A small sedan chair stopped in front of the palace

"The people at the gate sent a message to come in and say that the fourth aunt and grandmother of the Shen Mansion asked to see the princess." The little maid came in and returned.

Shen Wanzhen was talking to Mrs. Yan, she was a little surprised, looking at Mrs. Yan, Mrs. Yan also wondered, "Why is the fourth girl here?" The four girls have always been not close to their masters, why did they suddenly come here today, what is the big deal with Bacheng? ”

Everyone came, and Shen Wanzhen couldn't help but see it, and ordered, "Please come in." ”

Shen Wanzhen walked out of the upper room door, Shen Wanyun bypassed the glass wall, Shen Wanzhen smiled and said, "Why is the fourth sister free?" ”

Shen Wanyun walked a few steps quickly, with a decent smile, and stepped forward to salute, "Princess"

Shen Wanzhen held on, "You and my sister are married, but they are separated, but they still call me sister and are close to each other." ”

Shen Wanyun began to be a little cramped, watching Shen Wanzhen get close to peace, relaxed, and followed her sister up the steps.

Let the bright, the sisters humble each other, Shen Wanyun insisted on sitting down, Shen Wanzhen took a seat, Shen Wanyun was always polite and thoughtful, behaved very decently, treated people without seeing closeness or alienation, the sisters never kissed, Shen Wanzhen looked at the look of uneasiness, guessing that she must have something important to ask her today.

Qiao Shan served the tea, put it in front of the master first, and then brought it to Shen Wanyun, and said with a smile: "I didn't expect the four girls to come today, this Hui Ming Cui Pian is because the master loves to drink it." It was the prince who specially asked for it from the queen mother, and the tribute in the palace every year was always two catties, and when other people came, the master was reluctant to take it out. ”

Shen Wanzhen glared at her with disgust, and said with a smile: "Fourth sister, look, this girl's mouth is still so broken, it's the fourth sister who is here today, if someone else says it's a deliberate show-off." ”

Shen Wanyun's expression was quite unnatural, and his smile was very reluctant, holding the teacup, looking down, and said: "This green piece soup is clear and bright, the orchid fragrance is high and long-lasting, it is a high-quality tea, the prince treats his sister really well, unlike your sister-in-law, there are good things to honor his mother, and there is no benefit in front of his daughter-in-law." ”

Let's say, Shen Wanyun lowered her head, feeling sad, Shen Wanzhen guessed that she was probably angry at her in-law's house again, and glared at Qiao Shan, "Sister, sister-in-law is also a simple person, husband and wife have been getting along for a long time, and their temperament and temperament will be understood." ”

Sisters rarely talk about themselves, they are polite when they meet, Shen Wanyun never mentions her mother-in-law's family affairs, she may be in a hurry today, and she is a little nostalgic, "Your sister-in-law is too honest, she listens to my mother-in-law in everything, and when I have a little whisper, he will be angry at me, blaming me for not being filial, and saying how did my parents teach me at home?" Speaking of sadness, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

It is difficult for Qing officials to judge family affairs, and Shen Wanzhen is not easy to participate in other people's housework, and she is usually not kind, she blames Qiao Shan's little hooves, deliberately showing off in front of her, Qiao Shan's little thoughts, she can't see it, the four girls are usually cold to their masters, if there is nothing to do, they will not get along with each other in old age and death.

Shen Wanzhen listened to her pour bitter water, she didn't say what she meant, she didn't ask, and waited patiently for her to speak first.

Shen Wanyun was sad for a while, and when she thought that there was nothing to do here, she suppressed her unhappiness, "My sister came to the palace this time because I have something to ask my sister." ”

Say it, raise your head, and look at her pleadingly, "My father-in-law is Taichang Siqing, there is a bad thing and I was implicated, my mother-in-law asked me to beg my sister, can my sister look at the sisterhood, and ask the prince to say a word for my father-in-law." ”

Shen Wanyun finally mustered up the courage to tell her intentions, and whispered embarrassedly: "I know that my sister is embarrassed, my mother-in-law ordered me to come, and I can't do it." ”

Shen Wanzhen suddenly remembered that the daughter-in-law of the Li family was the niece of Princess Li, and the Li family had accidents again and again, first Shen Wanyun's father-in-law hung up his idle position, and then he was implicated, and the position was not guaranteed.

So he smiled and said apologetically: "My sister probably doesn't know what to do, Prince An doesn't participate in political affairs, and now he doesn't want to take care of the errand of the country's eunuch, it is the emperor's and the queen mother's meaning, reluctantly, and when a monk hits the clock for a day, the prince is not a person who likes to worry about idleness, if I say it, I can only blame me for many things." ”

Shen Wanzhen had clearly refused, Shen Wanyun was arrogant in her heart, she couldn't bear to beg with her face, and a wry smile appeared on the corner of her lips, "I didn't expect to come, but my mother-in-law and husband forced me to come, which made my sister embarrassed, and my sister couldn't help it." ”

Shen Wanzhen saw that she was still reasonable, so she explained sincerely: "It's not that my sister doesn't want to help, it's really that the prince also has a hard time, the court is deep, my sister is in the back house, how much can I know?" ”

Shen Wanyun is smart, and when she heard her say this, she understood.

At this time, Mrs. Yan came in and saw Shen Wanyun squatting and blessed, "Hello Fourth Aunt and Grandma!" ”

Shen Wanyun smiled and said, "Mom, mom's body is still tough?" ”

Mrs. Yan said with a smile: "Thanks to my aunt and grandmother, the old slave is still tough, and he can support and serve our girl for a few years." ”

After Mrs. Yan finished speaking, she turned her head to Shen Wanzhen and said, "The daughter-in-law of the family is going on, let the old slave block the outside." ”

"Just say that I have guests here, let's disperse, let them come back later, if there is something urgent, my mother will call the shots, don't ask me."

Mrs. Yan took the order.

Shen Wanyun was a little uncomfortable, "I'm here to delay my sister's business." ”

"There's nothing to do, it's all trivial things at home, nothing to worry about, my sister is easy to come over, and I'll go back after lunch.

Since Shen Wanyun had finished talking about the business and didn't finish it, it was boring to sit down, so she got up and said goodbye, "My sister has been here for a long time, and the palace is busy with internal affairs, so I won't bother my sister." ”

Shen Wanzhen sent her out of the sedan chair until the middle gate to see her get on the sedan chair.

Shen Wanyun sat in a small sedan chair, although the thing was not done, the mood was more relaxed than when she came, she lived in her mother's house for some days, and her mother-in-law sent someone to pick her up, although it was not her husband who came, Wu was also very happy, there were steps, so she quickly borrowed the slope to get off the donkey, cleaned up, and sent her daughter back to her mother-in-law's house.

As soon as she entered her mother-in-law's house, she didn't expect that what she was waiting for was to ask for someone, Shen Wanyun was full of reluctance, and couldn't put down the shelf, but her mother-in-law and husband insisted, so she had no choice but to go, her sister refused, she felt that this was better, her father-in-law was dismissed from his official position, the Li Mansion was difficult to maintain, the two rooms were separated, and his dowry was enough to live a rich life, and he didn't have to look at his mother-in-law's face in the future.

Shen Wanzhen sent her away and went back to the room, but Zhao Shizhen had come back, waiting for her in the room, and saw her come in and asked, "I heard that your sister is here?" ”

Shen Wanzhen snorted.

"Is it Li Shiqing's daughter-in-law?" Shen Wanzhen nodded.

"Is she here for something?"

Zhao Shijiao usually doesn't talk much, but today he gets to the bottom of it, Shen Wanzhen saw that he was unusual today, so he didn't hide it, and said: "She asked for a personal favor for the Li family, and wanted to ask the prince to say something for her father-in-law, her father-in-law's affairs, the prince also knows the truth!" ”

Zhao Shijiao hummed, "Zhilu Dao" stared at her again and asked, "How do you answer?" ”

"I refused, I said that the prince doesn't care about political affairs and never cares about idleness."

Shen Wanzhen added, "The daughter-in-law of the Li family is the niece of Princess Li. She specially reminded Zhao Shijiao.

The two exchanged glances, tacitly, everyone understood in their hearts that this was very likely to be deliberately done by the emperor, suppressing King Li, showing it to the civil and military ministers, knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger, with Shen Wanzhen's intuition, King Li is a very dangerous person, since she can feel it, as the emperor, he will not be unguarded, this time the emperor suddenly took action to rectify the dynasty, on the surface it is to rectify the rule of officials, but inside I am afraid that I have already planned well.

Zhao Shijiao said in a low voice: "These days, the court is very tight, forming parties for personal gain, nepotism, and the emperor takes the opportunity to dispose of some officials. ”

Shen Wanzhen glanced at the door, and the outside was quiet, and whispered: "Is this an excuse to really want to attack a high-ranking and powerful person?" ”

This is a high position, not to mention that both of them know the Tao, but next, what the emperor will do, and whether the situation will expand, is worrying.

Shen Wanzhen has a bit of hidden worries, King An is far away from the right and wrong of the court, never befriends the ministers of the court, and the foreign ministers are not even touched, but the king's heart is unpredictable, the king is like a tiger, the emperor seems to be a suspicious person, King An is cautious and cautious, and he doesn't know if he can be affected.

A few days later, Zhao Shijiao returned to his home, Shen Wanzhen waited for him to take off his court clothes, and Zhao Shijiao said: "Li Shiqing was dismissed, and this case is widely implicated. ”

Shen Wanzhen thought secretly, this is on the wrong team, assigned to King Li's gang, eliminate dissidents, the imperial power is self-respecting, the wind and rain in the middle of the court, Shen Wanzhen is worried.

When the lantern was in charge, Shen Wanzhen quietly asked Xiuju, "What kind of guests will the prince have in the study in front?" ”

"The master ordered the slave to go through the front study to see, the prince was at the door of the study, not to let people in, the prince was strict, not to say what the guests were, it didn't seem to be from the capital, it looked very mysterious."

"It's been two hours since the prince went to the outer study, I don't know what's going on, and I've been talking for so long?"

Shen Wanzhen looked at the dark night outside, there was not a single star in the sky, and the wind and rain were coming.

Zhao Shijiao came back from the outer study, Shen Wanzhen looked at him with a solemn face, and knew that something had happened to Lu Dao, so he stayed until the evening and put out the candle.

The two of them were lying side by side, their hearts were very heavy, Zhao Shijiao said in a low voice: "I saw someone sent by Princess Jingyi in the study next morning, she got accurate information, someone is collecting evidence of Xiangyang Hou's crime, and intends to accuse him of intending to rebel." ”

Shen Wanzhen was taken aback, "You don't have to worry, Princess Jingyi and the emperor are raised under the queen mother's knees, and she and the concubine will be fine, but Xiangyang Hou will not be spared this time, unless there is an accident." ”

"Xiangyang Hou has the intention of rebellion?" Shen Xuanzhen almost whispered.

"Xiangyang Hou is informal, rude and rude, offended many people, and it is easy to catch him."

Shen Wanzhen thought that such a major secret, Princess Jingyi could know in advance, it seems that Princess Jingyi is by no means idle, too, raised under the knees of the Queen Mother, trained in the deep palace, and is not an ordinary young woman.

Zhao Shijiao seemed to see through her thoughts, "Princess Jingyi also learned by accident that the person who harmed him became a bamboo in his chest, and there was no need to spend a lot of time, and Xiangyang Hou couldn't get rid of it." ”

"Can the prince guess who harmed the Marquis of Xiangyang?"

"The person behind this, I can't guess at present, the Marquis of Xiangyang has a bad temper, but he has an upright temperament, he never hurts people behind his back, he has a straight temper, and he says it in person if he is dissatisfied, others look at him like this, after a long time, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty understand, no one cares about him in general, and he is a foreign minister, and he has no stake in the ministers of the court, and it seems that there is no need to harm him so much, unless it is ......"

"Unless what?"

"Unless you want to take advantage of him and have other plans, I suspect that this person is not here for him, and the person behind this is unfathomable."

Shen Wanzhen said: "The emperor purged the ministers of the court, is it possible that the foreign ministers will also be implicated?" And said: "Could it be that the emperor himself has any ideas?" ”

Zhao Shijiao whispered: "No, the emperor has not yet freed his hand, and he doesn't want to expand the situation, obviously the people behind him want to take advantage of this turmoil to achieve sinister intentions." ”

"And does this man have conclusive evidence?"

"Yes"

Shen Wanzhen gasped, "Intent to rebel, as soon as this case comes out, it will be widely implicated, this is a serious crime to destroy the nine clans." ”

Suddenly, Shen Xuanzhen looked at Zhao Shijiao in horror, "Sister Xu's ......"

"I'm worried about this, Sister Xu is dedicated to the Marquis of Xiangyang, if the matter of the Marquis of Xiangyang comes out, it will inevitably become a sensitive issue, even if it is a small matter, it will give people a handle, and at that time I am afraid that someone will stand up and mention this matter."

Zhao Shijiao paused for a moment, and then said: "Although it can't be said that there must be something, I can't rule out this possibility, now I don't know who is behind the black hand behind Xiangyang Hou, he is a drunkard who doesn't mean to drink." ”

Zhao Shijiao lowered his voice very lowly, "The emperor has always been suspicious, and the harem concubines still don't believe it, let alone brothers, they have always been the target of suppression, but the court has always been worried about internal and external troubles, and the foreign ministers have military power, and the emperor has been able to endure for a long time." ”

Shen Wanzhen knew that the matter was serious, the battle for imperial power had always been cruel, life and death were at stake, and the royal family had no family affection or human affection to talk about.

"What does the prince want to do, now to send away the Xu sisters, but he wants to cover up the suspicion." Shen Wanzhen was very worried.

"I also think so, rather than that, it's better not to move, wait and see what happens, but once the matter comes out, it will inevitably be implicated, the matter can be big or small, the crime of rebellion, the taboo of kings has always been, as soon as this kind of thing comes out in previous dynasties, the emperor will kill on a large scale, and at that time even the queen mother will not be able to stand up and speak, and blame me for being negligent for a while, I should have sent the Xu sisters away."

"If someone deliberately harms you, you can't prevent it, it's not the Xu sisters' business, it will be something else, the wise man will make a mistake in a thousand thoughts, and he can't prevent it for a while."

The two were silent for a long time, and an idea suddenly flashed in Shen Xuanzhen's mind, and said, "Lord Wang, maybe I will take the lead, and the problem of Sister Xu can be solved." ”

"Does the princess want to?"

"The inner house competes for favor, I will be a jealous princess and send the Xu sisters away in a grand manner."

Zhao Shijiao perked up and said, "This is a good way." ”

"Tomorrow, I will come back from the next dynasty and find Wang Wengui to sum up, this matter is urgent, it will be done immediately, you will arrange it as soon as possible."

Wang Wengui first waited for the Queen Mother, who was the most trusted person of the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother sent him to King An's side and instructed him to discuss everything before making a decision.

Zhao Shijiao walked up, and Shen Wanzhen immediately asked Mrs. Yan to come up, and the two closed the door to discuss countermeasures.

Shen Xuanzhen first told the story roughly, and Mrs. Yan knew that this was not a trivial matter of the battle in the inner house, and if it wasn't good, the entire palace was implicated, and said: "The Xu sisters have always been quite honest, and there is no fact of competition for favor, so they must hold the nod and speak,"

Shen Wanzhen said: "I thought about it last night, and the only reason that Sister Xu could say was that I heard Miss Xu crying in the garden that day, and I was homesick for the New Year, but this reason is a little weak, I am afraid that it is too far-fetched and suspicious." ”

Mama Yan thought for a while, "Miss Da Xu is stubborn and not easy to start, the old slave looks at Miss Xiao Xu as if she has affection for the prince, maybe you can start with her." ”

"Mom said that, but what is the basis?"

"The old slave once watched Miss Xiao Xu wait on the way of the prince in the inner courtyard when the prince went down to court every day, and looked at the prince from a distance."

"Is it just once, or is it often?"

"Qiao Shan said she saw it once."

"Why didn't Mom tell me?"

"The old slave saw that the prince was not interested in her at all, she was obsessed, and she couldn't pose a threat to the master, so she didn't take this seriously."

"Okay, when the concubines of the congregation ask for peace, I will make trouble first, give everyone a warning, and immediately pick people up, it is too sudden, and it is easy to make people suspicious."

The master and servant discussed, and Mrs. Yan walked out of the palace and called someone to wait for the princess to freshen up.

At breakfast, all the concubines in the palace came up to say hello and waited in front of them.

Shen Wanzhen glanced at both sides while eating, she came completely, and she didn't ask for leave to be late.

Shen Wanzhen finished eating, rinsed her mouth, and the maid withdrew from the table.

She took the cotton silk handed over by Xiuju, wiped the corners of her mouth, glanced at everyone, and said in a long voice: "I heard that someone is waiting for the prince on the road that the prince passes every day, and wants to pull the prince to her house. ”

Concubines, you look at me, I look at you, look at each other, only Miss Xiao Xu blushed, Shen Xuanzhen's eyes deliberately looked at her, all the concubines were conscious, and they also looked at her in unison, Miss Xiao Xu was red-faced, lowered her head, and was so ashamed that she didn't dare to raise it.

Xue Jin squinted at Mrs. Xiao Xu and smiled, "And this is the case?" As soon as the princess said it today, the concubine opened her eyes. ”

Concubine Han said intently: "Maybe this trick will work, that day the prince read it for the sake of being cold and cold, and pity the fragrance and cherish the jade." ”

Miss Da Xu saw that the princess was embarrassed by her sister in public, and the two of them held guns and sticks, sarcastically and sarcastically, held the sister's hand, the sister's hands were cold, and under shame, she said: "Princess, the prince is passing by, my sister just happened to meet Lu and has no other thoughts." ”

Shen Wanzhen sneered twice, and put the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, "I didn't say it was your sister, Mrs. Xu is so strange." ”

Miss Da Xu's face was flushed when she stared, and she hung her head and said nothing.

Everyone understood that the princess was talking about Mrs. Xiao Xu, and Mrs. Da Xu couldn't hold her breath and confessed herself.

Shen Wanzhen looked at Miss Xiao Xu and said, "Mrs. Xiao Xu has nothing to say?" Your sister said that you happen to meet the prince every day. ”

Miss Xiao Xu's blushing deepened, and she lowered her head and longed for a crack in the ground to get into.

"Stand down!"

The concubines looked at these two sisters and made a joke behind their backs.

When the concubines went down, Mama Yan whispered: "It seems that this Xu sister is still tender, and the princess can't hold her breath anymore when she cheats." ”

"These two are no better than those few, and they are better to deal with."

Zhao Shijiao came back from the morning, and the husband and wife closed the door, "Is the bureau arranged?" ”

Shen Wanzhen took the coat he took off, hung it in the cabinet himself, and "clothed"

"The slave has something to do to return to the master." Outside the door was Wang Wengui's voice.

"Come in!"

Wang Wengui quietly entered the door, and then closed the partition door, and the three of them entered the east room.

Zhao Shijiao told him the general meaning, and then said that the two of them were going to do so.

After listening to this, Wang Wengui thought about it carefully, and said: "The princess's method is good, but just dealing with the Xu sisters is too eye-catching, so that outsiders are easy to show flaws, the princess is jealous, and the prince has many concubines, why only for the two of her, the slave has a sentence I don't know whether to say or not." ”

"Tell me, when is it, it's still spitting." Zhao Shijiao has a happy temperament and does not allow for verbosity.

"The old slave thinks that there should be a concubine who should be sent together with the Xu sisters, so that it will hide people's eyes and ears and will not arouse suspicion."

Wang Wengui looked at Shen Wanzhen again: "But in this way, the princess will become a lion roaring in Hedong, and her notoriety will be on top." ”

"At a critical moment, life is at stake, what is this? If I can turn the palace into safety, I will be worth the name of a wicked woman. Shen Wanzhen immediately expressed her position.

Zhao Shijiao said: "To act specifically, this king believes in the princess, and the princess will watch it." ”

The plan has been decided, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Shen Wanzhen smiled and said: "Send away the prince's concubine, the prince is distressed?" ”

Zhao Shijiao is colored; "They don't necessarily end well with me, not to mention that I have you now."

Shen Wanzhen knew what he meant.

After dinner, Zhao Shijiao went to the outer study, and Shen Wanzhen called Mama Yan into the house and whispered about the three of them to discuss.

Mrs. Yan said, "What is the master going to do?" Why don't you take this opportunity to send a few more concubines from the palace? ”

Shen Wanzhen shook her head, "This time, except for the Xu sisters, I can only pick up one and send it away, let my wife be jealous, send all the concubines, and put the prince where to put it, the movement is too big, which makes people suspicious, not to mention, I am helping the prince to solve the crisis this time, if I seriously take advantage of this matter and make a big fuss, it is not really helping the prince, it is my own selfishness, what do you let the prince think of me, I am not willing to do the thing that hurts people by a thousand and self by eight hundred. ”