"Concubine Ming'er went to the palace to greet the queen mother," Shen Wanzhen said while serving Zhao Shijiao's wide clothes.

"I'll come with you when I'm free." The two of them went to the kang, and Shen Wanzhen pulled a thin blanket to cover Zhao Shijiao, in early summer, the night was a little cool.

"The queen mother is not a tiger, she can't eat me, don't worry about the prince." Shen Wanzhen lay down close to Zhao Shijiao, she was used to sleeping next to him, she had a sense of security, she gradually couldn't leave him, enjoyed his care, he was there, her heart was very steady, this strange world, he was her only support.

He stretched out his hand to the quilt and held her hand, "What the queen mother says, you just have to listen, don't talk too much, if there is anything you can't agree, you don't have to refute, I will come forward to say to the queen mother, I will let Wang Wengui follow you." ”

"Don't worry, it'll be fine, I can do it alone, even if I ask the queen mother to accompany me every time, I'm too useless."

He hugged her, "I'm afraid that the queen mother will give you anger, you are aggrieved and sad, and the queen mother's temper can I still know how to do it as a son?" ”

Shen Wanzhen smiled, "I only listened to what the queen mother said, but I didn't care, this time the prince should be relieved." ”

The next day, as soon as the sky was bright, Shen Wanzhen poked her head out of the gauze tent, called the maid to serve and freshen up, and Xiuju held a few clothes in her hand, and asked, "Which one is the master wearing?" ”

Shen Wanzhen looked at it and pointed to a light green soft smoke robe, "That's it."

The maid served her to change her clothes, and picked out a pair of soft-soled pearl cloud silk embroidered shoes, "The master is dressed like this, and it looks refreshing and cool." Qiao Shan loves to talk and praises repeatedly.

"I just want to pick a cool one, and when I get to the Queen Mother's Cining Palace, I don't know how much sweat I have." Shen Wanzhen joked to herself.

Dressed up, Shen Wanzhen sat in a sedan chair, went straight to the palace, and when she arrived at the palace gate, the guards did not dare to stop the sedan chair of King An's mansion, and the sedan chair was carried straight into the inner court.

After a stick of incense, he went to the gate of Cining Palace, rested the sedan chair, Wang Wengui said respectfully under the sedan chair, "Please get off the sedan chair princess."

Zhao Shijiao still didn't worry about Shen Wanzhen going alone, so he sent Wang Wengui to follow, Wang Wengui often followed King An in and out of the palace, the eunuchs and guards in the palace were familiar, no one dared to stop him, he went in and out freely, and if there was something, he could leave the palace in time to report the news.

Shen Wanzhen got off the sedan chair, glanced at the two heavy red lacquered doors covered with gilded copper nails in Cining Palace, took a deep breath, and calmly walked up the steps, and the eunuch guarding the door saw her and bowed down, "The slave asks Princess An for peace." ”

Shen Wanzhen said: "The Queen Mother got up." ”

The eunuch bowed down and said with a smile: "The princess came just in time, the queen mother just had breakfast, the princess waited for a while, and the slave went in to pass the ceremony." "Say, go into the palace.

After a while, the eunuch came out, "The Queen Mother invited Princess An in." ”

Shen Wanzhen slowly entered the hall and made a big salute, "The concubine asks for peace to the queen mother"

Empress Dowager Guo's slightly majestic voice sounded above her head, "flat"

"Sitting"

Shen Wanzhen sat down, dared to sit down, and did not dare to sit in the chair, with a straight upper body, a slight hanging head, folded hands, and berevelous.

Empress Dowager Guo's eyes swept towards her, and saw that she was sitting on her back, with a soft line on her face, "The prince is in court?" Why are you coming alone? ”

Shen Wanzhen was respectful and authentic; "After returning to my mother, the prince went to court."

"Well, the prince works hard every day and waits carefully."

Shen Wanzhen owed, "Yes, Queen Mother"

"I heard that you married into the palace, and the palace has changed a lot, saying that you have changed a group of subordinates, and then you took away three concubines, but there is such a thing?"

Shen Wanzhen heard that the Queen Mother's tone was not good, so she hurriedly stood up, and said in a low voice as if she was timid: "Yes"

"I really didn't misunderstand you, okay, you turned the whole palace upside down, it's hard for the prince to be silent, at your mercy, good means, courageous, next the mourning family wants to know what else you plan to do?"

Shen Wanzhen originally just guessed that there was a queen mother in the house, but now she can confirm that the queen mother knows the way clearly, and even a few people know the way, and the queen mother is really powerful.

Shen Wanzhen remembered Zhao Shijiao's instructions, and the Queen Mother just listened to what she said, but the Queen Mother didn't dare not answer when she asked, so she said lightly: "The concubine didn't think about it." ”

"I haven't thought about it, the mourning family doesn't believe it, you didn't think about it, don't you just rely on the favor of the prince and do whatever you want, the son of the mourning family is really promising, let a woman lead the nose, and don't even dare to say anything." The Queen Mother said, her voice was raised and a little sharp.

Shen Xuanzhen had long thought that this move would anger the Queen Mother, but the real situation could not be told to anyone, the other party's details were not clear, and he even knew nothing, and he speculated out of thin air, which was difficult to convince.

The Queen Mother was angry, Shen Wanzhen hurriedly stepped forward, lifted her skirt and knelt down, and asked for the guilt, "Forgive the concubine for acting recklessly, please punish the Queen Mother." ”

"Is it recklessness to act recklessly?" The Queen Mother sneered, "The mourning family also heard that you have been with you all day long, and you are not allowed to go to other side concubines' houses, but is there such a thing?" ”

Shen Wanzhen kowtowed upwards and said, "The concubine doesn't dare"

"So you're saying that there's no such thing?" Mrs. Guo's back sank like water.

Shen Wanzhen kowtowed again, "The concubine doesn't dare"

Empress Dowager Guo sneered a few times, "If you don't dare to prevaricate in the past, the mourning family asks you, since you married into the palace, has the prince ever pampered other side concubines?" ”

"The concubines don't know, the palace is busy with internal affairs, and the concubines are negligent." Shen Wanzhen had no choice but to pretend to be confused to the end.

Empress Dowager Guo suppressed the fire, softened her tone, and said: "It is reasonable that I, as a mother-in-law, should not take care of the affairs in my son's room, but the prince has already reached the crown and has no heirs so far, can I, as a mother-in-law, not be in a hurry?" ”

Shen Wanzhen kowtowed and didn't answer.

"The mourning family sees that you are newly married, and they haven't asked, but you have been married for three or four months, and you are still domineering the prince alone, so you can't say it, do you want other women to be widowed? You go back and persuade the prince to go to the house of another side concubine, do you hear? ”

Shen Wanzhen said meekly: "Yes, the concubine respectfully obeys the decree of the Queen Mother." ”

Empress Dowager Guo saw that she had a good attitude, and kept kowtowing to confess her guilt, and her tone was a little softer, "This is not my decree, it is to tell you how to be a virtuous woman, didn't your mother-in-law teach you at home?" ”

Shen Wanzhen didn't dare to speak out.

"In short, the ugly words of the mourning family are in the head, if you can't give birth, the mourning family will let other women give birth."

Shen Wanzhen lay on the ground, kowtowed and pleaded guilty, "Forgive my daughter-in-law for being incompetent"

Empress Dowager Guo was quite surprised by her performance today, the Shen family was submissive, gentle and submissive, which was very different from the domineering and jealous woman she imagined to be a concubine.

Empress Dowager Guo is like a heavy punch on the cotton wool, how do you feel that it is her evil mother-in-law who oppresses her cowardly daughter-in-law, Empress Dowager Guo's lesson seems redundant, Empress Dowager Guo somehow, she has lost all the skills that her daughter-in-law has practiced for many years.

"Stand down!" Empress Dowager Guo said in her heart that she was teaching her a lesson, and she was just a sentence of pleading.

The Queen Mother finally gave her a favor and let her go, and Shen Wanzhen knelt down.

Walking out of the gate of Cining Palace, she breathed a sigh of relief, went down the steps, walked through the courtyard, walked out of the weeping flower gate, and walked slowly along the palace wall to the north where the sedan chair was parked.

She lowered her head and thought about her thoughts, and persuaded the prince to go to another woman's house, she couldn't do it if she was killed, and she also wanted to have the matter of the heir, but she couldn't have it if she wanted to, she had been married for almost four months, and there was no news, whether the serious illness had an impact on her body when she came over, so that she couldn't get pregnant.

She pressed her lower abdomen, a little worried in her heart, and was walking with her head down, when a clear voice in front of her, "Third sister-in-law"

She looked up sharply and was surprised to see that King Ping suddenly appeared out of nowhere. is walking a meeting, this is really a narrow road.

King Ping wore a silk robe embroidered with gold and bamboo patterns, revealing a delicate silver hollow Suzhou embroidered middle coat, a jade belt around his waist, and a thin silk folding fan with mud and gold.

King Ping bowed freely, "Little brother to meet the third sister-in-law" Shen Wanzhen squatted and blessed, "The prince is good"

King Ping looked at her with a smile and said, "Scolded by the Queen Mother? ”

Shen Wanzhen didn't answer.

"As I said, has Miss Shen ever considered it?" As soon as he opened his mouth to call her Miss Shen, she knew that trouble was coming again.

"Consider what?"

King Ping's handsome face had a cool breath, and he said in a low voice: "What this king said, did Miss Shen forget?" Or deliberately pretending not to know the way, doesn't Miss Shen know the king's thoughts? ”

Shen Wanzhen wanted to look up to the sky and smile, the corners of her lips raised, "The prince is really joking, this is the biggest joke that this princess has heard in her life, the prince doesn't think it's a fool's dream, or deliberately tricking me, I'm sorry, I'm a married woman, I can't afford this kind of joke." ”

King Ping saw that she couldn't help but laugh and wanted to laugh very uncomfortable, a little annoyed, he didn't think it was funny, so he said: "What this king said is true, I feel more and more that I and Miss Shen are more suitable, what King An can give you, this king can also give you, what he can't give you, this king can also give you." ”

Shen Xuanzhen suddenly realized the true meaning of his words, and sneered, "The prince said that it is suitable, how is it a suitable method, am I the same person as you?" ”

King Ping closed the folding fan, tapped it twice on his hand, and said seriously: "Isn't it? This king admires, Princess An shot cleanly, but it's a pity that you followed my third brother. ”

Shen Wanzhen looked at him for a long time, and said coldly: "You arranged all this?" Xiao Gongzi. ”

King Ping slapped his slap twice, looked at her appreciatively, and smiled at the corner of his lips, "Miss Shen is smart, it seems that this king is not wrong at all, it is true that the two of us are more suitable to be husband and wife, this king only believes in one sentence, there is no impossibility in this world, do you dare to think about it." ”

In the June day of Wufang, the surrounding area was filled with a bone-chilling air, Xiao Gongzi was not happy with the king, which made her afraid, this is a person who does not stop until she reaches her goal, she does have similarities with him, that is, that persistence, persistence.

"Why doesn't Miss Shen speak? Do you agree with the king's words? ”

Shen Wanzhen said lightly, "I am a different person from you, I have my principles." ”

"Miss Shen, I am also a principled person, it depends on who is right, if Miss Shen is with me, the two of us are a perfect match, the beautiful woman has seen a lot of this king, Miss Shen's personality votes my temper, and the king's appetite, I believe in my vision, the first time I fight, I have seen Miss Shen's decisiveness, and it proves that this king's judgment is correct."

After King Ping finished speaking, he looked at her deeply, and after a pause, Shen Wanzhen said calmly: "I don't know why you are like this? Maybe you have your reasons, but I just want to live a dull life with the person I love, so our thoughts are very different, King An is my husband, and I am one husband and wife with him, if nothing else, I hope that the fourth emperor brother will not mention it in the future. ”

After saying the last sentence, Shen Wanzhen didn't look at him, and floated away towards the left side of the road, King Ping stood in place, looking at her delicate back, his heart suddenly felt like a needle, this woman is like a person, smart and loyal, the distant years, the memory is indelible.

Shen Wanzhen sat on the sedan chair, the moment she got up, the breeze rolled up the veil, she suddenly saw King Ping standing in place as if he had taken root, it was nearly noon, a beam of sunlight shone into the sedan chair through the mist-like sedan curtain, and Shen Wanzhen's body slowly recovered its heat.

After Shen Wanzhen left Cining Palace, Cui Changhai saw that the queen mother was not worried, and knew why the queen mother was worried, so he carefully smiled and said: "The prince and the princess have only been married for a short time, and the queen mother doesn't need to be too anxious. ”

Empress Dowager Guo gave him a blank look, and said angrily: "Can I not be in a hurry?" How old is the prince, there is no man and half woman under his knees, the mourning family is still waiting to hold his grandson, there are so many concubines in the palace, is there even a grandson no one has the ability to give birth, in the final analysis, it is not the princess's fault, she can't give birth, she should persuade her husband to get close to other side concubines, this is what a virtuous woman does. ”

Cui Changhai grinned secretly, and said in his heart, persuading her husband to go to the concubine's house, how many of them can do it, and those who can do it are also pretending, and they are sincerely willing.

Empress Dowager Guo took a sip of herbal tea irritably, "The prince wants to marry her, and the mourning family can't resist him, but this matter can't be done by his temperament." ”

Cui Changhai saw that the Queen Mother was impetuous, and it was also because of the hot weather, so he hurriedly picked up the fan for the Queen Mother, and said carefully: "But if the prince doesn't want to, it's useless for the Queen Mother to be in a hurry!" "In my heart, your old man can stuff people in his son's room, but the prince doesn't favor anyone, which is the mother's decision.

"Father-in-law Cui" Empress Dowager Guo dragged out a long voice, "The slave is here"

"If you go on a trip, you will say that the prince's birthday is coming, several princesses and side concubines have worked hard, and the mourning family has a few things to reward the princess and the two side concubines of King An's mansion.

"Slaves obey the will"

Shen Wanzhen returned to the palace, the sedan chair was carried straight into the main courtyard door to rest the sedan chair, Wang Wengui hurriedly stepped forward and helped the princess to get off the sedan chair, Shen Wanzhen entered the weeping flower door, bypassed the glazed wall, Fusheng happened to go out, and saw the princess busy saluting, "The slave sees the princess." ”

"The prince is back?"

Fusheng said with a smile: "The prince just came back and waited for the princess in the upper room." ”

Shen Wanzhen walked up the steps quickly, Zhao Shizhen had already changed into court clothes, washed his hands, and waited for Shen Wanzhen to come back for lunch, when he heard the light footsteps at the door, through the bead curtain, Shen Wanzhen's delicate figure appeared, and a smile appeared on the corner of Zhao Shizhen's lips.

"Why did the prince come back so early today?" Shen Wanzhen asked, put her hand on her waist, and curtfell her knees to make a blessing.

Zhao Shijiao stepped forward and grabbed her, across the small square table of yellow rosewood, the husband and wife sat opposite each other, "I'm going to do something today, and I'll come back by the way." ”

Xiuju served the tea, Shen Wanzhen personally held it to Zhao Shijiao, Zhao Shizhen took it, didn't drink it immediately, his eyes flashed, looking at her, Shen Wanzhen's face was calm and waveless, he calmed down, took a sip of tea, and asked: "The queen mother is not difficult for you, right?" ”

Shen Wanzhen picked up the moonlight thin silk beauty palace fan placed on the couch, fanned it lightly for Zhao Shijiao, and said with a smile: "No, the queen mother treats the concubine very well, and the queen mother is a good mother-in-law." ”

Zhao Shijiao looked at her face, paused, and said: "Whatever the queen mother says, you push it on me, don't bear it yourself, if the queen mother asks you for anything, don't accept it easily, and push it on me." ”

Shen Wanzhen nodded obediently, and said softly: "The concubine knows the way." "What the Empress Dowager Guo said, she can't learn it to him, and she won't persuade him to go to the concubine's house, in ancient times, there were very few husbands like Zhao Shijiao who protected his daughter-in-law, and at this point, Zhao Shijiao was worthy of her cherishment.

"Do you want the prince and princess to pass on the rice?" The maid came in and asked.

"Pass the food, I'm hungry too." Zhao Shijiao said.

The husband and wife had lunch, the maids were picking up the table, and Jixiang ran in, "The prince, the princess, the queen mother has a reward, and the princess Cui in the palace is here in person." ”

Shen Xuanzhen looked at Zhao Shijiao, she didn't understand that she saw the Queen Mother for the first time, the Queen Mother didn't say a reward, not only did she not give a reward, but the Queen Mother also attacked her, how could this meal, the Queen Mother's attitude took a 180-degree turn, and she couldn't help but wonder.

was wondering, so I listened to Cui Changhai's unique eunuch's dumb voice in the courtyard and screeched, "The queen mother has a reward, please thank the princess." ”

Shen Wanzhen and Zhao Shijiao walked out quickly, knelt on the ground, and Shen Wanzhen kowtowed, "Concubine Xie and Mrs. Xie will be rewarded." ”

got up, Cui Changhai gave up his hand again, "The slave invites the prince and the princess to be safe."

After saluting and beckoning, the little eunuchs picked up the things rewarded by the Queen Mother one by one.

Cui Changhai said again: "Our family still has to go to the side concubines, and the queen mother also has a reward for the two side concubines." ”

Shen Wanzhen pursed her lips and smiled, "Don't send it to my father-in-law"

Zhao Shijiao's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, the two returned to the house, the maid put the queen mother's reward box on the table, Shen Wanzhen opened it to see, it was all some palace fans, palace pile yarn flowers, and other ornaments, and it was not a special reward, and the two side concubines brought with them clearly meant to raise the two side concubines, and to fight against themselves and suppress the princess of the main house.

Zhao Shijiao held a bag in his hand, his face darkened, obviously he was dissatisfied with what the Queen Mother did, "I will go to the palace to ask for peace in the future, and I will accompany you." ”

"Yes" Shen Wanzhen was obedient, thinking to herself, she was afraid that because of herself, she would affect the relationship between his mother and son, so she didn't need him to accompany her, and would rather be wronged than make his mother and son discordant.

Cui Changhai went to the palace of Concubine Han first, and the two concubines were rewarded separately, which was deliberately done by the Queen Mother.

As soon as Concubine Han heard the queen mother's reward, she hurriedly dressed her skirt, knelt down in the court, Cui Changhai presented the queen mother's reward, and Concubine Han was so excited that she kowtowed to the ground, "Concubine Xie Mrs. Niangniang's reward"

Concubine Han was so shrewd, she immediately understood the Queen Mother's intentions, Cui Changhai said: "The Queen Mother said, the side concubine is hard, the wife Niangniang knows in her heart, our family doesn't say much, and we have to go to Concubine Xue." ”

Xue Jin was quite surprised when she heard that the Queen Mother had a reward, blinked her eyes, figured out her intentions, and was so happy that she hurriedly stepped out of the room, knelt on the ground to receive the reward, "Concubine Xue Knock to thank the Queen Mother for the reward" respectfully kowtowed a few heads.

got up, and thanked Father-in-law Cui, Cui Changhai said with a smile, "Concubine Xue is a smart person, we don't say what the queen mother means, and the concubine also understands that the concubine will serve the prince well in the future, the heir will go up, the side concubine will have a snack, and the queen mother is waiting to hold her grandson!" ”

Xue Jin suppressed her joy and said: "Empress Dowager Xie values it, Father-in-law Xie works hard, and the concubine will not live up to the love of the Empress Dowager." ”