Chapter Sixty-Three: Wait for a Time

Zhong Lishuo walked towards Concubine Jing's Chaohua Palace.

I don't know when this palace has lost the anger of the past, and the more Zhong Lishuo walks, the more lonely he feels. Along the way, there were no other palace concubines to come out to relax, only the eunuchs and palace maids hurried through Yongxiang. Zhong Lishuo walked slowly, and felt more and more that the imperial city he was in was actually a dead city, and there was a kind of dead air everywhere, which seemed to be spreading outside.

The gate of Chaohua Hall is closed. Zhong Lishuo couldn't help but feel strange, and stretched out his hand to push open the palace door only to see that the autumn colors in the courtyard were thick. The yard is full of low flowers and plants, raised in large pots, and the flowers are blooming brightly at this time. The two palace maids were carrying a small bucket of water, and the footsteps of Zhong Lishuo entering the door were soft, but they did not attract their attention.

"What's wrong with this flowering plant?" Zhong Lishuo asked two steps forward. When the two palace maids heard the voice, they turned around and saw Zhong Lishuo, and hurriedly saluted, before slowly replying:

"Back to the eldest prince, Concubine Jing loves flowers and plants on weekdays, but now that the weather is cold, she needs some colored flowers and plants to feel alive." Zhong Lishuo nodded, didn't answer again, turned around and went to the main hall. The two palace maids hurriedly followed, waiting for Zhong Lishuo to use tea.

Zhong Lishuo sat on the side of the desk, taking advantage of the palace maid's leisure time to make tea, raised his head and looked at a large number of furnishings in the hall. The things in Concubine Jing's palace are naturally exquisite, but they don't feel so magnificent. Zhong Lishuo noticed a pot of dwarf pine bonsai by the window of the main hall, a small incense burner was placed next to it, and a few wisps of cigarette smoke were wafting out through the hollow incense burner lid. The soft, sweet smell wafts through the air, but it's very relaxing.

"This incense burner is a good thing, why haven't you seen it before?" Zhong Lishuo asked nonchalantly. The palace maid glanced at the incense burner, and while placing the tea bowl in front of Zhong Lishuo, she said:

"The eldest prince is really a good eye, this incense and incense burner were tributed a few days ago, Your Majesty knew that Concubine Jing liked it, so he sent someone to send it." Zhong Lishuo listened, and his heart was relieved that his mother was still very valued in front of the old emperor in recent days, and he was also a lot more relieved. A smile rose at the corner of his mouth:

"It's really a good thing, and the smell of this fragrance is very special. It's a lot more relaxing to smell. The palace maid also raised her mouth and laughed, and Zhong Lishuo asked again:

"Why is the palace so quiet, why don't you see the ladies in the palace?" As soon as Zhong Lishuo's words came out, he saw that the palace maid who was waiting for her had a little panic on her face, and she pursed her lips vigorously before replying:

"Back to the words of the eldest prince, His Majesty was seriously ill a few days ago, and the concubines in the harem all said that His Majesty would die soon. The queen made a statement about this matter, which angered His Majesty, and His Majesty issued an order that the concubines in the palaces were not allowed to go to see His Majesty privately. The queen was even more ruthless, and there was a word in the harem that the concubines of each palace could not leave their own palaces at will without her permission. What's more, the queen said that all the concubines in the harem had to be buried after His Majesty's death, which only made the people in the palace panic, everyone was in danger, and now no one dares to go out. Zhong Lishuo listened to himself, and his brows furrowed.

It's not that he doesn't know that the queen wants to be majestic in the harem, she was so domineering when she was seriously ill before, if it weren't for the old emperor's thoughts of many years of love, how could her power be so strong, otherwise how could she dare to make such a bold statement. Although the old emperor was old, he was also a diligent person when he was young, and there were not many concubines in the harem, and there were even fewer of them. Among the few princes, only Zhong Lishuo and Zhong Linuo are adults, and the remaining ones are not as old as the weak crown. The queen is like this, it will inevitably cause injustice, but no one dares to say anything.

"You guys go out first." Concubine Jing's voice suddenly sounded behind Zhong Lishuo, Zhong Lishuo subconsciously turned around, and was about to salute, Concubine Jing just waved her hand lightly:

"Excuse me." Zhong Lishuo stood up straight, watched the palace maid exit the hall with the door, and was about to speak, but was blocked by Concubine Jing.

"Shuo'er, I know what you're asking. The mother concubine said that today is also to stabilize your father, and she always has to tell him some good news at this time. Only in this way can you strengthen your position in his heart. You must know that the successor of the country is the most important thing for him. Zhong Lishuo listened and nodded:

"The son understands, but Wen Shumei's pregnancy is a false thing, if it is exposed in the future, and the father will investigate it, this is a crime of deception." Jing Guifei listened to Zhong Lishuo's words, a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth, and a cold snort came out of her nose:

"It is unknown whether your father will be able to survive this winter, and his body will not last much time. What matters now is the crown prince, and as for the matter of the heir, you just have to work hard. Zhong Lishuo heard what Concubine Jing meant, and only nodded:

"Erchen knows. Now that the queen has been grounded, and the prince is like a caged bird, it is best to move him at this time. Concubine Jing picked up the handkerchief and put it in front of her nose to wipe it gently, and lowered her eyes:

"He is naturally like a caged bird, and the more he cares at this time, the more prone he is to make mistakes. You just have to give him a push. Concubine Jing paused for a moment and glanced at Zhong Lishuo, "That's why I said that I was talking about Wen Mei today, and I must make my choice more clearly at this time." ”

Zhong Lishuo understood what Concubine Jing meant, Shangguan Hong pleaded guilty, the queen was grounded, the prince was like an eagle without wings, and the slightest movement at this time could cost him his life, but it was extremely clear that such a thing could not be done by him.

"Erchen understands, but now although the queen is grounded, she has not cut the powers of the six palaces. This is always bad for the mother. Concubine Jing seemed much calmer:

"The queen gave an order, and everyone in the palace was buried with her, which must have made everyone in the harem hate her to the extreme. If I had gone and begged your father for the grace of the Emperor now, I would have had a hard time for the Queen. But now is not the time, and I must make the queen lose even more ugly. Concubine Jing said, feeling a little more gritted teeth.

"The prince's affairs will be handled by the sons." Zhong Lishuo said. Concubine Jing raised her eyes to look at Zhong Lishuo, and there was no smile on the corner of her mouth:

"Now you and I are already riding a tiger, and your father understands it. He doesn't want the country to fall into the Shangguan family, we just need to make a benevolent attitude, and the world will be yours sooner or later. Zhong Lishuo listened, his heart was shocked, but he suddenly had a sense of loss, he began to sympathize with his father, for the sake of the country, the woman lost, and now the woman is united with his son to take his country back. It's like a cycle, which makes people feel a little ironic.

Zhong Lishuo suddenly began to wonder if he would be like this in the future?