The Qing army was defeated again and again, the emperor fell ill again, and the magnificent imperial expedition that day ended up in such a decadent result before the rebels were confronted, and the government and the opposition panicked, and some people in the clan who were not convinced by the emperor could not help but laugh at today's incompetence, and faintly spread some unpleasant remarks, which made the harem concubines nervous.

Because the emperor fell ill, a holy decree came from the front, ordering the crown prince to visit the palace, once the news spread, many palace concubines secretly wept in the palace, in their opinion, this is what is the critical juncture, even the prince has been called, is it not to explain the future?

Moreover, at present, Prince Yu and Prince Gong both have military power in their hands, but the prince does not have any real power in his hands, this time he went to the camp, if he just visited the emperor's illness, in case the emperor's illness is anything good, the prince went alone, it is difficult to ensure that he will not be calculated, the two princes have military power, as long as one of them defects, or colludes with Galdan, the prince may not return. And now what kind of form is ahead, the palace can only listen to the news, and no one knows how accurate the news is.

The prince is about to set off, the queen mother urgently summoned Lan Qi and others to Ningshou Palace to discuss matters, and finally discussed and decided to let the third elder brother Yinzhi accompany the prince to go together, although they are all princes who have no power in their hands, but with one more person, the prince may be able to be more sure. Concubine Rong didn't want her parents to be in danger, but she thought about it, something really happened, their mothers and sons were in the palace, and sooner or later they wouldn't be able to end well, so it was better to let her son go to the front to take a look, what she hoped most was that the emperor was only slightly infected, and there would be no rebellion of any prince. What's more, the decision made by the Queen Mother can't be said badly.

The third elder brother went to the palace with the prince, and the fourth elder brother immediately ran back to find Lan Qi, saying that he was also going to visit his father with the prince, Lan Qi did not explain anything to him, but said solemnly: "If you listen to Eniang, go back to read your book and stay in the Chengqian Palace, otherwise, we don't have to talk." ”

Mother is rarely strong, the fourth elder brother is in awe, dare not entangle anymore, the next day to send away the prince and the third elder brother, the fourth elder brother standing alone under the city gate, he suddenly realized that now he is the eldest prince among the elder brothers in the palace.

The eldest brother went out with the army before, the second elder brother and the third elder brother went to the palace to visit the sick, the situation outside was chaotic, several older princes left the palace, and the remaining princes, the fourth elder brother was the eldest, or even the best.

The night before the prince's departure, Lan Qi went to Ningshou Palace again after dark, and the queen mother said to her helplessly: "If something really happens, I'm just afraid that I don't have the momentum and ability to turn the tide like the emperor's mother, but I will try my best to persevere until the last moment, and it can be regarded as a great thing in my life." ”

This is extremely sad and negative words, no one wants such a thing to happen, after calming down a little, the Queen Mother asked: "Do you want to go to the front line and take care of the emperor?" ”

At that time, Lan Qi stared at the Queen Mother, her heart had already flown to Xuan Ye's side, but she promised Xuan Ye that no matter what news came from the front line, she couldn't panic and mess up, she would stay here firmly and wait for him to return. She can do everything she promised Xuan Ye, and Xuan Ye will definitely do what he promised and return safely.

Without waiting for her to answer, the Queen Mother said: "In case there is any danger ahead, let's stop them here first, to say something unlucky, if something happens to the emperor, even the eldest brother and the prince will also have something, and the prince can inherit the unification, only the fourth elder brother, we must determine the throne earlier than them, in order to keep the emperor's bloodline inheritance and not let the villain get his will." ”

As soon as such words were spoken, it became a great thing, she bent her knees and begged the Queen Mother not to think nonsense, but the Queen Mother continued: "So I can't let you go to the front line to see the emperor, in case something happens, even you will not go back, Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui are still in the palace, I am afraid that I will not be able to suppress them, you have to stay with the fourth elder brother, we mother and son, do everything we can to turn the tide." At that time, the emperor's mother was just a concubine of Yongfu Palace, you can do it. ”

At that time, Lan Qi only said: "Queen Mother, the concubines don't want that day, the concubines only look forward to the emperor's safe return." ”

The Queen Mother sighed: "I don't want to, but the current situation, we must be prepared, the emperor said to me in the past, no matter what happens in the future, we can't mess up the dynasty and mess up the bloodline, the son inherits the father's business is the long-term righteous way, if it is a brother's inheritance, we will take the old road of the former Ming." ”

That night, Lan Qi was thinking about the Queen Mother's words, but she didn't shed a tear when she turned her back, thinking about the worst thing that could happen, thinking about everything she might have to face, and the strength born from the bottom of her heart was perhaps the strongest belief in her life. No matter what, she has to keep the bloodline inheritance for Xuan Ye, even if it is not her fourth elder brother, she must not let the throne fall into the hands of others.

After the prince and the third elder brother left Beijing, the palace was still gloomy after two days, but at this moment, there was a news in the eldest brother's mansion that Dafu Jin was pregnant, which was originally the most worthy of the royal pleasure, but now no one cares, for everyone, there is nothing better than the end of the war and the return of the holy car.

Concubine Hui came out from Ningshou Palace to tell the great fortune and Jin Youxi, and then took the road to Jingyang Palace, and entered the palace quietly, and the eunuch in front of the door told Concubine Hui that his master and princess and Wan Chang were chanting in the small Buddha hall. Concubine Hui smiled bitterly in her heart, people are often the most helpless, they will entrust their faith to the gods and Buddhas, and she herself is the same, after getting the news that Dafujin is pregnant, the first thing is to pray to the Buddha, hoping that the daughter-in-law can give birth to an eldest grandson.

At this moment, I slowly walked to the small Buddha hall, and saw Concubine Rong kneeling in front of the Buddha shrine, Princess Rongxian and Wan Chang saw Concubine Hui Niangniang coming, got up and saluted to make way, and Concubine Hui instructed Rong Xian: "You guys go to rest, I'll talk to your mother." ”

Concubine Rong glanced back at her, and waited for her daughter and Wan Changzai to leave, before she sighed: "I am used to living a comfortable life, I never thought that there would be today, the rebellion of the three feudatories, no matter how the queen mother was there, the emperor was also by her side, and now what ......"

Concubine Hui bowed to the Buddha statue and worshipped, and only after paying homage did she sit cross-legged beside Concubine Rong and said softly: "Isn't there still the Queen Mother?" ”

Concubine Rong glanced at her: "Queen Mother? ”

"Don't look at the Queen Mother's warmth and weakness, this time, let me see how powerful she is, in the end, she is the person who has followed the Queen Mother for decades." Concubine Hui said coldly, "Look, the emperor just asked the prince to go to the front line, but the queen mother also sent your third elder brother, why?" ”

Concubine Rong also had a calculation in her heart, but she didn't want to say it, she didn't look at Concubine Hui anymore, and only listened to her say quietly beside her: "Once the emperor has a good thing and there is turmoil ahead, the queen mother will issue a decree in the palace to establish the fourth elder brother as the new emperor, and the overall situation of the world will be decided." ”

"Sister, you're thinking too much, out of the gate of this Buddha hall, your words are very rebellious, but you want to kill your head." Concubine Rong's eyes were condensed, her heart had sunk into the abyss, and she said forcefully, "Your eldest brother is still ahead, you should hope that they are well, that the emperor will return as soon as possible, and that their brothers will all retreat, what is the meaning of saying these words." ”

Concubine Hui sneered: "Could it be that my sister doesn't want to do it at all, the queen mother insists on asking the third elder brother to accompany the prince, and you are really willing to do it?" Or does my sister know in her heart that even if the third elder brother stays in the palace, she can't compete with the fourth elder brother, does my sister feel that she is inferior to the Wu Ya clan, or is the third elder brother inferior to the fourth elder brother? Why should the benefits be left to her? ”

"In the eyes of Concubine Hui, what is a benefit?" Lan Qi's voice suddenly sounded, Concubine Hui turned pale with shock, and turned around to look at Concubine Rong, but seeing Lan Qi standing in front of the door, the two of them were so involved that they didn't even know when Lan Qi came, Concubine Rong was beating drums in her heart, fortunately, what she should say to Concubine Hui was worthy of herself and conscience.

Lan Qi walked in slowly, looked at Concubine Hui and said, "Sister Concubine Hui thinks too much, she thinks about hurting her body, sister has to take care of her body, these unnecessary things, I don't dare to calculate." ”

Concubine Hui said coldly: "You know better than anyone else in your heart, why bother to pretend to be confused, now it's time for what matters, don't you plan for yourself at all?" ”

"What are you going to do?" Lan Qi knelt down in front of the Buddhist shrine and bowed reverently, and only said slowly after the ceremony, "I just wait for the emperor to return, and I don't think about anything else. Big Brother is still on the front line, don't you want Big Brother to leave with his whole body? ”

"You talk nonsense!" Concubine Hui's face was pale, and the fear in her heart could not be concealed, now Mingzhu is not as powerful as before, and he is not a person who can say the final word on the front line, and Suo Etu is also in front, he will definitely protect the prince. And because the eldest brother is the deputy general to follow Prince Yu, he is probably not by the emperor's side now, in case something happens, the son is almost isolated, and Prince Yu has always been close to the prince's faction, and her son has no benefit in front of Prince Yu.

"The front line is not much, let's mess up here first, don't say how chilling the emperor is, isn't Sister Concubine Hui chilling?" Lan Qi looked at each other angrily, in the past, he was subordinate to them, listening to them teach him how to behave in the deep palace, time has changed, they have long been equal, but they never thought that one day there would be today's dialogue, Lan Qi's heart, he didn't feel that he was above any of them.

"Everything we do depends on the emperor." Lan Qi said resolutely and solemnly, "But if he returns victoriously, only to see that the harem is scattered and scattered, how chilling should he be?" Now that the people in the clan are watching, even if we pretend, we have to make them dare not use half of their brains, right? The only thing we can do is to keep this home and wait for the emperor to come back. ”

Concubine Hui had tears in her eyes, and said coldly: "Your son is by your side, of course you are not afraid." ”

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