The Queen Mother sat on the top, looked at Zhong Yuxiu coldly, and said slightly, "You came to find the mourning family, but it was for Shen Guifei's business?" ”

Zhong Yuxiu frowned respectfully and bowed her head, "Yes." The emperor intended to make Shen Guifei the queen, but the concubine thought that the concubine should not be the queen. ”

"Oh?" The Queen Mother sneered lightly and looked at Yuxiu with interest, "Tell me, what is wrong with her." ”

Yuxiu's eyes were as cold as an abyss, and she said in an uncertain tone, "The queen of Da Chu is not only the master of the harem, but also the mother of a country. ”

The Queen Mother stroked the embroidery pattern on the placket of her clothes, and said with a smile, "It's been many years since I talked about fornication, and the concubine was framed by the Jiang family, so if you explain it clearly, it will naturally be fine." ”

When Yuxiu heard this, her eyes immediately became a little anxious, "But the concubine doesn't believe it, although the Jiang family has the intention to plant the concubine and cover up his crimes." But after all, the jade pendant is in the hands of the concubine herself, and the concubine doesn't believe that there is such a coincidence. ”

The Queen Mother smiled coldly, "The concubine has an affair with the King of Jiangling, you believe it, the mourning family believes it, but the emperor doesn't believe it." Then it just didn't happen. ”

Yuxiu turned her face away, and she was a little more depressed, "The emperor just hasn't seen conclusive evidence yet, if there is this, the emperor will definitely believe it." ”

The Queen Mother frowned slightly, "Do you have any evidence?" ”

When Yuxiu heard this, she let out a long sigh in her heart, "The concubine didn't." ”

"Since there isn't, don't criticize it anymore." The Queen Mother's expression was as pale as a cloud of smoke, and after a long time, she suddenly said softly, "Concubine Shu, since you said that the concubine can't be the queen, then in your eyes, who can be the queen of this great Chu?" ”

This sentence immediately stopped Zhong Yuxiu, she gritted her teeth, but the words came to her mouth but stopped abruptly, and after a while, she said loudly, "The concubine thinks that no one knows the general situation better than Sister Shushen, and takes the overall situation into account." ”

"It's just empty words." The Queen Mother sneered coldly and closed her eyes tiredly, "Empress Li is no longer there, the rear seat can't always be empty, sooner or later there will be a new queen, since you don't have a favorite candidate, don't talk here." ”

After suffering from the Queen Mother's meal, Zhong Yuxiu naturally couldn't swallow her breath in her heart, she looked at the Queen Mother's expression tentatively, and asked boldly, "In the Queen Mother's mind, is there a favorite candidate?" ”

The Queen Mother opened her eyes slightly, with a secret smile on her lips, "The mourning family thinks that Concubine De has a weak temperament, but she is a good candidate." ”

As soon as she heard this, Zhong Yuxiu was almost like a great enemy, and she broke out in a cold sweat. She tried her best to suppress the emotions in her heart, gritted her teeth and smiled, "It turns out that the Queen Mother has already planned, but the concubine is too worried." The queen mother rested, and the concubines retired first. ”

As soon as Yuxiu stepped back, Huizhi walked out from behind the curtain.

She took the teapot and added a little tea to the Queen Mother's cup, Fang Youyou said, "Before the Queen Mother, didn't you also like Concubine Zhong Shu?" Concubine Zhong Shu came to beg you today, Ming'er came for Shen Guifei, but secretly didn't she just want you to recommend her as the queen? ”

The Queen Mother calmed down with a wisp of air, and said quietly, "In the past few years, except for the newly promoted daughter of the Shen family, that is, Concubine Shu, has the most favor. But with Concubine Shu's temperament, if she becomes the queen, she will inevitably make her own son the crown prince, and when the time comes, will Yunke of the mourning family still have a foothold? After finishing speaking, she paused, sighed and said, "What's more, Concubine Shu's mother's family is so powerful, Zhong Ping is an old minister of the Three Dynasties, and his relatives are autocratic, so the mourning family has to guard against it." ”

Hui Zhi bowed her head lightly and said thoughtfully, "But the emperor's intention is to make Shen Guifei the queen." But these days have passed, but there is still no movement, which shows that the emperor's intentions are also uncertain. ”

The Queen Mother smiled gently, but her expression was faint, "The matter of King Jiangling, the emperor is silent on the surface, but he is still taboo in his heart, even if he puts King Jiangling in Lingnan, this knot is still in the emperor's heart." ”

Hui Zhi lowered her eyes slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Then according to what the Queen Mother sees, how should this matter be done?" ”

The Queen Mother smiled faintly, "Then it's up to the emperor himself." ”

The palace incident gradually subsided, but a major event was introduced to Luoyang from the Lingnan region.

In August of the twelfth year of Yongchang, the Lingnan epidemic.

On this day, the emperor was in the Mingde Palace to deal with political affairs urgently, and suddenly heard a whisper outside the door. Chu Luo's heart was immediately displeased, and he raised his voice outward, "What's the matter?!" ”

The person who heard the sound came in was Cheng Dehai, he walked tremblingly in front of the emperor, and knelt on the ground with a plop, "Your Majesty...... The Emperor Wan'an ......"

Chu Luo frowned deeply, a cold glimmer flashed in his eyes, "There is a large-scale plague outbreak in the Lingnan region, don't you still think that there are enough things to do?" What a system of noisy and noisy! ”

Cheng Dehai was so frightened that he was dripping with cold sweat, kowtowed several times in a row, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty...... There was news from Lingnan...... Say...... Say ......"

Chu Luo's tone was harsh, "Say what?!" ”

Cheng Dehai gritted his teeth and said solemnly, "The people over there in Lingnan say that the prince is infected with the plague and is very sick, so he will ...... Fast...... No way......"

Before the words fell, Chu Luo only felt a bang in his ears, and his brain was blank.

Although when he belittled him, Chu Luo himself thought of this weight. But now facing a life-and-death situation, after all, it is a brother for decades, and the brotherhood is how to forget.

Thinking of this, Chu Luo couldn't help but sigh deeply and asked in a deep voice, "Is he very sick?" ”

Cheng Dehai bowed his eyebrows respectfully and replied humbly, "Back to the emperor, although King Jiangling is seriously ill, it is not impossible to cure, but the Lingnan region is barren, and the prince's illness has been delayed again and again, so ......"

"Take him back to Luoyang, I will arrange a place to stay, and order the best imperial doctor to heal him."

Cheng Dehai was shocked when he heard this, "What did the emperor say?" ”

Chu Luo condensed slightly, and his tone was so calm that there was no trace of waves, "I said, bring King Jiangling back to Luoyang." ”

Cheng Dehai immediately bowed his head and said respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty." ”

After that, Cheng Dehai was about to get up and retreat, but suddenly heard the emperor's voice sounding solemnly behind him.

"Spread the news to Taoyao Palace."

Cheng Dehai was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses, bowed down and said, "The slave understands." ”

As soon as Cheng Dehai went out, he saw Shen Changping standing anxiously under the corridor.

As soon as Chang Fang saw Cheng Dehai, he immediately stepped forward, "Father-in-law Hai, what did the emperor say?" ”

Cheng Dehai glanced at him, and said with a straight face, "The emperor has ordered to take the prince back to Luoyang to recuperate." ”

When Shen Changping heard this, he was about to breathe a long sigh of relief, but he heard Cheng Dehai continue, "But the emperor said that he would inform the noble concubine of the news." ”

Shen Changping was immediately stunned, "This is what the emperor said?" ”

"That's still fake." Cheng Dehai looked at Changping squarely, and said silently, "The miscellaneous family still has to pass on the decree, Lord Shen is the brother of the noble concubine, so this matter will be bothered by Lord Shen." After that, he solemnly added, "Please remember Lord Shen that this news must reach the ears of the noble concubine." ”

Shen Changping walked to Taoyao Palace, but hesitated at the entrance of the palace for a long time, hesitating whether to enter or not. At the beginning, the eldest sister was imprisoned in Chonghua Hall for some reason, and Changping didn't know it in his heart. But there is no wind and no waves, since the eldest sister learned that the prince belittled Lingnan, she has repeatedly asked herself to inquire about the news of the prince, and she must have been worried.

Just thinking like this, a bright voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Lord Shen."

Changping turned around and saw that Hanyan had brought a few little palace maids to stand at the moment. Han Yan saw him and greeted him lightly, "I've seen Lord Shen." ”

Shen Changping bowed slightly, "Can the concubine be inside?" ”

With a smile as gentle as the wind, Han Yan said, "The concubine is resting inside, and the slave maid will go in and pass it on." With that, as soon as she turned around, she flashed a way, "Lord Shen, please come here." ”

Before entering the hall, Changping smelled a faint fragrance of peach blossoms, he bowed his hand, and respectfully saluted Chang'an, "Weichen Shen Changping has seen the concubine Niangniang." ”

Chang An smiled slightly, motioned for Wanxiang to step forward to help him up, and said quietly, "Why should Changping be polite?" It's still like when I'm at home, just call me eldest sister. After that, she gently shook the jade fan in her hand, and said casually, "When did Changping enter the palace?" But have you already been to see Changle? ”

Shen Changping suddenly bowed his head, calmed down and said, "When Weichen came to the palace, he had something important to inform the emperor. Fang Cai has already been to Mingde Palace, and asked Gong Hai to tell the emperor. It's just that the emperor wants the concubine to know. ”

Chang'an's heart was shocked, and his expression was quite calm, "What's the matter?" ”

"The Lingnan epidemic, the prince was sick, and according to the emperor's wishes, the prince was allowed to return to Luoyang to recuperate."

Chang'an's face slowly turned cold, and the movements in his hands froze, "How can this be?" ”

Shen Changping replied respectfully, "The plague is raging, Lingnan is the hardest hit area, the prince cares about the people, often asks in person, and sends supplies, at the beginning, it was the people around the prince who were infected with the epidemic first, and then it was given to the prince, the summer heat and humidity in the Lingnan area, the number of deaths is large, the prince is busy treating the epidemic, and his disease has been delayed again and again, and now it is almost ......"

Before Changping's words fell, Chang'an's heart was already agitated, she tried her best to suppress herself and calm down, but tears were rolling in her eyes, "Why is this happening?" Why is the emperor so ruthless, the prince is his own brother, does he still have a little humanity?! ”

"Niangniang, the prince is already on the way back to Luoyang, and we will take care of everything." Changping straightened up, walked to Chang'an's side, and said softly, "Since the emperor knows the news, he still has to tell Niangniang, the intention, please pay attention to Niangniang." ”

Chang An stretched out his hand and wiped the tears on his cheeks, and his face gradually calmed, "The emperor wants to see the weakness of the palace, and the palace will definitely not be able to do what he wants." ”