On August 17 of the twelfth year of Yongchang, Chu Ying, the king of Jiangling, arrived in Luoyang.

On this day, Chu Luo sent a message and asked Shen Changan to go to Mingde Palace to share dinner.

The person who came to deliver the message was He Sheng. After he explained his intentions, he deliberately whispered a few words to Chang'an, "Guifei Niangniang, the emperor wants you to be the queen, today coincides with the return of King Jiangling to the palace, if the emperor mentions this matter at dinner, Niangniang should be careful." ”

Chang'an helped the long tassel on his sideburns, and a calm and determined smile flashed in his eyes, "Thank you father-in-law for reminding me." ”

Entering the gate of Mingde Palace, Chu Luo was already standing there waiting for her. Chang'an put his hand in Chu Luo's hand and said with a smile, "How can the emperor be interested in dining with his concubines today?" ”

Chu Luo's eyes were firm and gentle, and he looked at her and said, "I haven't seen the concubine for a while, I wanted to go to see you tonight, but it was boring to eat alone, so I sent someone to invite the concubine." ”

Chang An smiled, "The emperor has been going to the palace of Sister Shufei and Sister Xiuyuan these days, how can you still remember the concubine?" ”

Chu Luo smiled and glanced at her, "Chang'an has always been in my heart, why didn't I remember?" ”

Chang An smiled coldly in his heart, and no longer answered on his face, only sat down with Chu Luo.

During the banquet, there were little eunuchs coming in and out to add wine, and He Sheng stood next to him and waited for the cloth vegetables. Chu Luo picked up the shrimp with a jade chopstick and put it in Chang'an's bowl, and said with a warm smile, "The ninth brother has returned to Luoyang today, does the concubine know about this?" ”

Chang'an hesitated for a moment, and quickly regained his former composure, "I heard that the prince was infected with the plague and was very sick, but is that so?" ”

Chu Luo bowed slightly, and said in a deep voice, "The ninth brother is infected with the epidemic and can't live in the palace, I have already allocated the original mansion to him, and I have also instructed the best imperial doctor in the palace to treat him, hoping to get better." After that, his gaze fell on Chang'an's body slightly, with a hint of temptation, "I heard that the concubine and the ninth brother are also old acquaintances, and the ninth brother is seriously ill, so the concubine is not worried at all?" ”

A cold light flashed in Chang'an's eyes, she took the emperor's bowl, served him a spoonful of ginseng soup, and said casually, "Although the concubine has an old acquaintance with the prince, in the end, it is the relationship between uncle and sister-in-law, and you can't go out of proportion." The prince is the emperor's brother, and the emperor is worried about it, but the concubines are worried about the emperor's body, but don't be too sad about this matter. ”

Chu Luo seemed to be extremely satisfied and nodded, but a trace of compassion flashed in his eyes, "There are ministers in the court, saying that I don't care about the safety of my ninth brother and insist on going to Lingnan, which is against the norm. Now that the ninth brother is infected with the plague, it is also my fault in the end. ”

Chang'an's eyes were full of a smile as thin as ice chips, she turned her eyes and said solemnly, "The emperor doesn't know about it, and the emperor has done his duty to take the prince back to Luoyang for treatment, and they don't blame the emperor." ”

Chu Luo shook Chang'an's hand and greeted him with a gentle gaze, "Chang'an, do you really think so?" ”

Chang'an covered Chu Luo's hand with his hand, and said with a gentle smile, "The concubine is the emperor's concubine, so everything naturally has to be for the emperor's sake." ”

Chu Luo's heart was moved, and he stretched out his hand to take Chang'an into his arms, and his heart was filled with layers of surprise, "Chang'an, when you married me in the past, I regretted that I couldn't take you as my wife, and when I entered the palace, I could only give you the position of a virtuous concubine." You are not my wife, but now, you can be my wife. ”

The meaning of the establishment in Chu Luo's words could not be more obvious, Chang'an's consciousness was still clear, she really knew that this position was given to her by Chu Ying in exchange for her life.

In the past, how envious she was that Li Shushen could stand by Chu Luo's side openly. When everyone talks about Chu Luo's wife, they will think of Li Shushen. She, Shen Chang'an, is just a favorite concubine at best.

Now, she was only one step away from the phoenix position, but she was discouraged.

The people around her are different, and that position is just the title of a queen for her.

But on the other hand, she needs this title again, and she needs to let those who are calculating her behind her back get the fate they deserve.

After returning to Taoyao Palace, Chu Luo stayed in Mingde Palace because of his urgent political affairs. Chang'an changed into his bedclothes and was about to rest, when the door outside suddenly opened, and it was a very young eunuch who came in.

As soon as he saw Chang'an, he respectfully blessed himself and said, "I have seen the concubine Niangniang, the slave is the one who serves the king of Jiangling, the prince is seriously ill, and he wants to see the concubine Niangniang." ”

Chang'an glanced at him, as if he was a little unconvinced, "You were sent by the prince?" ”

The little eunuch knelt down all of a sudden, and said in tears, "The slave doesn't dare to deceive the concubine, it's true that the prince is dying, and he wants to see the concubine Niangniang for the last time, so he asked the slave to invite the concubine, and the slave didn't dare to say anything." ”

Chang'an saw that the little eunuch was crying movingly, and listened to what he said, Chu Ying was really sick, and he didn't have time to think about it, so he immediately stood up and changed his clothes.

"Niangniang, there is a path at the back door of the palace, which can lead to the Jiangling Mansion where the prince is located, and Niangniang and the minions will go there."

Chang'an didn't look at him either, but said indifferently, "I know." ”

Before leaving, Wanxiang was repeatedly worried about going with Chang'an, but Chang'an was worried that there would be many people who would make people suspicious, so after thinking twice, he still called Xiaodezi to go with him.

As soon as he stepped through the palace gate, Chang'an suddenly saw the figure of a palace maid flashing in the dark, and immediately realized that something was wrong.

It happened suddenly, just after she had dinner with the emperor, Chu Ying invited her over, how could there be such a coincidence. And according to Chu Ying's temperament, he obviously knew that this was a life-threatening matter, so how could he make such a decision.

Thinking of this, Chang'an suddenly stood still.

The little eunuch who was leading the way in front of him suddenly panicked, and hurriedly said, "Guifei Niangniang, you have to walk a little further before you can get out of the palace." ”

Chang'an's eyes rolled, looked at Xiao Dezi and said, "Go and take a look, see who is hiding over there." ”

Xiao Dezi immediately responded and hurriedly went to the long alley. The little eunuch who led the way was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, and his legs and feet couldn't stop shivering.

After a while, Xiao Dezi immediately escorted a palace maid to Chang'an, Chang'an stretched out his hand to lift her chin, and said with a cold aftersound, "Take it back to the palace." ”

Chang'an sat at the top of the main hall and watched Zhong Yuxiu walk into the hall. As soon as Yu Xiufang saw that it was Lan Xiang and Xiao Hezi kneeling on the ground, she was immediately stunned.

Chang An took a sip of tea, and the corners of his lips were slightly raised, "Concubine Zhong Shu, come and see, these are all people in your palace?" ”

Zhong Yuxiu's face was shocked, and just as she was about to come forward to explain, Chang'an poured all the tea in her hand on her face.

"Don't be afraid, this tea is warm, and this palace is reluctant to ruin your face."

Chang'an's face smiled leisurely, but there was only a cold coldness in his eyes, "Let this palace guess, do you want Lan Xiang to look at this palace, and when this palace sees the prince, you can bring the emperor up, you can sue this palace for fornication?" ”

Zhong Yuxiu sneered, and looked directly at Chang'an Dao angrily, "You and the prince have a private relationship, are you afraid that people will know?" ”

Chang An glanced at her deeply, and a smug smile rose at the corner of his lips, "That was also framed by you." After that, Chang'an's gaze swept coldly from Lan Xiang's body, and said contemptuously, "Lan Xiang, you have been with your master for the longest time, what else does she have in mind, tell this palace to listen, if you spit it out clearly, this palace can still save your life." ”

When Zhong Yuxiu heard this, she immediately turned her head and glared at Lan Xiang, "Lan Xiang! ”

Chang An glanced at her lightly, "Come on, show Concubine Shu." ”

"Shen Chang'an!"

"Concubine Shu, sit down there, don't hear something you shouldn't hear in a while, and then fall off the seat."

With a lazy smile on his face, Chang An raised his hand and motioned for the two aunts to press Zhong Yuxiu's shoulders and sit down.

Lan Xiang's face was sad, tears mixed with sweat had already covered her entire forehead, but the tears in her eyes were still rolling around, "I beg the concubine to spare my life, I beg the concubine to spare my life......"

"Orchid! This palace treats you well on weekdays, you can't slander this palace! Zhong Yuxiu's eyes were full of anger, and she stared at Lan Xiang with hatred.

"Lan Xiang, you have to think about it yourself." Chang'an smiled faintly, looked at her and said, "If you say it here, this palace can avoid Concubine Shu and let you live, if you don't say it, even if you have the fate to get out of this Taoyao Palace, your master will definitely think that you vomited something, and you will not leave you alive." ”

Lan Xiang choked with tears, fell on the ground and kept kowtowing, "I said, I said, I said everything, the Jiang family's framing of the concubine Niangniang before was actually the ...... of the concubine Niangniang."

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Before she finished speaking, Zhong Yuxiu's face had already been slapped heavily. Shen Changan's slap was accurate and hard, Zhong Yuxiu was caught off guard and fell to the ground all of a sudden.

She covered half of her face, and tears fell, "Shen Changan, you are simply a poisonous woman!" Poisonous woman! ”

"No matter how poisonous it is, it can't poison you." Chang'an pinched Zhong Yuxiu's chin fiercely, looked at her and said, "How did you get favored in the first place, do you remember it yourself?" That pot of begonias, you also made your hands and feet, right? How many unsightly things have you done, let Lan Xiang explain it all today! ”

Zhong Yuxiu turned her head in disbelief, her eyes full of tears, "Lanxiang, you ......"

"Concubine Niangniang, Concubine Niangniang, no more, Concubine Niangniang really hasn't done anything, Concubine Niangniang, do you believe in slaves......" Lan Xiang walked to the feet of Chang'an, desperately grabbed the corner of the hem of her clothes, and cried out bitterly.

Chang An glanced at her and turned away in annoyance, "Since you spit out clearly, you can't say anything more." With that, she commanded instead, "Evening fragrance." ”

"The slave is here."

"Give her the medicine and send it out of the palace."

When Lan Xiang heard this, she immediately cried out, "Don't want the concubine, please be gracious!" ”

"It's not the medicine that killed you." Chang'an smiled slightly, "You are too good at talking, and it is grace for this palace to leave you with a life." ”

After finishing speaking, Chang'an's eyes fell on the little eunuch, "As for this little eunuch, drag it out, find a place where no one is around, and beat him to death." ”

Xiao Hezi immediately collapsed on the ground, as if he didn't even have the instinct to survive, so he had to look at Zhong Yuxiu stupidly, trying that she could save his life.

Seeing that Xiao Hezi was being dragged farther and farther away, Zhong Yuxiu's face turned white little by little.

Chang An maintained a light smile on his face, and suddenly flashed a trace of contemptuous pride, "After making trouble all night, Concubine Zhong Shu is also tired." This came to the emperor, what to say and what not to say, Concubine Shu knew better than the palace. ”

A hint of annoyance flashed in Yuxiu's eyes, but she only held back and kept silent.

Chang'an stroked the pearl in his ear and said with a faint smile, "Send Concubine Zhong back to the palace." ”