"The mourning family heard that the emperor didn't go to the morning court this morning." The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and continued, "It is said that the emperor stayed in Yongle Palace to accompany Concubine Xiao? ”。

"Queen Mother, the son knows that he is wrong! Today, Erchen is really unwell, and he stays in Yongle Palace for Xiao Guifei to take care of. The son assured the queen mother that he would not be an example. Meng Hongyu hurriedly admitted his mistake and defended Ziling, he didn't want her to be punished by the Queen Mother for this.

"The emperor doesn't need to be nervous, the mourning family won't blame you. The mourning family also hopes that within five days from tomorrow, you will continue to go to the morning court and stay in the Yongle Palace. The Queen Mother's words were amazing.

"Erchen didn't hear me wrong, right?" Meng Hongyu was surprised, "The queen mother is called Erchen, don't, don't go to the early dynasty?" ”

"That's right, the mourning family is not a joke." The Queen Mother continued to say mysteriously, "The emperor doesn't need to ask more, just do it." The queen mother will not harm you, it is all for your good. In a few days, you will understand. ”

Although he didn't know what kind of medicine his mother sold in his gourd, Meng Hongyu still did as she said. For the next three days, Meng Hongyu was sick in Yongle Palace and could not go to the early court, and Ren Ziling advised him in every possible way, but he refused to go. Zi Ling saw that his words were contrary to his ears, so he had no choice but to go to Cining Palace to ask the Queen Mother for advice, of course, he also went to show the Queen Mother that he was not Yang Guifei, it was Meng Hongyu who couldn't afford to be sick and didn't listen to her kind advice.

The Queen Mother pushed the boat down the river, saying that she would educate the emperor well, and after five days, Meng Hongyu "listened to the teachings of the Queen Mother" and obediently went to court.

.

Sure enough, after Meng Hongyu "recuperated" for many days, he received a lot of twists and turns as soon as he went to court, some condemned Xiao Guifei for "pampering and arrogant", "fox charm and bewitching the lord", "disaster to the country and the people", "red face and trouble", and also impeached Prime Minister Xiao Cheng for "goddaughter has no way", but no one dared to say that Meng Hongyu, the culprit, "indulged in the arms of gentle country beauties" and "neglected state affairs".

It was already lunch time after the dynasty, and Meng Hongyu went to Yongle Palace for dinner. Zi Ling served him to eat as always, as if nothing had happened.

Meng Hongyu quietly observed her expression, and her impassivity made him curious. Did she not know that she had been accused by the courtiers? Or is it so indifferent that it doesn't mean to be worth mentioning? He finally couldn't help but speak: "Today, in the court, many ministers played the impeachment of Concubine Ai and the fox to confuse the lord, what does Concubine Ai think?" ”

Zi Ling smiled indifferently: "Zi Ling had already expected that things would come to this, and Zi Ling was not worried. On the contrary, if no one stands up to accuse Zi Ling, then Zi Ling is worried?! ”

Meng Hongyu became more and more confused when she heard it, she knew that she was impeached, not only was she not angry, but she wanted to be impeached? Puzzled, he asked, "Why aren't you worried?" ”

"Those who stand up to impeach Zi Ling are all virtuous ministers, there are so many virtuous ministers in the emperor, it is too late for Zi Ling to be happy, how can he be sad? Besides, whether Zi Ling is really a fox to confuse the Lord, the emperor knows very well, as long as the emperor believes in Zi Ling, it is enough, the misunderstanding of the world Zi Ling does not care, let them accuse. ”

In the world of life, who can never be misunderstood and blamed? She really doesn't care about the evaluation of history and the accusations of the world, she only cares about his feelings - as long as he believes her, that's enough, because he is the person she cares about the most.

Hearing her words, Meng Hongyu suddenly felt guilty. This kind woman, she didn't know the plans of their mother and son, and now, she didn't feel wronged and cried when she was infamy, but thought about his feelings about her, her thinking was really peculiar!

.

In the afternoon, Zi Ling was sleeping with her eyes closed, and Yunu sent a letter, saying that it was brought into the palace by Prime Minister Xiao Cheng to Zhanzhan. My father has always rarely entrusted books to himself, I don't know what happened this time? Zi Ling opened the letter and read it under the window:

"Ling'er loves her daughter...... I heard that I had been deeply favored recently, and I was very pleased with my father, but I was relieved and worried...... I hope that the beloved woman will help the king, and do not indulge in the private affairs of the boudoir...... Father and brother are secretly arranging to make the emperor the queen, and at this critical moment, you must be careful every step of the way, so as not to give someone a ......"

It turned out that the father and brother were starting to deploy to make her the queen! They hadn't asked her if she wanted to, so how could they decide her future without taking into account her feelings? Who knows what's really going on in her heart? She just wants to "look back at the bleak place, and there is no wind and rain and no sunshine" (1) to spend this life in peace, and she does not seek fame and profit!

She remembered that morning, when he was lying on her bed, looking at her fixedly, and saying, "I want to make you queen." ”

Could it be that he already knew about her father's and brother's movements, and was quietly testing her? He wanted to see if she was secretly colluding with her father and brother and ambitiously trying to become a queen? So, it was also a strategy for him to stay in Yongle Palace for many days after that and not go to the early dynasty?

He still has a grudge against her, and he is always on guard against her? This man who sleeps beside her every night, the man she will entrust for the rest of her life, has been carefully guarding against her and her family!

The more Ziling thought about it, the more sad and indignant she felt, tears rolled in her eyes, she tried her best to hold back her tears, and went to Cining Palace.

In Cining Palace, the Queen Mother is meditating in front of the statue of Guanyin, the house is lit with fine sandalwood incense, and the smoke is swirling, and the Queen Mother is pious. Knowing that Ziling was coming, she said softly: "Concubine Xiao Guifei also kneel, and pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva with the mourning family, hoping that the emperor can add more heirs as soon as possible." ”

Zi Ling knelt down according to her words, and closed her eyes and meditated like the Queen Mother, however, her heart was mixed, her nose was sour, and tears were always falling, she finally couldn't help but speak: "Queen Mother, the emperor has been criticized for not going to court for many days, and the Queen Mother is benevolent and not punished, but Zi Ling knows that it is difficult to escape the blame." Zi Ling wanted to go to the Baiyun Temple to face the wall for a period of time, meditate on his own mistakes, and blame and punish himself. ”

Baiyun Temple is on the east side of Lengyue Palace and is a secluded Buddhist hall. In the past dynasties, if a concubine made a mistake, she would occasionally be punished to Baiyun Temple to worship the Buddha. Ziling decided to invite herself today, on the one hand, to show the Queen Mother and Meng Hongyu that she had absolutely no ambition to be the queen, and on the other hand, it was also a kind of silent resistance to her father and brother. Because, when he went to Baiyun Temple, he said that he had fallen out of favor, and when his father and brother saw this situation, they might put the matter aside for the time being.

"This matter is not Xiao Guifei's fault, you don't need to punish yourself. Now that you are in the favor of the Holy Grace, you should take the opportunity to add a son and a half daughter to the emperor, if you give birth to a prince, you may become a queen in the future, why waste this good youth and lock yourself in Baiyun Temple? The Queen Mother seemed to be comforting Ziling, and seemed to be testing her.

"Since entering the palace, Ziling has been deeply favored, but he has never been pregnant to give birth to children for the emperor. Zi Ling wanted to go to Baiyun Temple to worship the Buddha devoutly, praying day and night, praying for the Buddha to bless the emperor with many sons and blessings. Zi Ling did not give up until he reached his goal, and continued to show his determination to go to Baiyun Temple. It's just that I don't know her stubborn insistence, does the Queen Mother understand?

"Then it's up to you, you go to Baiyun Temple to meditate for a while, and Yu'er will stay here for a while at the Mourning Family for a while." The Queen Mother understood her determination and was relieved.

.

Concentrate:

(1) Song, Su Shi, "Fixing the Storm"