Gu Zhiyuan was named the town of China after Xue Shao ascended the throne, and he has been on the rise in the DPRK over the years. After quelling the rebellion of King Qin, he won Xue Shao's trust.

As soon as he returned to Beijing, he heard the news that Gu Qian went to Yunzhou to be the magistrate, and he was immediately furious, "Since he insists on doing so, I have the right to treat it as if I never gave birth to this son!" ”

At this time, Cao Xiuhuan on the side came over and stroked Gu Zhiyuan's back, "Master, if you get angry, it's not worth it." You are not the only son of Gu Qian, what point is Xun'er worse than him? ”

Cao Xiuhuan was originally his concubine, and she was corrected after Gu Qian's biological mother Feng passed away many years ago.

Gu Zhiyuan looked at the young man in the wind of Yushu on the side and said, "I didn't expect to see each other for two years, Xun'er has grown so big, don't you learn from your eldest brother." ”

Gu Xun nodded, "The child will not disappoint his father." ”

Cao Xiuwan said: "Master, these days when you are away, Xun'er has been shouting all day long that you want to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions. ”

Although she is already a dignified lady of the Hou Mansion, Gu Xun is still a concubine after all, and Gu Qian is the rightful prince of Zhenguo. Now she has to plan for Gu Xun's future.

Gu Zhiyuan said: "The rebellion in Qindi has just been quelled, and over the years, several surrounding countries have opened well water with us and not violated the river water, how can there be so many battles for you to fight?" ”

Cao Xiuwan smiled and said, "Isn't this true, if there is peace today, how can there be a chance for Xun'er to make contributions and glorify his ancestors." Gu Qian really didn't know what to do, he didn't expect that he would waste the opportunity to enter the palace on an errand, if it was given to Xun'er, he would definitely win glory for our Gu family. ”

When Gu Zhiyuan heard this, he understood what Mrs. Gu meant, "Although Xun'er is my son, he is a concubine after all. He has no fame, and he has no merit, so I have to think about it. ”

"Master, now you are the town of the country. That's one person under ten thousand people, as long as you open your mouth, I'm afraid that the emperor will not give you some face! ”

Gu Zhiyuan also felt quite reasonable when he thought about it, his eggs couldn't be put in one basket, and now that Gu Qian was destroying his future, he could only hope for Gu Xun.

The sun was shining, the sky was cloudless, and a carriage stopped at the gate of the Zhenguo Mansion. The family members of the Gu Mansion knew that it was Princess Yonghe sitting here, so they didn't dare to slack off and hurriedly came over to greet them.

Princess Yonghe's name is Xue Liuli, and because she is Xue Shao's only daughter, she is very favored.

"What did you say, Brother Qian, he's gone?"

Gu Xun stood aside and replied respectfully: "I've been walking for about ten days." ”

"And what did he say to you when he left?"

Gu Xun knew that Liuli had always been in love with Gu Qian, "Big brother, he left in a hurry, and he didn't explain anything." ”

Liuli, who was already very disappointed, suddenly became a little impatient, "That's it, I guess I can't tell you why." ”

She turned around and was about to leave, but Gu Xun stopped her, "Look at my memory, I forgot it for a while." The eldest brother left some gadgets and specially asked me to pass them on to you."

When Liuli heard Gu Xun say this, she instantly became happy, but she didn't forget to say a few words, "You have been so wooden since you were a child, if only you could have half of Gu Qian's cleverness." ”

Gu Xun felt very uncomfortable when he heard this, and his brows tightened, "Princess, you wait here first, and I'll go get it for you right away." ”

And all this made Cao Xiuhuan, who happened to be passing by, look at it, and she talked about it with Gu Zhiyuan that night.

Gu Zhiyuan was also shocked when he heard this, "You said that Xun'er likes princesses?" ”

Cao Xiuhuan whispered, "It's true, today is what I saw with my own eyes." ”

Gu Zhiyuan frowned, "He doesn't know that the princess likes Qian'er?" ”

Cao Xiuhuan's expression was solemn, "Everyone in the entire capital knows it, how can he not know." So that's what worries me as well. ”

"What are you worried about?"

"Gu Qian has been an insurmountable wall in Xun'er's heart since he was a child, if he likes Princess Liuli, I am afraid that according to his temperament, it will cause a big disaster."

Gu Zhiyuan said with a smile: "Madam must be too worried, how can such a good boy be trapped by his children's private affairs?" ”

Cao Xiuhuan was anxious at the moment, "Knowing my son Mo Ruomu, I think he has been a little strange since he was a child, he usually jumps around, and when he sees the princess, he becomes afraid to say much." It wasn't until today that I found out that he was actually in love with the princess. You say, Gu Qian is really, Liuli's intentions for him are well known, and he doesn't say anything about it, if he really doesn't like people, he will say it clearly, so that we can have a chance. ”

Hearing Cao Xiuhuan's words, Gu Zhiyuan became nervous for a while, "You have to talk nonsense, the emperor has his own decision on the princess's lifelong affairs, how can you and I talk about it behind our backs." ”

"What's wrong with the princess, since ancient times, the marriage of this man and woman has paid attention to the orders of their parents and the words of the matchmaker, or will you go to explore the emperor's tone tomorrow?"

Gu Zhiyuan lost his appearance, "A few days ago, I mentioned Xun'er's matter to the emperor, and he promised it well at first, but for some reason it changed later. Now you're suddenly asking me to inquire about this kind of thing, doesn't it make me embarrassed? ”

"Where do you seem to say this from the mouth of a father, isn't this Xun'er your own, is there only one son in your eyes? Why is our mother and son so miserable! Saying that, Cao Xiuhuan began to cry.

Gu Zhiyuan glared at her, "Hugh is messing around, and I'm not afraid that people will see jokes, everything else is easy to say, but this matter needs to be considered in the long run!" ”

Cao Xiuhuan stopped crying at this time, and it seemed that she could only rely on herself in this matter.

Early in the morning of the second day, Cao Xiuhuan dressed up and dressed up and entered the palace.

Cao Xiuhuan looked around and found that there had been no change over the years, the roof of the hall was covered with yellow glazed tiles, inlaid with green trimmings, and the top of the flame beads was in the middle.

In the hall, the cloud top sandalwood is used as a beam, the crystal jade is a lamp, the pearl is the curtain, and the fan gold is the pillar base. There is a huge bright moon pearl hanging on the top of the treasure in the hall, shining brightly.

A graceful and noble woman was sitting in the temple, sipping tea.

She wears a gold silk eight treasures beaded bun on her head, a sunrise five phoenix hanging bead hairpin, and a red gold pan and a red gold ring on her neck. Dressed in a golden cloud fei makeup satin brocade dress, flowers and butterflies; The lower body is dressed in a gold thread yarn skirt, and the phoenix pattern embroidered with gold thread is lifelike.

"Xiuhuan see the queen mother, the queen mother is a thousand years old."

Cao Xiuhuan was originally a maid beside the queen, she has seen a lot of the queen's methods over the years, and since she married into the general's mansion, she has not wanted to have too much contact with the queen.

The queen hurriedly said: "Sister, get up quickly, I thought you were busy dealing with those ladies who came to stammer, but I didn't expect to have time to come to the palace to see me today." ”

"Back then, my Cao family suffered, but thanks to the mother who rescued the slave and maid, I was able to survive. Although she has been married to the Gu Mansion for many years now, the great kindness of the mother and the slave maid are unforgettable. ”

When the queen heard Cao Xiuhuan say this, she felt more comfortable in her heart, "Now that you have been corrected, isn't this slave and maid practicing herself." ”

Cao Xiuhuan said, "Xiuhuan is the queen's mother for one day, and she will be the queen's mother for life." ”

"It's rare for you to have this kind of heart, and I'm very grateful."

Cao Xiuhuan felt that the time had come, so she said in a hurry, "Actually, the slave maid came here today to ask for something. ”

The queen pretended not to know, "You and I have known each other for many years, why do you have to see each other like this." As long as I can help you, I can't say anything. ”

Listening to the queen's words, Cao Xiuhuan seemed to have taken a reassuring pill, so she went straight to the point and said: "Niangniang, I guess you have also heard about Gu Qian." ”

The queen nodded slightly, "I've heard a little." ”

"Who knew that this Gu Qian was so uncompromising, and he didn't want to put a good future, so he had to go to that corner to do something to know the county. For now, I can only pin my hopes on Xun'er, but now I just don't know what errand to arrange for him. ”

The queen said: "Now the emperor attaches great importance to Gu Hou, and it shouldn't be difficult for him to do some errand for Gu Xun." ”

Cao Xiuhuan sighed, "Having said that, but Xun'er is a concubine, with no merit and no merit, and you don't know what my lord is like, I'm afraid that he won't be able to save that face in front of the emperor." ”

The queen nodded, "What you say is not unreasonable, but since you opened your mouth to me today, how can I turn you away, leave this matter to me." ”

After thanking her, the queen looked at the snacks on the table and said, "Recently, the emperor just changed a cook for me, and the craftsmanship is no worse than when you were back, and it just so happens that you are here today, how about you try it?" ”

Cao Xiuhuan tasted it and said: "Crispy and fragrant, with an endless aftertaste." In the entire harem, only the queen mother can get such a favor from the emperor. ”

Hearing this, the queen looked sad, sighed and said, "Alas, even if I am the queen now, what can I do if I am in the middle palace?" In front of the emperor, Yan'er is still not as good as the King of Huai who lost his mother at an early age. ”

The queen has two sons, namely the second prince Wu Wang Xue Yan and the fourth prince Yan Wang Xue Yi. And Xue Ze, the Huai King in his mouth, was born to a concubine in King Zhao's mansion many years ago.

Cao Xiuhuan could hear that the queen was not unintentional, but had something else. After thinking about it, he said: "King Huai has indeed been favored by the emperor a lot in recent years, but in my opinion, the emperor took pity on him for losing his mother at an early age and gave him more care." King Wu was born to the queen's mother, and the emperor naturally has a number in his heart. ”

The queen suddenly smiled embarrassedly: "Oh, you say that I am true, the affairs of this court naturally have to be decided by the men of their previous dynasty, I will tell you what to do with this." ”

After Cao Xiuhuan left, Cuihuan asked, "Niangniang, there is something unknown about the slave maid. ”

The queen put the teacup in her hand on the desk and asked, "Do you want to ask why the Japanese palace tried to persuade the emperor not to arrange a high position for Gu Xun, but today he promised to help her?" ”

Cuihuan nodded, "The slave is dull, and I still hope for the mother's guidance." ”

"If the Japanese Palace allowed the emperor to promote Gu Xun, then how could she ask the palace today?"

Hearing this, Cuihuan had an epiphany, "In this way, she owes Niangniang a favor, or Niangniang, you are more skilled." ”

"Now that the position of the crown prince is vacant, there is already an undercurrent surging in the court. Although there have been rules since ancient times, you have also seen the emperor's attitude towards King Huai over the years. In addition, with the support of the Queen Mother and the Prime Minister, the palace is afraid that something will happen to him. If he can bring the forces of the Zhenguo Hou line over, Yan'er will have a few more chances of winning in the battle for the position of the crown prince. ”

Cuihuan said: "Niangniang, you must be too worried, King Wu is the emperor's concubine." Besides, there are important ministers such as Ning Guohou and Uncle Guo, is it possible that the position of the prince will fall into the hands of others? ”

The queen sighed, "Plan ahead and be prepared." On the road to the crown prince, we must be cautious and step by step, and we must not tolerate the slightest sloppiness. ”