.

Li Hou helped the nine phoenix beaded ruby golden hairpin on his head, shook his head, and disagreed with her statement, "I'm afraid it's not so easy to dissipate." "Heart, the Queen Mother has been rolling in the palace for many years, the emperor's mind will not be incomprehensible, anger is inevitable, I think at the beginning, the Queen Mother Kuang helped the emperor to obtain the throne, and fought with Concubine Min Gui, I don't know how much thought, if it is not too cold, disheartened, otherwise the Queen Mother's city will not do things in the open, so that the court and the outside know the way.

"The old slave said something that shouldn't be said, is the emperor thinking too much, the old slave sees that His Royal Highness is not thinking about the government, and now he is fascinated for the sake of the Shen family's daughter, and he has no heart to do anything, the emperor can rest assured." Mama Kang lowered her voice, and the queen and her two heard it, there were many ears and eyes in the palace, and this kind of words could not be heard by outsiders.

"Who said no, the emperor's temperament you also know the way, the nature of the mind is heavy, when did you believe in others, even I don't dare to say it deeply, I don't have to say it, some words are hidden in the stomach, and you can't say it if it's rotten, even if you don't say it, you can't spit it out, and you need to keep three points." Empress Li's voice was very small, the two of them seemed to be whispering, she knew that since the emperor ascended the throne, the appearance of the country looks stable, but in fact, the inside is turbulent, and the bloody storm in the court has never stopped for several years.

"Now there is no war in the southwest, the border is peaceful, I heard that this year's New Year is going to come back to pay homage to the emperor, and the four highnesses should also come back, as soon as they go, it will be half a year younger, and there are five highnesses, who are ordered to work in the army, and they will always come back before the year, the marriage of the three highnesses, no one dares to mention it for a while, the queen mother's heart is not removed, and the emperor has a hard time." Mama Kang was followed by the queen when she was a concubine in the palace, so the royal family is clear about this.

"The queen mother has the grace of nurturing the emperor, the emperor rules the world with filial piety, if the queen mother does not dissipate her anger, internal and external troubles have not been eliminated, the emperor still needs the help of the queen mother, and now the queen mother will leave it alone, and the emperor will lose strong support and backing as soon as he suppresses the prince's important ministers." The harem of this dynasty is not allowed to interfere in politics, but Empress Li only asks about the affairs of the DPRK and China, and knows the situation in the DPRK and China well, and is not a dull person.

"Xu Jieyu's matter hurt the heart of the Queen Mother, but Concubine Fang sent all the outstanding women to King An's Mansion, which saved the Queen Mother a lot of heart." Mama Kang thought it was a pity, those beauties in King An's Mansion originally wanted to enter the palace to fight for a place, but they were sent to King An's Mansion to stay alive and widowed.

When the queen heard her words, she was originally speaking crookedly, but suddenly sat up straight and said to herself: "There is a way to dissipate the anger of the queen mother." ”

Mama Kang said puzzledly: "The emperor is careful, please be safe every day, the queen mother doesn't give face, who else can have such a big face, let the queen mother be angry." ”

Li Hou whispered a few words, and Mama Kang clapped her hands and said, "Gao, the idea of the queen is high." ”

"But how to speak, in order not to let the emperor feel that he is out of jealousy, in order to ......." The queen pondered, turned upside down in her hand and fiddled with a jade Ruyi, this is the best time to hit Concubine Fang, Concubine Fang is smart, and the emperor favors and trusts, in order to deal with Concubine Fang's slut, she took great pains, all at the last moment, and fell short, so that she has been waiting for such an opportunity for many years, and has always fought in the harem, and the opportunity is fleeting, she has always been vigilant, and will never let go of even a small opportunity to hit the opponent.

"The emperor has arrived." Empress Li was about to use some method, when she suddenly heard a sound, and the person suddenly woke up, and then came up with an idea.

Empress Li dressed in her whole dress, walked out of the palace with steady steps, and walked into the palace gate with heavy steps towards the emperor on her back.

"Please Greeting, Emperor." As soon as Empress Li squatted down, the emperor reached out to help her up, "The queen doesn't need to be polite." ”

Husband and wife join hands and enter the dormitory.

The emperor has always been calm, and his joy and anger are invisible, but these days he is obviously in a bad mood, and the queen mother is angry with him, because he underestimates, originally he just asked about the draft, that is, he was afraid that the queen mother would be too careful, and the mother and son would be suspicious, but the queen mother was shrewd and wise, how could she believe that he didn't know anything about this matter.

Empress Li personally served the emperor in a wide robe, took off her boots, and the emperor sat down on the kang and said; "Queen, don't be busy, you can sit too."

The queen personally held the tea before sitting down opposite.

"The Queen Mother didn't see me, she was angry with me, what idea did the queen have to explain the Queen Mother." The emperor is depressed at the moment, Miss Xu is not thoughtful by himself, and he blames the Queen Mother, he doesn't know how to redeem it, Chrysostom Yuyan, Miss Xu has been sealed Jieyu, if you want to go back, it is impossible, the longer the stalemate in this matter, the deeper the gap between mother and son, and the more shameless he faces the Queen Mother.

As soon as the queen saw that the time had come, she dressed up, turned over and got off the kang, and bowed to the emperor, and the emperor looked at her in surprise, "What's wrong with the queen today?" Do this great gift for no reason, get up quickly. ”

The queen insisted on bowing □ and bowed a few more times, "The concubine is willing to share the emperor's worries." ”

Zhao Shixian looked at her, didn't understand what it meant, and said; "Why did the queen say that?"

The queen knelt on the ground and didn't get up, and said solemnly: "The concubines take care of the harem, the draft is not done properly, the queen mother blames, the concubines are willing to accept the guilt, and the emperor will condemn the concubines to calm the anger of the queen mother." ”

Zhao Shixian didn't say anything, his eyes flashed towards the queen, through the thin smoke of the beast gold incense burner, his eyes looked away, and for a long time, "The draft matter was presided over by Concubine Fang, and Concubine Fang was unfavorable, so she was reduced to ......." ”

The emperor paused for a moment, "Reduced to a positive eight-grade girl." ”

The queen fell to the ground, with the sound of the emperor's resolute voice above her head, this decision doomed a harem woman to a tragic fate, there was not much pity in this voice, Queen Li was overjoyed at the same time, but she didn't feel cold.

It is impossible for the emperor to condemn the queen, husband and wife are one, the queen is at fault, and the emperor cannot escape the involvement, not to mention that it is impossible to abolish the queen, only to let Concubine Fang take the blame to eliminate the anger of the queen mother, Zhao Shixian weighed it slightly, sacrificed Concubine Fang, and calmed down the matter, which is the most cost-effective.

Zhao Shixian said in his heart, Concubine Fang, since you said that you love me and make some sacrifices for me, you must be willing.

Cining Palace

Concubine Fang knelt at the gate of the palace, her face was haggard, her hair was scattered, her head was broken, and the palace door was closed and not opened.

After two hours, the heavy palace door opened with a 'squeak', and Cui Changhai came out of it, bowed down and said with a smile, "Concubine Fang, no, Fang Cainu, the Queen Mother doesn't want to see you, you go back first." ”

Concubine Fang cried bitterly, lying on the stone brick floor, poor and delicate body, Cui Changhai shook his head and ordered: "Help Fang Cainu back." ”

A few eunuchs came up, and Concubine Fang, who had been kneeling for a long time and couldn't walk, went to a cold palace-like palace in the harem.

Empress Li happened to be walking towards Cining Palace, seeing this scene, I didn't know whether I was happy or something else, as Empress Li expected, she pulled out the thorn in Concubine Fang's eye, and even lost interest in Emperor Xu Jieyu, thinking of her, the emperor was angry.

When Li came to the gate of Cining Palace, Cui Changhai saw it, and he knelt down with his clothes in his hand, "The slave is the queen's mother, the queen mother is tired, and she just fell asleep." ”

Empress Li smiled gently, "That palace will come to greet the Queen Mother tomorrow morning." With that, he slowly descended the steps.

The palace gate of Cining Palace was closed, and Empress Dowager Guo was teasing a parrot in the cage, "Concubine Fang is gone?" ”

"I left, knelt for a few hours, and couldn't even get up." Cui Changhai was a little sympathetic, Concubine Fang was usually pampered, how could she have suffered so much today.

"Poor sight." The Queen Mother looked at the parrot in the cage, and seemed to be talking to herself; "Maybe the prince is right."

Cui Changhai was puzzled, and the Queen Mother suddenly said something, and he thought about it.