Shen Wanzhen turned around, walked along the gravel path in the back garden, was with a few men late at night, and it was rumored that it was inappropriate, she was in a hurry to leave, and she didn't know the direction, she walked aimlessly in the back garden, but she couldn't turn around, she was anxious, and suddenly there was a little light in front of her, Shen Wanzhen went up, a string of palace lights, getting closer and closer, it turned out to be a palace person patrolling the night, and the palace lamp carried by a palace person opposite was held high, shining over, and asked, "Which one?" ”

"Zhan Bo's Mansion, I'm lost, how do I get to my father-in-law's Jinhua Palace?"

"It turned out to be outside the palace." The leading eunuch knew that Jinhua Palace held a banquet today, and he didn't think it was unusual, it was easy to get lost in this garden during the day, not to mention the big night.

instructed the two little eunuchs: "You two send this lady to Jinhua Palace." ”

Shen Wanzhen followed the two eunuchs out of the garden, this palace was like a labyrinth, and she couldn't remember the road even if she walked twice.

Entering the gate of Jinhua Palace, the children of Liyuan on the main hall were singing and chanting duels hard, singing a play, Shen Wanzhen listened to it familiarly, as if singing "Dingjun Mountain".

Shen Wanzhen was glad that it was not too late to come back, and Mrs. and Miss came back one after another, probably for a long time, I couldn't sit still, by watching the fireworks, I went out to breathe, Shen Wanzhen came out from behind the curtain, and quietly walked to the seat, Mrs. Zhan saw her, relieved, and asked, "Where did you go?" Just now, I was worried that you were not familiar with this palace, and I was afraid that you would get lost. ”

Shen Wanzhen had no choice but to lie: "Looking at the back garden, this imperial garden is so beautiful." ”

The eunuch palace maid came up, put a few snacks on each table, and Shen Wanzhen took a piece, watching the excitement while eating.

Mrs. Zhan was gossiping with the people on the side, she was not interested in listening to the singing of the children of the pear garden in the main hall, and there were no acquaintances around, she noticed a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl diagonally opposite, the girl looked arrogant, beautiful and noble, did not talk to the left and right, and did not use the snacks on the table in front of her, if the boudoir woman in the hall was the most beautiful, Mrs. Zhan was tired of talking, Shen Wanzhen handed over a cup of warm tea, and took the opportunity to ask: "Mother, whose family is the beautiful woman opposite?" ”

Mrs. Zhan looked at it, "You said Miss Xu, she is the eldest daughter of the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of War." ”

At this time, Miss Xu glanced at her, Shen Wanzhen smiled and nodded, Miss Xu bowed slightly, pulled the corners of her lips, and swept her eyes to the Empress Dowager Guo who was seated, Empress Dowager Guo waved her hand to greet her, Miss Xu with a decent smile, stepped forward, saluted, Empress Dowager Guo took her hand and said something amiably, Miss Xu was dignified and elegant, and the smile on her face was just right.

Mrs. Zhan whispered: "The Queen Mother intends to accept the daughter of the Xu family as Princess An, and the candidates for the concubines on both sides have also been decided. ”

Shen Wanzhen thought of that person, one concubine and two concubines, who accepted three daughters at one time and enjoyed the blessings of all people.

On the south road of the palace, in the Xiuchun Palace, King Cheng and His Royal Highness the Nine, grinding Concubine Cao, Concubine Cao is happy and quiet, the Queen Mother of Jinhua Palace gave a banquet, she only turned, and then returned to the palace under the pretense of the past, and was entangled by the two little princes, and said helplessly: "You asked me to summon Mrs. Zhan to meet, this big night, Mrs. Zhan is eating wine, what to say to someone?" ”

Concubine Cao and the Zhan family are distant relatives, Uncle Zhan's ancestor and Concubine Cao's ancestor are cousins, and Concubine Cao's grandmother is Uncle Zhan's distant cousin and grandmother.

But Concubine Cao and Mrs. Zhan are very close to each other, not to mention the kinship, every time Mrs. Zhan enters the palace, she goes to the Xiuchun Palace to chat with Concubine Cao.

These naughty little princes naturally knew about this relationship, so they asked Concubine Cao to send someone to invite Mrs. Zhan over.

Concubine Cao couldn't be pestered by the two of them, so she had to ask the eunuch to go to Jinhua Hall to invite Mrs. Zhan over according to their wishes.

repeatedly admonished, "Don't let out a moth, if you dare to play this palace, this palace will not be spared." ”

Concubine Cao has a gentle temperament, no son and half daughter, and there is no dispute, therefore, the popularity in the palace is good, when the Empress Dowager Guo is still the queen, she is very close, and she is regarded as a close confidant of the Empress Dowager Guo, therefore, the emperor ascended the throne, was named the concubine, and lived in the Xiuchun Palace.

Mrs. Zhan ate a few glasses of wine, and when she was chatting, a little eunuch hurriedly walked over and knelt in her ear, "Concubine Cao has invited Mrs. Cao." ”

Mrs. Zhan was not surprised, thinking that Concubine Cao hadn't seen her for a while, so she should go into the palace to say hello, so she took advantage of the fact that it was cheap to enter the palace today, so she got up, remembered Shen Wanzhen, and advised: "When I come back, you can play here first." ”

When Shen Wanzhen heard Concubine Cao's invitation, she was not suspicious, and said with a smile: "Mother don't worry, I'm not a three-year-old child, so I can't have an accident, not to mention that the palace is heavily guarded, and not just anyone can enter and exit." ”

Mrs. Zhan was relieved to leave.

Shen Wanzhen watched the excitement while eating refreshments,

After a stick of incense, a palace lady in the main hall sang lowly, her singing voice was tactful, she didn't go around the beam, and she sang very tastefully, and Shen Wanzhen was attracted by her singing.

was listening intently, when someone next to him suddenly whispered: "Is it Mrs. Zhan?" ”

Shen Wanzhen looked up at a eunuch, hunched over, as if in a hurry, with her hands on her forehead to wipe her sweat, Shen Wanzhen looked at him and recognized that this little eunuch was the one who called her mother-in-law away, and nodded, "Yes." ”

"The slave is in the palace of Concubine Cao, Mrs. Zhan just didn't know what she had eaten, she was uncomfortable, she wanted to go back, wait for the young lady in the palace of Concubine Cao, and let the young lady hurry over."

Shen Wanzhen knew that this little eunuch was from the palace of Concubine Cao, so she didn't doubt it, she was worried about her mother-in-law, and she didn't have time to think about it, so she hurriedly followed him out, the little eunuch was in front, Shen Wanzhen was behind, and walked south.

Along the long road, walking quickly, turning around, Shen Wanzhen's soles hurt a little, and asked, "How far is it?" ”

"Just talk." The eunuch replied, but the footsteps did not stop, the front led the left turn into the Shanglin Garden, Wanzhen followed up to find that the ancient trees of the Shanglin Garden are towering, and it is an excellent place to shade and enjoy the cool in summer, but in the winter at night, it is a little gloomy and terrifying, this eunuch is carrying the sheep's horn glazed palace lamp, swaying in the dark, Shen Xuanzhen is more terrifying.

Turning around a rockery next to a sheep's intestine path, the palace lights suddenly disappeared, the faint moonlight through the gaps in the ancient trees overhead, mottled on the bluestone road, broken ground, the shadow of the tree swayed, even more terrifying.

Shen Xuanzhen raised her throat and called softly: "Father-in-law, father-in-law." ”

There was no answer, no footsteps, and the little eunuch disappeared into the darkness without a trace.

There was a terrible silence in Shanglin Garden, only the sound of the wind blowing the dead branches made a terrible sound, Shen Wanzhen looked around, it was pitch black in the distance, Shen Wanzhen held her breath, and did not dare to make a little noise, for fear of attracting something.

When the road was flooded by the night, she looked forward, the black hole, was in a dilemma, where to go, to go back, she looked at the pitch black, no courage, and the garden paths crisscrossed, she couldn't tell the way she came, and she didn't know where to go for a while.

At this moment, suddenly, there was a howl, like a wolf's howl, from far and near, as if coming from above, Shen Wanzhen looked up in horror, the ancient trees above her head were towering, blocking the moonlight, black and faint.

Immediately after, another hiss, which seemed to be above her head and around, followed by one howl after another, Shen Wanzhen suddenly found herself in the wolf's den, in the dark night, surrounded by countless green glowing eyes, staring at her in the dark, ready to pounce and tear her apart.

Shen Wanzhen trembled all over, wanted to run but her legs were weak, she couldn't move a step, her scalp was numb, her heart was beating to her throat, her spirit was extremely nervous, and finally in a frightened hiss, her eyes rolled and she fell to the ground softly.

The hissing stopped abruptly, and a few people jumped out of the shadows, King Anyang rushed forward quickly, squatted, looked at Shen Wanzhen lying on the ground, and called urgently: "Mrs. Zhan, Mrs. Zhan, wake up, wake up." ”

The eunuch came over with a lantern, the palace lamp was bright, and he saw Shen Wanzhen's face pale and her eyes closed, and King Anyang yelled at King Cheng, who was standing aside in a daze: "Aren't you nothing? People were scared to death. ”

King Cheng muttered: "I didn't know that she was so timid, seeing that she was usually sexy, who knew that she couldn't help but be scared." ”

King Anyang didn't care about becoming a king with the seizure, so he hurriedly put his hand under her nose, Shen Wanzhen was angry, and King Anyang shouted: "Hurry up and carry it to the embroidered spring palace." ”

A few eunuchs came up and picked her up and ran all the way, and when they arrived at the Xiuchun Palace, they didn't dare to alarm Concubine Cao in the main hall, and Concubine Cao was talking to Mrs. Zhan.

Bypassing the main hall, quietly carrying her to Concubine Cao's bedroom, and putting her down on the bed, Shen Wanzhen was tossed by them, the person had woken up, heard the voice, and understood in his heart, and was tricked by several princes, but he lay still and pretended to be dead.

King Anyang tested her snort and said to himself, "You are angry, why don't you wake up?" ”

When Shen Wanzhen heard this, she sneered in her heart, making them anxious.

Zhao Shijiao, the king of Anyang, was obviously anxious, walking back and forth on the dormitory, and glanced at Shen Wanzhen lying on the bed for a while, Shen Wanzhen was lying there silently, with her eyes closed, her little face pale, weak, and pitiful.

King Cheng stood with his head bowed, not daring to squeak, and the little ninth prince was so frightened that he didn't dare to look at the third brother's ugly face, for fear that the third brother would vent his anger on him.

Zhao Shijiao walked to the couch, knelt down on one knee, the smart and smiling eyes when he first saw him were gone, quietly, without a sound, boundless fear climbed into his heart, he shook his hands, his fingers were on her thin lips, cold, his low and hoarse voice "You wake up soon, don't play, I admit defeat, you just open your eyes and smile, you want as much silver as this king will give you, you just want a mountain of gold, this king will not frown." ”

Shen Wanzhen's heart moved, these words were so moving, Lord Wang, you know me so well, I really want to open my eyes and ask him if what he just said counts, but he couldn't help it and told himself to wait.

At this time, a eunuch came in and said, "Back to the Third Highness, Mrs. Zhan is going back." "The king of Anyang sent a eunuch to the front hall to keep an eye on Mrs. Zhan, and if there was any movement, he would come back and forth in time.

King Cheng was a little overwhelmed at this time, "Mrs. Zhan will go back in a while, she will not see this woman, and she is still dissatisfied with the palace looking for her. ”

King Anyang stood up and said angrily: "It's all you, you have a bad idea, and you have done a good job." ”

King Cheng was really annoyed when he saw the third brother, and he didn't dare to contradict it, but he was not convinced, and said in his heart: Didn't you object? At this time, I blamed me for the accident. ”

Shen Wanzhen's eyes narrowed, and saw that in the dormitory, Zhao Shijiao kept walking back and forth with his hands in a circle, and the yellow light of the palace lamp reflected his anxious back, without that arrogance and domineering, he wished in his heart.

"The concubine is here." The palace people reported with a bang.

Concubine Cao was helped into the palace by the palace people, and heard the palace people secretly reply that the three princes were in trouble, so she quickly sent Mrs. Zhan over to take a look, and saw a girl lying on the bed, her little face was white, and she closed her eyes and did not move.

was a little panicked, pointed his finger and asked: "This is not the second young lady of Zhan Mansion, why are you lying here, what's going on?" Is it dead? ”

"I'm not dead, I'm still angry, I just fainted." Zhao Shijiao is low and authentic.

Concubine Cao breathed a sigh of relief and asked these people, and King Cheng briefly told what had happened.

Concubine Cao sighed, didn't care about blaming, hurriedly stepped forward to look at Shen Wanzhen, and shouted: "Shen, Shen, wake up, I'm my cousin." ”

Shen Wanzhen listened to Concubine Cao's voice before pretending to open her eyes slowly.

Blankly looking, "Where is this?" Where am I? ”

Pretending to see Concubine Cao at a glance, he grabbed it and shouted in horror: "Cousin, wolf, there is a wolf who wants to eat me." ”

Concubine Cao glanced at her brother with disgust, patted her hand and comforted: "Don't be afraid, this is my cousin's palace, there is nothing to do, there is my cousin and aunt here." ”

Zhao Shijiao saw Shen Wanzhen's big eyes showing deep fear, and grabbed Concubine Cao's sleeve and didn't let go, as if he was frightened, and couldn't help but regret it.

That weakness and helplessness made him feel a pain in his heart for some reason.

Concubine Cao saw that her face was not good, and she didn't dare to alarm the imperial doctor during the New Year, so she hurriedly ordered someone to find two pills to suppress the shock for her to take, and ordered someone to light benzoin to calm her down.

Concubine Cao saw Shen Wanzhen at the palace banquet, because she was a relative, she paid special attention to her, Shen looked weak, soft and weak, and couldn't help but get angry and said: "Such a well-behaved and sensible woman, you princes still come to bully her." ”

These three people didn't speak, they were not convinced, how could the words 'well-behaved and sensible' not press on her, of course, these three princes were also embarrassed to mention the festival with the Shen family, it was too embarrassing, since the Shen family was not publicized, they themselves would not say it outside.

said that Mrs. Zhan returned to Jinhua Palace, walked to the seat, and saw that Shen Wanzhen's seat next to her was empty, wondering, where did this child go? Before I left, I specially told her, don't go there to watch the excitement again.

The next person sitting down was Mrs. Yun Libo and said, "It seems that I heard that your daughter-in-law went to look for you in the palace of Concubine Cao." ”

Mrs. Zhan said in her heart: This child is not worried about me, I haven't come back after a long time, I'm worried that I'm looking for it, she is not familiar with this road, I still go back to the Xiuchun Palace to find her, and we will go back together, anyway, it's not early, and the banquet is about to disperse.

Out of the palace gate sit on the step to the embroidered spring palace, this palace is big, if you go, you can't walk for a while, the road is slippery after dark, Mrs. Zhan is ordered to allow her to walk in the palace.

Concubine Cao was counting this brother, and the eunuch came to report, "Mrs. Zhan is back again, asking to see Concubine Niangniang, saying that she is looking for her daughter-in-law." ”

When a few people heard this, they were startled, looked at each other, and then looked at Shen Wanzhen lying on the bed.

Concubine Cao is also a little embarrassed, this matter is tricky, if Mrs. Zhan knows the way, she will definitely be angry, Uncle Zhan first courted the old ministers, and played the daughter-in-law of the Bofu for no reason, even if Mrs. Zhan endured her anger and did not make a sound, it was rumored that the royal battle was bullying, and the official should play this exhortation.

The emperor and the queen mother knew that she was angry again, and the emperor was stubborn to these brothers, and he had a big headache, and he caused trouble in the new year.

Concubine Cao saw a few people drooping their heads without making a sound, and then looked at Shen Wanzhen on the bed, Shen Wanzhen looked at Concubine Cao's eyes when she looked at her, she knew what she meant, supported herself, and was about to wear embroidered shoes to the ground. ”

Shen Wanzhen didn't look weak on the outside, just to make this brother feel guilty and sad, when she deliberately stood up, she pretended to be dizzy, helped her off the bedpost, and said to Concubine Cao in a soft voice: "Concubine Niangniang, my nephew and daughter-in-law have nothing to do, and my nephew begged Concubine Niangniang not to tell her mother-in-law to know the truth, so as not to worry about my mother-in-law." ”

With these words, Concubine Cao was in the middle of it, and she was afraid that Mrs. Zhan would know that the Shen family was really well-behaved and understanding, and turned her worries into joy: "Okay, don't tell your mother, I'll send someone to send you and your mother out of the palace." ”

When Mrs. Zhan entered the palace, after the king of Anyang hid in the curtain of the dormitory, Shen Wanzhen greeted Mrs. Zhan and shouted as if she had nothing to do: "Mother Lao ran again, it was the daughter-in-law's fault, the daughter-in-law was worried about her mother, so she specially found a eunuch to bring her to the palace of the concubine to find her mother." ”

Mrs. Zhan took her hand and said, "Daughter-in-law, I know that you are filial, so we will go back to the house and disturb the concubine." ”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law saluted and retired.

Concubine Cao hurriedly greeted people, "Send Mrs. Zhan out of the palace." ”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law walked out of the palace gate of the Xiuchun Palace, and Zhao Shijiao stood on the white marble pedestal outside the main hall, looking at the weak back hidden in the dark night, and his heart was a little empty.

"Mrs. Zhan, this daughter-in-law knows how to advance and retreat, and she is a discerning person, otherwise you will be in big trouble today." Concubine Cao praised.

The harem banquet was dispersed, and the queen Li sent the queen mother back to Cining Palace, turned back to Kunning Palace, and the palace maid squatted and played: "The emperor is inside." ”

Empress Li glanced at the lights in the dormitory, a burst of warmth, smiled, and walked briskly into the dormitory door.

In the Xinuan Pavilion, the emperor Zhao Shixian reclined on the couch to read, the bedside glass lamp emitted a bright light, and when he saw the queen come in, he raised his eyes from the book and said: "Leave early today, is the queen mother happy?" ”

Empress Li bent her knees, "The Queen Mother, her old man is very happy today." ”

The palace maid and eunuch waited for the queen's wide clothes, and Empress Li sat on the edge of the kang, next to the emperor, and the two of them were easy to talk.

"The Queen Mother's banquet in the palace has a deep meaning." Empress Li said with a smile.

"How so?" Emperor Zhao Shixian asked with interest.

"The third brother will be crowned during the New Year, he has already established a mansion, and he lacks a princess, presiding over the feed, for this matter, the queen mother has thousands of choices, and she doesn't like it very much, and now I think I am very satisfied with Xu Shangshu's daughter, and the side concubine chose the sister of Jiang Ziqian, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, who is knowledgeable and reasonable, and does not lose her wisdom, and the other side of the concubine is undecided."

The queen mother said to herself, and found that the emperor was a little bit of an ape, and the closest relatives were closer than husband and wife, not to mention that they were small couples, so they naturally knew better than others, and Empress Li whispered: "Mrs. Xu also intends to tie up with the Queen Mother, and she wants her daughter to be the concubine of the Anwang Mansion, and the two hit it off, if the Queen Mother asks for marriage, will the emperor agree or not?" ”

Emperor Zhao Shixian closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, "What does the third brother mean?" ”

"The third brother is very playful, how could he think of this, the family needs the queen mother Zhang Luo, this concubine and the two concubines are both talented and beautiful, and there is no reason not to agree."

The queen speculated, the daughter of Xu Zheng, was afraid that it would not suit the emperor's mind. Only she can guess the secret of this, and no other outsiders can know.

"In this way, when you find out the meaning of the third brother that day, tell me when you are done, he must be willing to get married." There is a deep meaning in the emperor's words, and with the wisdom of Empress Li, he feels what is hidden in it.

"Yes, Concubine Ming'er will ask him."

"I heard that the third brother bought a Zhuangzi for 50,000 taels?" The emperor is the son of heaven, but there are fewer words between brothers.

"I heard Xiao Jiu say that he bought a Zhuangzi in Xishan, and I heard that it was the marriage of the second young lady of Zhan Mansion, but somehow the bid was as high as 50,000 taels, and the third brother agreed."

"Let them be! Under this section, he was rewarded with an extra fifty thousand taels of silver. ”

Li Shi looked at her husband, her husband had many years of experience in the palace, his personality was calm, and his joy and anger were invisible, only she could see that her husband was a little happy.

After the emperor ascended the throne, although he chose three palaces and six courts, he could respect her as the queen, and the husband and wife were very similar.

Empress Li out of a little selfishness, looking forward to the king of Anyang Na Xu daughter as the concubine, the Xu woman is outstanding, there is a family to rely on, if the draft into the palace, it will definitely pose a threat to her, but I didn't expect another thought in her husband's heart, Empress Li is a woman but not a little woman, no matter when, she can take her husband Jiangshan Sheying as the priority, and fight in the harem, compared with the court, there is no doubt that she chooses all righteousness and advances and retreats with her husband. vv, the author has something to say: thank you for your support! I would like to say that there are some seemingly inconsequential places in the text, but they are actually the introduction to the subsequent plot.