When Zhao Xu arrived at the Qingshou Hall and stepped into the main hall, he saw Concubine Zhu gently wiping her tears, with a melancholy and bitter face.

At the bottom of her right is an old lady with white hair on crutches, her chin resting on crutches, speaking softly and slowly.

Behind her was a woman of about thirty and seven or eight children by her side.

Zhao Xu glanced at it, a little familiar, but he couldn't remember it.

When Concubine Zhu saw Zhao Xu coming in, she just said lightly: "The official family is here, sit down." ”

When Zhao Xu saw it, he estimated in his heart that it was Xiao Niang's maiden family, but Xiao Niang had been in the palace for nearly 20 years, and it seemed that there was no one in her mother's family.

Zhao Xu walked in with a smile, and the old lady had already gotten up and saluted, "The Qin Zhou clan has seen the official family. ”

Princess Wei behind her hurriedly took the child and saluted: "I have seen the official family." ”

Zhao Xu felt more and more familiar to Princess Wei, and he couldn't think of anything in his heart, so he smiled quietly: "You're welcome, sit down." ”

The old lady didn't look at Zhao Xu, or said more, and sat down.

Princess Wei was a little worried, pulling a group of ignorant children to stand respectfully.

Zhao seems to be 'well-behaved' in front of Concubine Zhu, and they are also honestly standing behind Zhao Xu at this time.

The old lady held the crutches, lowered her head, seemed to be reminiscing and helpless, and said: "The one in our family has been dead for almost five years, and my stomach is not angry, and I only gave birth to two daughters." Fortunately, the Qin family's children still have some courtesy, so they didn't embarrass me. But I seem to be an outsider in the house, Xiao Wu takes pity on me, pick me up and I will come to Beijing to relax, otherwise, I will probably not see my mother in this life. ”

Concubine Zhu looked at Princess Wei and nodded lightly, the expression on her face was almost the same as that of the old lady, and she sighed softly: "Princess Wei is filial, I will rest assured that I will live in Beijing for a few more days." If it weren't for the old lady, not to mention me, even the official family might not have been able to grow up. ”

Zhao Xu sat on the chair, listened quietly, listened to Concubine Zhu's words, and remembered immediately.

It stands to reason that this Princess Wei is Zhao Xu's fourth aunt, and she shouldn't know her. But first, Zhao Xu was very strict with the Empress Dowager Gao before, and he almost didn't see anyone outside. Second, that is, King Wei passed away early, and Princess Wei did not enter the palace many times, especially in the past two years, even if she entered the palace, Zhao Xu had never seen her, but occasionally glanced at some banquets from a distance.

The old lady held the crutches with both hands, shook her head, and said, "The official family is blessed with Qitian, so naturally it is fine." Besides, I didn't help back then, the one in our family was very sick at that time, and he collapsed into bed after a few performances, and I took care of him day and night, but I couldn't survive after all......"

Concubine Zhu's expression was also very silent, and the experience of this old lady gave her a sense of sympathy. She is only thirty widowed, the child is young, but there is the queen mother above, pressing the queen mother, not only has she not had a good life in the past seven years, but she has not even seen the child, and it is only this half a year to keep the clouds open and see the moon.

It's just that this old lady has no children under her knees, and she is the child of the concubine who is in charge of the house, so I'm afraid that life will not be easy.

Concubine Zhu glanced at Zhao Xu and said, "Official, this is the Qin Zhou family, the old lady of Qin, the widow of the late Qin Shangshu, I hugged you in the palace back then, during that time, fortunately the old lady, otherwise the four of us might not be able to survive." ”

Without waiting for Zhao Xu to speak, the old lady slammed her chin on the crutches, sighed, and said, "Niangniang's words are serious." When I entered Beijing this time, I came to Xiaowu filial piety and thought of me. Second, I am a little worried, she has been widowed for many years, and she still has so many children, it is more difficult than me. I don't have long to live, she's still young. Third, I just want to see some old people, people are old, just miss the old, this time I go back, I have to prepare a coffin, it's hard to see again......"

When Concubine Zhu heard this, she was anxious, and hurriedly said: "Where did the old lady say, what do you do when you go back, just stay in my palace!" By the way, what are the official positions of the Qin family? I made an edict to transfer them to the capital, but I will see that under my nose, they dare to treat the old lady badly......"

The old lady was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly, and said: "It's not as serious as Niangniang said, besides, the Qin family has not made a few mistakes, but they have attacked some official positions, and they haven't even passed the imperial examination, so they don't bother Niangniang." ”

Concubine Zhu didn't care, looked at Zhao Xu, and said with a straight face: "Official, did you hear my words?" ”

Zhao Xu's expression did not move, he had been observing Qin Zhou and Princess Wei, I have to say that this old lady's acting skills are okay, from beginning to end, she mentions old things, and looks like she is talking heart-to-heart. But Princess Wei was different, her expression was apprehensive, her eyes were in a trance, and she looked at Zhao Xu from time to time, dodging and dodging.

Zhao Xu was relieved, but he didn't dare to refute Concubine Zhu's face, he groaned slightly, looked at the tangerine peel outside the door, and said, "You go...... Ministry of Industry, let Yang Shangshu take a look and arrange a suitable position. ”

Chen Pi answered, turned and left.

The old lady was stunned, and hurriedly said, "Xie Guan's family." Hey, why bother, Niangniang, I'm not used to staying in the capital. ”

When Concubine Zhu saw that Zhao Xu had arranged, her face eased a lot, and after a while, she seemed to remember something, and sighed lightly: "When the old lady left the palace, I thought, how good it would be if the old lady could stay, I was afraid of myself before, but now I am not afraid, and I hope the old lady will not be afraid......"

The old lady seemed to be touched by the scene, continued to lie on the crutches, and said: "Speaking of the past, it was really not easy for the mother, and it is a blessing to survive until now." I'm a thin one, even with my poor little five......"

Concubine Zhu looked at Princess Wei again, Princess Wei was just thirty years old, but King Wei had been dead for five or six years, and she had been pulling the seven or eight children left by King Wei.

'Not easy. ’

Concubine Zhu nodded silently, panicked for a while, and didn't know what to say.

Zhao seems to understand, Zhao Ji seems to understand whether he understands or not, but he is staring at a few children around Princess Wei, who are about the same age as them, and one or two of them still know each other and have studied together in the palace school.

Zhao Xu has been sitting patiently, this is the old man of Concubine Zhu, he must save face.

It's just that I drank more water in the morning and forgot to go to the toilet, which is a little uncomfortable at this time.

The old lady was silent for a while, and then said, "Niangniang, do you remember the big one in my house?" I used to refuse to listen to me, married a Xiucai, but this Xiucai has not been admitted to the Jinshi, now in his thirties, I haven't read much, the number of concubines is increasing, there are already more than a dozen children, all rely on me to help, every time I come back, cry with me, I am looking worried, but there is no way to ......"

Concubine Zhu nodded sadly and said, "Remember, it's a year older than me...... A woman's life is always not good. ”

Concubine Zhu is not only talking about the old lady's family, but also her, as well as the Empress Dowager Xiang and Empress Dowager Gao in front of her, who are basically middle-aged widows and widows for half their lives.

The old lady continued to speak, and the topic changed from her own family, Yansheng to her sisters, and then connected to Concubine Zhu's house, which caused Concubine Zhu to reminisce and sigh.

Zhao Xu sat on the side, his expression unmoving, but his legs twisted from time to time.

It's okay for him to go to the toilet now, but it will break the atmosphere, which is equivalent to driving away customers.

It is rare for Concubine Zhu to have an old friend visit, and Zhao Xu still has to take care of it to the end.

Concubine Zhu is indeed rare to have an old man, there are a lot of words today, especially outside the palace, sometimes she says more than the old lady, it seems that she misses some people and things very much, and there is a kind of time that has passed too long, things are wrong, and there is no choice but to worry.

Zhao Xu forcibly endured the urge to urinate, and he was also listening quietly, his expression moving.

Concubine Zhu's life is really not good, when Emperor Shenzong was alive, although she gave birth to three children, she faced the suppression of the Empress Dowager, Emperor Shenzong died, and the Empress Dowager above listened to the government and took away her eldest son. Her son is the emperor, but she is still a concubine of the first emperor, and she was reprimanded by the Empress Dowager Gao a few years ago.

This is seven years, and Zhao Xu doesn't know how many things she has suppressed in her heart.

Zhao Xu quietly looked at the little lady who seemed to be talking to herself, and the urge in her heart to add the honor of 'Queen Mother' to her became strong again.

At the same time that the heart is strong, the following is also more anxious.

But the old lady and Concubine Zhu, the more they talked, the more they seemed to have endless words, and Zhao Xu even had a little cold sweat on his head.

If he pees his pants here, he will lose the face of the emperor at all.

After a while, the old lady seemed to suddenly see the sky, stood up a little anxiously, and said, "Niangniang, I also dried some bedding, I have to go back to collect it." ”

Concubine Zhu was stunned, she was still unsatisfied, and she still wanted to chat, so she listened: "Just let the next person pass on the word, stay tonight." ”

The old lady seemed to be a little stubborn, and said with an anxious face: "Niangniang, I'll come back another day." ”

As she spoke, the old lady was about to go out.

Concubine Zhu saw that she couldn't keep her, so she had to send her out.

Zhao Xu stood up and sent the old lady and Princess Wei out.

As soon as they left, Zhao Xu turned around and walked towards the thatched house.

"Official, we're going to Keju." As soon as Zhao Xu took a few steps, Zhao Ji stopped him.

If it was in the past, Zhao Xu would definitely kick it over, and at this moment, there was a spirit in the lower half of his body, and he hurriedly said: "Go, go, go, go." ”

As he spoke, he pushed Zhao Ji away and walked inside quickly.

Zhao Ji and Zhao seemed to care about what happened to Zhao Xu, and ran out with a cheer.

Concubine Zhu wanted to personally send the old lady and Princess Wei out, but was stopped by the old lady, and a group of people left the palace under the leadership of the palace maid and Huangmen.

When Zhao Xu came back comfortably, Concubine Zhu was still sitting on the chair, with memories and emotions on her face.

Zhao Xu walked over, sat down next to her, and said, "Little lady, what's wrong?"

Concubine Zhu came back to her senses, her expression moved, and she suddenly said with a solemn face: "Official, I ask you something, you must promise me." ”

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "Xiao Niang has to say anything, as long as it is not the moon in the sky, everything else is easy to do." ”

Concubine Zhu ignored Zhao Xu's gag, the corners of her mouth twitched, and then said: "Qin Zhou's family and I, as well as your brothers and sisters, are kind, you ...... Can you let them go? ”

Zhao Xu suddenly smiled in his heart, he originally thought that Concubine Zhu was kept in the dark, but now it seems that he knows it.

It's just that it's one thing to know, it's another thing to be emotional.

Zhao Xu didn't make Zhu Taihao unhappy, and turned to the door without hesitation, and said: "Chen Pi, go to the political affairs hall to see if the Qin family, as well as the Zhou family, and the Wei Wangfu are involved, if so, take it out." ”

"Yes." Chen Pi responded, this time, in person.

Concubine Zhu laughed happily, then looked outside the palace gate, and said softly: "I don't know, whether I can see it in the future, the old lady gave me a lot of things, otherwise the four of us may not be able to survive......