Li Zhen reluctantly accepted Xianfeng's will, and could only accompany Zhilan as much as possible.

According to Han Laiyu, he could only stay in Beijing for more than a month at most, and then he would return to Guangzhou and take his soldiers to Nanjing to suppress the bandits. Because there is not much time left, Li Zhen cherishes this time. The relationship between the two has also heated up sharply during this time, you and I are envious.

At the same time, another small eunuch in the palace arrived at Shangshu Mansion. This time it was not a decree, it was Concubine Yi in the palace who invited Li Zhen and Zhilan to the palace for a banquet.

Zhilan agreed without hesitation, and then the little eunuch went back to report the news first.

Li Zhen and Zhilan returned to the backyard, changed their clothes and prepared for the banquet.

Li Zhen stood in the room, confused, and asked puzzledly: "Zhilan, what kind of concubines are the women in the palace, or the imperial concubine or the queen, when did a concubine emerge?" ”

Regarding the rank of the harem, Li Zhen is not particularly clear.

Zhilan smiled and explained, "Husband, the rank of the women in the palace is divided into queens, which is the highest level, and there is no need to explain. The following are the imperial concubines, concubines, concubines, concubines, nobles, always there, and promised, among which the imperial concubines, concubines, concubines, concubines, and nobles are easy to understand, all of them are the emperor's women, and they also have a certain status. ”

After a pause, Zhilan continued: "Chang Zai is different from promise, she is the lowest level of palace maid, she has no power or power, and it is difficult to rely on the strength of others, and it is almost difficult to come out. How many women have become old palace maids in the palace, and they have not been blessed by the emperor when they die. The one who entertained us was a concubine, who was one level higher than the nobles. ”

Li Zhen frowned and said: "A little concubine has to set up a banquet, there is no grade, so I just don't go." ”

He was very reluctant to go and did not want to go.

First, Li Zhen is a party commander, and he also serves as the governor of Guangdong, is a feudal official in the court, and is a trusted minister of Xianfeng, with great power. The concubines in the palace, the imperial concubines, or the queen's invitations to banquets were just enough, but I didn't expect a small concubine to come to the banquet, which made Li Zhen feel too faceless.

Second, Li Zhen didn't want to take Zhilan to the banquet. Because Zhilan is pregnant with twins, wherever she goes, she looks like an animal in a zoo, and everyone wants to take a look, which makes Li Zhen very disgusted.

He had the heart to refuse, but in exchange for Zhilan's white eyes.

Zhilan said with a smile: "Husband, Concubine Yi's status is indeed not high, but she is the most favored woman by the emperor. After I returned to Beijing from Guangzhou, E-Niang specially told me about the things in the palace, so that I must not offend Concubine Yi, and I must go this time. ”

Li Zhen scratched his head and asked puzzledly, "Who is Concubine Yi?" ”

Zhilan explained: "Concubine Yi is the Yehenala clan, named Xingzhen, who was drafted into the palace at the age of 18 and was given the name Lan nobleman by the emperor. is now a concubine, and with the emperor's favor, it may be possible for the concubine to become a concubine in the harem in the future. ”

"Yehnara! Lan Guiren! ”

Li Zhen muttered twice, a flash of brilliance suddenly flashed in his eyes, and he exclaimed, "Cixi! ”

Li Zhen is not very clear about the hierarchy of harem concubines, but he is clear about this woman who has influenced China for half a century. Cixi was born in Yehenara, and was named a Lan nobleman when she entered the palace draft. With Xianfeng's favor, she gradually became one of the mistresses of the harem, and finally took control of the power of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, pointing to death.

Zhilan was confused and asked, "Husband, who is Cixi?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and hurriedly said, "It's nothing, I just sighed." ”

Zhilan felt that Li Zhen didn't tell the truth, but she didn't ask, and said: "Concubine Yi is waiting in the palace, hurry up and change your clothes, so as not to make people think that we don't respect each other when you go late." ”

Li Zhen thought of the woman who had influenced China for half a century, and he was also a little curious, so he took the initiative to change his clothes, and took a carriage with Zhilan out of Shangshu Mansion and went to the palace. Because of the summons of Yi Concubine, after the carriage stopped outside the palace gate, Li Zhen and Zhilan went directly to Yi Concubine's residence.

At this time, Cixi was just a small concubine, and the palace she lived in was not gorgeous.

Li Zhen and Zhilan arrived, and Concubine Yi took the initiative to greet them at the gate.

She held Zhilan's right hand, with a smile like a spring breeze on her face, and said: "My sister is really favored by God, she is pregnant with twins, and my sister is envious to death." Let's go, go in and say. ”

Li Zhen followed behind and looked at Cixi up close.

She is neither tall nor short, and according to Li Zhen's eyes, she is a little more than one meter six. Cixi's appearance is not exquisite, but it is very coordinated, giving people a well-behaved feeling, and a delicate and clear taste. When Li Zhen saw such a side of Cixi, he felt that this person was a small jasper, and he did not have the feeling of the domineering, arrogant and murderous Cixi.

The group entered the hall, and the banquet had already been prepared in the hall. This time, there was no wine at the banquet, and it was all light vegetables and so on, all of which were made according to Zhilan's taste.

Seeing this, Zhilan said gratefully: "Looking at the table full of dishes, I know that Concubine Yi has put her heart into it." ”

Yi Concubine smiled and said: "I eat relatively light food on weekdays, these are my favorite foods, I don't know if these are in line with my sister's taste." Come, my sister tastes a meatball, which was made by the chef of the imperial dining room himself, and it took a lot of effort. ”

Zhilan immediately thanked her, tasted it, and praised it again and again.

At this time, Li Zhen became a mute and could only sit as a companion. Li Zhenneng could sense Cixi's gaze passing over him from time to time. This woman entertained Zhilan because she wanted to have a relationship with him. After Cixi entered the palace, she relied on herself, and there was no strong official support in the court, and she needed an official to support her.

Her mind fell on Li Zhen and wanted to contact Li Zhen through Zhilan.

During the meal and chat, Concubine Yi didn't say a word to Li Zhen, she talked to Zhilan. When it was time to leave in the end, Concubine Yi just sent Li Zhen and Zhilan away in a decent manner.

This situation made Li Zhen secretly vigilant in his heart.

This woman has a calm personality, can forbear, can bend down, and is not a simple character. The two returned together, Zhilan whispered on the road, and had a very good impression of Cixi, and planned to let Cixi leave the palace to go to Shangshu Mansion for a banquet. Li Zhen doesn't interfere, whatever Zhilan does, as long as Zhilan doesn't have an accident.

……

Nourishing the Heart Palace, Xianfeng is handling official business.

Han Laiyu walked in and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Concubine Yi set up a banquet in the palace and invited Li Zhen and his wife. ”

"Oh, there's something like that."

When Xianfeng heard this, he immediately smiled and said: "Concubine Yi is smart and smart, well-behaved and clear, and she is indeed a sensible woman. I have just ordered Zhilan to stay in Beijing, and Li Zhen must have complained. Now Concubine Yi invited Zhilan and Li Zhen to appease the two of them for me, and she did a very good job. There are so many women in the harem, but she is the only one who has this thought, which is really rare. Well, reward a night pearl, two palace maids, and a hundred brocades. ”

"Wow!"

Han Laiyu bowed down and immediately prepared to go.

As soon as he turned around, he heard Xianfeng say: "Forget it, I don't need you to pass on the decree, I will personally go to Concubine Yi to sit down, and bring the rewarded things over by the way, so as not to mobilize the people." ”

After finishing speaking, Xianfeng got up and left the Heart Cultivation Hall and drove to the place where Cixi was.

ps: first update;