The winter of the seventh year of Zhen'an

The north wind is bitter and the cold wave is rolling.

This year's winter in the capital is exceptionally cold. The wind blew for more than ten days, but there was no snow for a long time.

The strong wind caused panic in the people, and the supply of charcoal in the city exceeded the demand, and the price has been rising.

The furnace of Cining Palace will not be extinguished for twelve hours a day.

Because Meng Xilan's body is cold, it is not easy for her to go out and walk around after the cold. When the weather is fine and the wind is light, she can go to the yard for a short walk, but it will not be more than a cup of tea.

It was late at night, Meng Xilan listened to the north wind whistling outside the window, and couldn't sleep for a long time.

She turned over slightly, not wanting to wake up Zhou Youchen beside her.

However, as soon as she sat up, Zhou Youchen stretched out his hand, went around her neck, gently stroked her earlobe, and said, "Why are you awake again?" ”

"It's too noisy outside." Meng Xilan said softly.

Zhou Youchen also sat up, rested his head lightly on her shoulder, and sighed: "This north wind blows endlessly. I don't know how many more people will be sinned again. ”

Meng Xilan also heard a little about things outside the palace.

"Concubine, I heard that the price of firewood and charcoal has risen dramatically recently."

Zhou Youchen nodded lightly: "Well, those black-hearted traders are trying to take advantage of this cold wind to make a lot of money." ”

The wind in her ears was still whistling, and Meng Xilan was silent for a moment before saying, "The emperor has to think of a way." Don't let the people suffer. ”

"I have ordered a strict investigation of black-hearted private businessmen, heavy fines and severe punishments, and I will never let them cause trouble." Zhou Youchen said in a deep voice.

Those profiteers who only make black money and don't care about the lives of others should not end well.

The wind of smuggling in the capital has risen sharply, not only the price of charcoal and firewood has remained high, but also the price of large leather goods, and even cotton cloth and cotton.

Everyone seems to be going crazy to fight the cold, as if this winter will not pass.

Zhou Youning took Zhen'er into the palace to play, and inadvertently mentioned an interesting anecdote she had heard from the daughter-in-law of the left waiter of the Ministry of Works.

"Recently, the weather is freezing, and when the wives and daughters-in-law of those official eunuchs go out, they all regard fur as a gift of favor."

While speaking, Zhou Youning took the sable shawl she wore today, let Meng Xilan look at it and said, "This is a gift from Zuo Shilang's family, which is said to be worth a thousand gold." ”

"Daughter?" Meng Xilan was slightly startled, and reached out to touch the texture of the shawl, which was smooth and thick, with distinct hair roots and delicate patterns. If you look closely, the stitches on it are all gold threads, with a faint golden color.

"It's really a great thing, but it's just a lot of money."

Zhou Youning nodded slightly and said, "What my sister said is very true, this is all a high price coaxed out of the sky. I really don't like this kind of thing, so I just thought it would be better to give it to my sister. The right is to borrow flowers to offer Buddha. ”

Meng Xilan shook her head with a smile: "This palace can't accept it, this is a piece of other people's filial piety to their sister, and it is so precious." ”

Zhou Youning sighed helplessly: "It is precisely because it is too expensive that I feel troublesome." ”

Reactive power is not punished. When they give such a heavy gift, they must have asked for something.

Meng Xilan looked at her and said, "Sister, if you have anything to worry about, just tell this palace." ”

Zhou Youning pursed his lips and smiled, and only said: "I don't have anything to worry about, it's just that Xianggong seems to be very worried recently." ”

After three years of training in the household department, Meng Xiran went to Youzhou to serve as governor to supervise the management of local bureaucrats. Now, he has returned to Beijing on an errand, although he has become the imperial history of the right capital at a young age, and he has served in the Imperial Procuratorate.

Meng Xiran is young and vigorous, and in less than half a year after taking office, he has thoroughly investigated a large number of people, many of whom he impeached and stepped down, and those who were convicted were convicted and exiled.

It is a good thing that he has done so much for the court. However, his resolute attitude has also offended many people.

"I didn't want to accept these gifts, but anyway, they all turned around and gave them one by one." Zhou Youning looked slightly distressed.

It turned out that these gifts had passed through the hands of Mrs. Meng before they reached Zhou Youning's hands.

What Zhou Youning didn't want was just in the face of the elders' rhetoric, and he really couldn't refuse. After all, she is now Meng Xiran's wife, and she can't only consider herself in everything, but also consider the position of the Meng family.

Meng Xilan lowered her eyes quietly when she heard this.

Grandmother does attach great importance to human relations.

"My sister's thoughts, this palace can understand. Today, the status of the Meng family in Beijing is in full swing. Everyone wants to have a relationship with our family and get some benefits. ”

Zhou Youning saw the shawl put aside, "I understand, human relations also need to be carefully calculated." ”

People come and go with each other, forming a network of common interests.

As she spoke, Zhen'er couldn't help but start to feel a little sleepy.

She opened her little hand and cried, asking her mother to kiss her.

Zhou Youning came to his senses, hurriedly picked her up, and coaxed softly: "Obedient, sleep, sleep." ”

Seeing this, Meng Xilan smiled softly and instructed Jade to take the small quilt and cover her on her body.

"It's good that Zhen'er still clings to you like this."

There was a hint of envy in her tone.

Zhou Youning glanced up at her: "Sister, why did you suddenly sigh?" ”

Meng Xilan said helplessly: "Changsheng doesn't like to stick to me now. He doesn't like to be held, but likes to crawl around on his own. ”

Zhou Youning smiled when he heard this, and he was afraid of waking up Zhen'er in his arms, so he lowered his voice and said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is lively and active, which is a great good thing. ”

"I still like to see him coquettish."

Changsheng is very active, and his strength is getting bigger and bigger.

When coaxing him to sleep at night, he would often curiously grab Meng Xilan's hair, and when his hands were strong, he would often make her cry.

Zhou Youning groaned and said: "If you want to talk about coquettishness, girls are the best at coquettishness." It's better for my sister to have another daughter sooner......"

She finished saying this with a smile, but she didn't know that when Meng Xilan heard this, her heart suddenly sank.

Daughter...... She didn't want to give birth to any more children for herself and Zhou Youchen, but her body could no longer give birth.

Although Jiao Changqing did not tell her bluntly that she should not be pregnant again, judging from the deep meaning between the lines, she is indeed not suitable to be pregnant again.

Zhou Youning saw that she was silent, so he said, "Sister, did I say something wrong?" ”

Meng Xilan shook her head again and again, deliberately leaning lazily on the cushion on the upper side, "No, I'm a little sleepy." As the saying goes, spring sleepiness, autumn and summer napping, but I am different from others. As soon as it gets cold, I don't have much energy. ”

She replied evasively, not wanting Zhou Youning to worry about herself.

Sure enough, Zhou Youning didn't think much about it, but said: "If my sister is tired, my sister won't bother." ”

Meng Xilan hurriedly stopped her and said, "Don't move, the child is still asleep." If there is a cold wind blowing on the way back at this time, what should I do? ”

Meng Xilan kept their mother and daughter, picked up the teacup and said, "It's rare for you to enter the palace, I should accompany you more." ”

The two talked for a while, and it wasn't until it was dark outside that Zhou Youning left with Zhen'er in his arms.

After another three days, the capital finally ushered in the first snow of winter.

This belated snowfall was full of stamina, and it rained for two whole days before stopping.

After the heavy snowfall, the children are the happiest.

They wanted to go to the yard to play in the snow, but Meng Xilan was not allowed, but Zhou Youchen nodded first and agreed.

Meng Xilan wrapped the worry tightly before letting her go to the hospital.

Changsheng is less than a year old, so naturally he can't go outside.

He was wearing a small padded jacket, a tiger head hat, round eyes, and kept blinking and looking out of the window.

The windows were ajar, and he could see his older siblings playing outside.

Changsheng hummed unhappily, his little hand opened slightly, and he pointed out the window.

Meng Xilan saw that he was playful, and hurriedly turned around and looked away from him.

Changsheng was immediately unhappy, twisted his round body, and suddenly spoke: "Sister...... Solution ......"

Meng Xilan was slightly startled, picked him up and looked at his face and said, "My son, what did you say?" ”

Changsheng couldn't speak clearly, and cried: "Explanation...... Jay ......"

He was clearly shouting "sister", yes.

Seeing this, Zhu Lu hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile: "Niangniang, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I have been saying a lot of new words recently. This sister is given to him by His Royal Highness the county lord. ”

Meng Xilan was overjoyed when she heard this, and hugged Changsheng again and again, kissed and kissed. "My baby, it's so smart......"

Zhu Lu echoed: "His Royal Highness the Prince, he is as smart as Niangniang when she was a child. ”

At this time, Changsheng didn't know that they were all praising him, and he looked for his sister with a small mouth aggrieved.

Meng Xilan hurriedly asked Zhulu to call Wuwu in.

Carefree was having fun outside, and the two little faces were red from the cold.

Seeing this, Zhulu hurriedly hugged her little face and said, "Little master, let the slave and maid give you some warmth." ”

Holding a small snowman in his hand, he smiled and said, "This is what I made for my brother." ”

Changsheng saw that he was carefree, and still muttered in his mouth: "Jie Jie......"

With a wave of his little hand, he touched the little snowman and put it in his mouth to taste it.

Meng Xilan grabbed his hand and said to Wu Wu: "He just called you "sister", did you hear that?" ”

Worry-free nodded with a smile: "Well, my brother is very smart, I know I will call me because he likes me." After speaking, she hurriedly leaned over, stood on tiptoe and kissed Changsheng's forehead and said, "Brother, you blame, my sister will make you a little rabbit in a while, okay?" ”

Wuwu turned around and ran out, Changsheng was still staring at his calves in Meng Xilan's arms.

Meng Xilan has been weak recently, and she soon lost her strength. She handed Changsheng to Zhulu and sighed slightly: "This palace is becoming more and more unable to hold him now. ”

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is strong, and the mother naturally has to work harder, so let's coax the slave and maid."

She gently lifted him up as she spoke, smiling in a completely effortless manner.

Meng Xilan sat down and was about to drink tea, but she heard Xiao Chunzi hurriedly report: "Niangniang, Father-in-law Gao asks to see you." ”

Little Lizi? Meng Xilan raised his eyebrows slightly, he should be by the emperor's side at this time.

"Let him in."

Because of the previous incident, Zhulu was a little embarrassed about Gao Fuli in her heart, and hurriedly said: "Niangniang, Xiaolizi Xu has something important to tell you, so ...... The slave maid will take His Royal Highness the Prince to the side hall to play first. ”

Meng Xilan nodded. As soon as she walked on the front foot, Gao Fu walked in on the back foot.

Unlike usual, he looked flustered today, and his steps were messy, as if he had done something wrong.

Meng Xilan stared at him, only to see that he knelt down with a puff and said inarticulately: "Niangniang, please...... Please save the minions! ”