After living in the East Courtyard, Gongliang Yuzhi did not leave Ye Xuemei alone in the East Courtyard, he came to see her almost every day and personally asked her about her daily life and diet.

On this day, in the afternoon, Gongliang Yuzhi came to the East Courtyard again with the prison knife as usual. Ye Xuemei was sitting in the room with a chess game, and after seeing Gongliangyu stop coming in, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she said to him: "Lord Wang, I have something I want to ask the prince, I don't know if the prince can agree?" ”

Gongliang replied: "If you have anything to say, the girl will say it's okay!" ”

Ye Xuemei raised her head and glanced at the prison knife lightly, and said, "I want to borrow a few people from the prince!" ”

Gongliang frowned slightly and asked, "Who is borrowing?" ”

"I want to borrow a prisoner and a prison knife!"

Before Gongliang could reply, the prison knife was already stunned, and he replied without thinking: "No! ”

Gongliang Yuzhi turned his head and glared at him, and then said to Ye Xuemei: "Why did the girl borrow the prisoner and the prison knife? Can you tell me why? ”

Ye Xuemei replied: "This matter is a long story, I can't tell the prince right now." But this matter must be for the good of the prince! Please also believe me! ”

The prison knife was resentful at the moment, this woman was clearly deliberately trying to embarrass herself, she knew that this was the case, she might as well have been killed at the inn! He gritted his teeth and stopped at Gongliang: "Don't forget the ancestral teachings, there is only one master in the dark night camp in his life, unless the master is about to die, you can't lend it to others!" ”

Gongliang Yu knew about this ancestral system, and the attitude of the prisoner had already shown that he was very reluctant. Yes, he said to Ye Xuemei quite embarrassed: "Can you change to someone else?" There are a lot of guards in this house, even if it's two people, even if it's twenty, it's for you to deploy! ”

Ye Xuemei shook her head and said, "The prince knows that I know the identity of the prisoners. I don't want ordinary guards. These are all for the king! ”

Ye Xuemei spoke, and Gongliang couldn't refuse, so he said, "Okay!" And they lent the prison knife and the prisoner to the girl. ”

After hearing this, the prison knife immediately retorted: "Lord Wang, the prison knife will never obey the command of others!" Especially this woman who only uses her appearance to confuse the prince! ”

"Presumptuous!" Gongliang stopped his anger and said, "Who gave you the guts to slander the girl so much? If you don't want to, go and get the punishment! Fifty whips, not a single whip is missing! ”

The prisoner's face was very unsightly, but he left anyway to receive the punishment.

After he left, Ye Xuemei said: "Lord Wang, I don't want this whip, the prison knife must have some misunderstanding about me!" ”

Gongliang stopped and said: "No, he disobeyed the command so much, and slandered the girl, how can he not be punished?" ”

After nightfall, Ye Xuemei went out alone, and she didn't let Rong Xiang follow her. It is almost the fifteenth day, and the bright moon in the sky is about to be completed, and the light of the moon is sprinkled on the earth, and it is quiet and peaceful.

She walked to the front of a rockery and saw a lonely figure standing there, looking up at the moon in a daze.

Ye Xuemei walked behind him, and the man turned his head to look at her, the expression on his face was very resentful and disgusted. This is the prison knife, and after being punished during the day, he was in a bad mood and came here. I wanted to be alone and quiet, but I didn't expect to meet Ye Xuemei again!

After seeing Ye Xuemei coming, he gritted his teeth and said to her, "What are you doing here?" You'd better leave now, or I can't guarantee that I'll kill you!" ”

Ye Xuemei did not leave, but walked up to him and said to him: "I know you have a misunderstanding about me, I want to explain." I can't help the things of the day, and you will be punished. But I did this for the good of the king. You can remember what I said to you at the inn that I might be able to help you! ”

The prison knife was quite puzzled, and he said: "Since you came, the prince has been judging the two of you like before, and he just wants to revolve around you, where is there any great cause in his eyes?" ”

Ye Xuemei smiled faintly and said: "The prince is kind-hearted and unwilling to fight for the throne, but he has a dark night camp in his hands, which is destined for him to have to fight." Even if he doesn't fight, I'm afraid Emperor Song won't be able to tolerate him! ”

The prisoner knife didn't know what to do, and asked, "What do you mean by that?" ”

"Since ancient times, the Night Camp has been in the hands of the Emperor. But in the hands of the prince, the first emperor did not pass it to the Song emperor, but to the prince's hands. Do you think that Emperor Song, as the emperor, would still be able to tolerate him if he knew one day that the dark night camp was in the hands of the prince? ”

"But that's what the first emperor meant, does Your Majesty want to embarrass the prince because of this matter?" The prison knife doesn't quite understand.

"Since ancient times, it is difficult to guess the mind of emperors, so it is difficult to say. Although the Night Battalion is brave, it is difficult to compete with the whole country. In case things get out of hand, then the prince will be in trouble! And these things I want you to do are for the good of the prince, that is, to take precautions! I don't know if you want to do such a thing? ”

After hearing this, the prisoner's attitude changed quickly, and he said: "As long as it is for the good of the prince, of course this matter must be done!" ”

After hearing this, Ye Xuemei nodded again and again, feeling a lot of relief. However, the night was as cold as water, and after she suffered a little cold, she kept coughing.

The prison knife looked at her from the side, frowned, and said, "I really don't know what's going on, your body is so weak!" It's so useless! Despite saying this, he still held Ye Xuemei and said, "I'll send you back!" ”

Ye Xuemei looked at him, smiled indifferently, and said, "Then thank you!" ”

On the evening of the second day, the prisoner and the prisoner came to the east courtyard where Ye Xuemei was, and Ye Xuemei told them what they were going to investigate. When the prisoner heard that it was Zha Gongliang's face, he couldn't help but feel surprised in his heart. After hearing Ye Xuemei's analysis of the stakes, he knew it in his heart. Although she was worried, she also did what Ye Xuemei said.

The next morning, after Ye Xuemei woke up, she felt very comfortable all over her body, which she had never felt before. Rong Xiang came in with water and waited for her to wash before telling that it was thanks to Gongliang Yuzhi who brought the best soothing incense in the palace and lit it to make her sleep comfortably this night.

Ye Xuemei heard Rong Xiang say this, and couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion in her heart.

When Rong Xiang was waiting for Ye Xuemei to wash, she mentioned the prosperity of Kaifeng. Ye Xuemei knew that she wanted to go out for a walk. And she also remembered that Gongliang Yuzhi had told her before that it would be the Queen Mother's birthday banquet in a few days, and she wanted to take her with her when the time came. If you want to go together, you must prepare a congratulatory gift, so I agreed to Rong Xiang's words, and went to the street with her after breakfast.

Manager Cai assigned Ye Xuemei a few skilled guards, and by the way, he also asked a small servant who was familiar with Kaifeng City to follow, so that they could act conveniently when they were shopping.

This Kaifeng city is really prosperous, and there is an endless stream of vendors on the street constantly shouting and trading. Compared with the previous Xia Kingdom, it is even better.

Thinking of sending some congratulatory gifts to the Queen Mother, Ye Xuemei thought of finding some agarwood as a gift. The little guy knows that there is a place in this city called Shenmuju, and there are such valuable things that are sold there, so you can go and take a look and choose.

Ye Xuemei took a carriage to the door of Shenmu Residence. Because her appearance was too beautiful and she didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble, she put on a veil and came to Shenmu Ju to choose something.

Among these things, she chose a wooden bracelet, which was extremely delicately made, and each polished bead was inlaid with a very fine gold wire to form a longevity character.

Ye Xuemei has been a talented person for a few years by Emperor Mo Xuan's side, and she has seen a lot of good things. She knows that this bracelet, whether it is the workmanship or the material of the agarwood, is first-class. So she bought the beads.

When they finished buying the bracelet and were about to go back, they were hit hard by a person who came galloping towards them as soon as they went out.

Rong Xiang was muttering dissatisfiedly who walked so unexpectedly, but she didn't know that some people behind her also followed, and kept shouting: "Pick up the money, go pick up the money!" ”

The guard stretched out his hand to stop a man who had gone to pick up money, and asked, "This big brother, where are you going to pick up money?" ”

The man pointed to the front excitedly and said: "It's the front, someone in front is throwing money, you don't know this, don't stop me, I'm going to pick up the money!" After saying that, he hurried away.

Ye Xuemei looked in the direction where the man was running and saw a gorgeous carriage heading towards the main road. There was a beautiful woman in the car who was throwing money down the street.

Ye Xuemei looked at the woman and asked the little guy standing next to her, "Who is this woman?" ”

The little servant looked at the woman and said, "That's the Lord of Changrong, that is, the daughter of the King of Pingyang." ”

Ye Xuemei secretly thought about it in her heart, Pingyang Palace, and the Empress Dowager Wan......

The little guy continued: "Because of the relationship between this Evergreen County Lord and the King of Pingyang, he usually acts arrogantly and domineeringly, and likes to do some things that make people feel disgusted. Presumably today, she must have made a bet with a woman from a clan family to act like this! ”

Ye Xuemei already knew what he was talking about in her heart.

However, in the chaos of the crowd, one child broke out and cried because he could not find his mother. And it just so happened that at this time, the carriage of the Evergreen County Lord had already come to him, blocking her way. She was very angry and yelled at him to leave. The child cried even more fiercely when he heard her loud scolding. She threw a handful of money at him and told him to leave. But children are so young that they don't know what money is for.

The Evergreen lord ran out of patience and drove the carriage towards the child. Seeing that the horse's hooves were about to trample on him, Rong Xiang hurriedly ran over and picked up the child.

The Evergreen County Lord scolded her: "Whose slave did you run away from? Don't hurry up and get out of the way of this county lord! ”

"How can there be such a vexatious person as you in the world? You don't look at it, what if you hurt this child? ”

"If you get hurt, you get hurt, just lose some money, what can you do? Get out of the way, or I'll let you taste my awesomeness!" As she spoke, she didn't know when she pulled out a whip from her waist, stretched out her hand and waved it, seeing that it was about to hit Rong Xiang's body. Several guards of the palace hurriedly stepped forward to take Rong Xiang and the children away from that dangerous place, and they could have escaped the whip of the Evergreen County Lord.

Although Ye Xuemei didn't know the lord of Changrong, she also knew that her father, King Pingyang, was a king with a different surname because of his military exploits during the reign of the first emperor. And her mother is the sister of the Empress Dowager Wan. Her mother, Mrs. Pingyang Wang, gave birth to three sons and one daughter, and she was the youngest, so she was the most favored. Even the Empress Dowager Wan doted on her very much. However, it is precisely because of this that she has developed an arrogant and domineering character, and there have been many accidents in this capital.

"Yo! I didn't expect there to be helpers! The county lord of Evergreen snorted coldly, and when she was about to attack again, Ye Xuemei walked in front of Rong Xiang, and then blessed her body slightly to the county lord of Evergreen, and said: "County lord, this is my girl, I accidentally offended the county lord, and I hope that the county lord Haihan!" When I go back, I will teach her a lesson myself! ”

The Evergreen County Lord stared at her veiled face and said unhappily: "This master is secretive, and the slave and maid are also sharp-toothed!" Since you have no way to discipline your subordinates, then I will discipline them for you! Tomorrow afternoon, lead people outside the county lord's mansion! ”

She was about to leave, Ye Xuemei continued: "The county lord doesn't want me to make trouble about this matter to the Yamen of Jingzhao Mansion, right? If I beat the drum and voice my grievances, I don't know how Jingzhao Mansion Yin will deal with this matter! I think it's still inappropriate for the county lord to do this. The county lord doesn't want this matter to be in the Pingyang Palace, right? ”

Lord Changrong had been so reckless in his previous actions that Empress Dowager Wan reprimanded her, and her mother also warned her. She knew that if this matter was not handled well, it would not be good to get it to the Queen Mother again. Yes, she was jealous in her heart. But her character will not stop there, she continued to snort coldly and said, "Who are you? Do you think I'm scared if you say a few words like that? Let's just bring you into the house together and see how you beat the drum and cry out! ”

Saying this, she was about to come and lift Ye Xuemei's veil, but Ye Xuemei took a step back, making her hand empty.

"County Lord, don't speak, don't listen, don't move! If the county lord tears my veil and sees my face, then he will bear the consequences! ”

Hearing Ye Xuemei speak, she was not like an ordinary woman, and she was already a little jealous of her in her heart. After all, in this Kaifeng City, there are people she can't afford to mess with. She thought about it, so she had to withdraw her hand and say to Ye Xuemei: "Okay, the county lord won't worry about you today, just let your master and servant go!" With that, she turned and got into the carriage and left.

Looking at the back of the departing county lord of Changrong, Rong Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and said to Ye Xuemei: "Thank you really for saving me!" ”

Ye Xuemei looked at Rong Xiang, sighed softly, shook her head, and said, "You, you are reckless in everything, how many times have I told you, you just can't remember it!" ”

At this moment, the child's mother came over, and after seeing that the child was fine, she thanked Rong Xiang and Ye Xuemei, and then took the child back home.

On April 20, the day of the 56th birthday of the Empress Dowager Wan, Ye Xuemei stood outside the Zhaoming Palace with the words of Gongliang, and had not yet stepped into the palace city, but she could already see the palaces in the palace walls. The prosperous Song Kingdom is incomparable to ordinary dynasties.

They walked through the vast palace, with guards patrolling back and forth from time to time. Ye Xuemei silently counted in her heart, and there were actually five patrols.

When the guards saw the good words, they saluted him, and then returned to patrol after he left.

Gongliang Yuzhi pointed to a palace on the top of the Yellow Glazed Tile Mountain not far in front and said, "The front is Ningshou Palace!" ”

Zhaoming Palace is huge, from the palace gate to here nearly three or four miles, so all the way through, really a little tired. Although this period of time has been carefully regulated in King Ning's Mansion, it will still not get better in just a few days.

Gongliangyu stopped and said, "If you are tired, take a break and then go!" ”

Ye Xuemei shook her head, held Rong Xiang's arm, and said, "It's okay, let's go!" ”

All kinds of exotic flowers and plants are planted in Ningshou Palace, and even in this hot weather, there is no trace of wilting.

On the left side of the courtyard, surrounded by a white marble railing, a pond was dug up, and the pond was planted with various colors of lotus flowers.

Ye Xuemei was looking at it intently, when a round-faced female official in her thirties wearing a mint green silk embroidered top and an autumn-colored threaded skirt walked out. Seeing that her dress was more expensive than that of ordinary palace maids, she knew that she must be the person who had a face next to the Empress Dowager Wan.

As soon as the palace maid saw the good words, she immediately greeted her with a smile, and said with a thousand blessings: "The queen mother guessed that Prince Ning must have arrived at this moment, so she asked the slave maid to come out and take a look, but I didn't expect the queen mother to guess accurately!" Prince, please come in! ”

While speaking, when she saw Ye Xuemei, who was dressed quietly on the side, but still couldn't hide the appearance of the country and the city, a touch of amazement flashed in her eyes, and then she said: "Presumably this is Miss Ye!" ”

Ye Xuemei also blessed her body slightly, and said, "Hello aunt!" ”

Ruoqiu nodded with a smile and continued: "The Queen Mother is waiting for a few people inside, let's go in with the slave!" ”

Ye Xuemei and Gongliang Yuzhi and the other three entered the Ningshou Palace. There were already several women in various costumes sitting in Ningshou Palace, talking and laughing, and when they saw Ye Xuemei, their expressions changed slightly.

At the top of the table is a woman dressed in a rusty red silver dress, her black hair is adorned with jade ornaments, calm and elegant without losing her grace and luxury. Although there are fine wrinkles at the corners of the eyebrows and eyes, it can still be seen that she is also a first-class beauty when she is young. In the lower position next to him is a handsome man wearing a nine-bead gold crown, with nine dragons hovering on his bright yellow shirt, there must be no doubt that he is Emperor Song.

After Gongliang stopped saluting the Empress Dowager Wan, the Empress Dowager Wan let him get up with a smile, and then said to a woman on the side: "The mourning family knows that every year on the birthday, the Yuzhi is always the first to arrive!" ”

Ye Xuemei followed her words and saw that the woman was very familiar, and after thinking about it, she remembered that it was the county lord who had thrown money to open the way in the market before.

After finishing speaking, Empress Dowager Wan turned her head to Ye Xuemei and said kindly: "This is Miss Ye!" ”

Ye Xuemei blessed the Empress Dowager slightly, and said: "Xuemei congratulates the Empress Dowager on all blessings, shining with the sun and the moon!" ”

After Empress Dowager Wan said Ye Xuemei's identity, Shi Fenglan saw it here, and when she heard her voice, she was suddenly shocked in her heart, could it be that this woman was the one who stopped her in the market that day? When she turned her head to look at Rong Xiang standing next to her, she expected her guess.

Empress Dowager Wan beckoned to Ye Xuemei and said, "Come, come, come to the mourning family!" ”

Ye Xuemei walked to her side according to the instructions of the Empress Dowager Wan, and the Empress Dowager asked with concern: "What a wonderful person!" It's just that Emperor Xia is so ruthless that he was able to get this hand! Among the Ye clan, are there any still alive? ”

Ye Xuemei replied: "Only my cousin and I are still alive, and the rest of them have all been killed in the ancestral hall on the border of the Xia Kingdom!" ”

Empress Dowager Wan shook her head regretfully and said, "There is a cycle in all kinds of things, and if they act like this, there will definitely be a reward!" ”

Ye Xuemei didn't answer again, but took a delicate box in her hand, then opened it, and said to the Empress Dowager Wan: "This is a piece of the little girl's heart, although it can't be compared with the boutique in the palace, but it is also exquisite, and I hope the Queen Mother will accept it!" ”

Empress Dowager Wan picked up the bracelet and observed it carefully, and found that the workmanship was extremely exquisite, and the wood was also high-quality agarwood. The Queen Mother was overjoyed and said, "I like this gift very much!" ”

However, Shi Fenglan, who was sitting next to the Empress Dowager Wan, saw this, the corners of her mouth twitched, and she said, "Isn't it just a string of bracelets?" It must not be a good thing, those rags dare to show off in the palace! Queen Mother, Feng Lan will definitely be able to find a string of better ones to bring to the Queen Mother! ”

After Empress Dowager Wan heard her words, the look on her face immediately sank and she stopped speaking. The other lady sitting next to her had a somewhat similar appearance to the Empress Dowager Wan, who was the Empress Dowager's sister, Princess Pingyang. When she saw that the Queen Mother's face was not good, she hurriedly scolded: "Feng Lan must not be rude!" After finishing speaking, she said to the Queen Mother: "Queen Mother, Feng Lan has been spoiled by the minister since she was a child, and the minister must educate her well after she goes back!" ”

Shi Fenglan didn't expect that her mother not only didn't help her, but also reprimanded herself, so she was naturally very unconvinced, so she pouted and said, "I'm right, mother, why do you want to reprimand me?" ”

Seeing this, Mrs. Pingyang Wang immediately said angrily: "Say it again!" Go and make amends to the Queen Mother and Miss Ye! ”

Although Shi Fenglan was aggrieved in her heart, she didn't dare to disobey her mother's words, so she walked in front of the Queen Mother, blessed her body, and said, "The Queen Mother forgives her sins!" ”

Empress Dowager Wan waved her hand and said, "That's it!" ”