Lan Qi asked Huanchun if the nobles had seen them that day, and Huanchun smiled bitterly and said, "The slave just thinks that we should go away quickly, where do you dare to take a look at the nobles of Ping." ”

Concubine Rong snorted coldly: "If it is really something that she made trouble, she will sweat for her family, why would Suo Etu tolerate his niece to lose the face of the Hesheri family in the palace?" If this matter is more seriously investigated, what good fruit can she eat? ”

Lan Qi didn't care about the rumors in the palace, but the words that have been spread recently have become more and more bizarre, pushing Yonghe Palace to the forefront at every turn, and she is sorry to ignore it, presumably because she is anxious about the rumors, and the more she says it, the more outrageous it becomes, and at this time, she saw Concubine Rong angry for her, but comforted her: "What is my sister angry, I am clear, and the noble person knows best what is going on, let's see what tricks she can come up with." ”

However, Lan Qi's calmness did not calm the situation, and two days later, a court official actually wrote a letter, saying that the harem concubines abused the palace maids and eunuchs, violating the emperor's early prohibition of slave abuse, thinking that the emperor could not tolerate the harem to careless human life, and even pointed to the character of Concubine De, hoping that the emperor would interfere.

The matter of the harem came to the court and said, how can the emperor have a good face, this day to Chengqian Palace, mentioning this matter, after all, he couldn't help but blame the imperial concubine: "You are in charge of the phoenix seal, you can't even give me an explanation?" ”

The imperial concubine was originally anxious, and when she saw that the emperor blamed her, where did she swallow this breath, and asked Xuan Ye: "If it weren't for the involvement of Yonghe Palace, the emperor would blame the concubine for a palace maid?" ”

Seeing that she was going to break up unhappily, Concubine Rong just arrived, and the imperial concubine blamed her for her unfavorable affairs in front of the emperor, Concubine Rong was aggrieved, but fortunately, Xuan Ye was still calm, and the sentence "She was so busy that her feet didn't touch the ground, I know" was to appease people.

"The concubines privately sent people to investigate, the nobles have always been strict with the palace maids and eunuchs, and they beat and scolded them at every turn, and when they were still in Chuxiu Palace in the past, even the palace maids of Concubine Tong had to do it." Concubine Rong calmed down, slowly told the emperor and concubine what she knew, and said, "The palace maid who is looking for a short time is that day on the palace road accidentally stepped on the hairpin that fell from the bun of the Ping noble, and the Ping nobleman was so popular that he let his eunuch palm his mouth, and even took the broken hairpin and inserted it on her instep, and there was also a cut on her face, which should be broken." This matter has nothing to do with Concubine De, she just came back from Cining Palace and passed by. ”

Xuan Ye also said: "I came out of Cining Palace with her that day, and I have never seen her beat and scold the palace maid for so many years, let alone not the people in her house." ”

The imperial concubine kept a straight face on the side, didn't say a word, her heart was sour and unconvinced, or Xuan Ye asked her later, and then she reluctantly spoke: "Find the noble people of Ping and ask, the emperor is crying and pretending to be pitiful here, and the concubine is really afraid that you will be soft-hearted." It's better for you to deign to avoid it, so that you can see what kind of face this little Hesheri has when dealing with concubines and concubines. ”

In fact, she was impulsive just now, and almost mentioned Queen Hesheri, the imperial concubine has no impression of this legendary queen, and she doesn't revere or look down on her, but now that she is in contact with her own sister, she really doesn't dare to compliment the so-called legend of the virtuous queen, she can't imagine that the personalities of her sisters are the same.

How could Xuan Ye do such a thing, he didn't bother to look at Xiao Hesheri's face at all, he had long known her character, and said coldly: "This should be your business, I just wait for you to have a result." ”

The emperor left with this sentence, Concubine Rong saw that the imperial concubine was so angry that she gritted her teeth, and she couldn't guess what she was angry for, and she didn't know what to do, so the imperial concubine opened her mouth first: "Gather everyone together, whether it's a noble person or a concubine, who should make it clear." ”

Concubine Rong didn't want to deal with her alone, why was she always angry, so she asked Jixin to send people to the palaces to invite, and within a quarter of an hour, Concubine Hui and Concubine Yi arrived one after another, and the promise of a low position was always there, and the Chengqian Palace was stuffed, in addition to Concubine Wen's body, even Wan Liuha's family also came with a stomach.

After the people arrived, the imperial concubine directly mentioned the suicide of the palace maid, and called the Ping nobles to ask questions, and the Ping nobles saw that this was like a three-hall trial posture, and did not dare to be as arrogant as in the past, and knelt respectfully in the right, the imperial concubine asked a sentence and she answered, but there was no word on the point.

"The emperor has repeatedly ordered that you can't abuse slaves, and you can force people to death?" The imperial concubine scolded the noble Ping, her eyes inadvertently swept over Lan Qi, thinking that the emperor was looking for his own trouble for her just now, how could he not ease the usual harmony at this time, no matter how she looked at it, she felt that Lan Qi was unpleasant, and she couldn't help but ask coldly, "Concubine De, since you passed by that day and saw the noble Ping beating the palace maid, why didn't you come forward to stop it?" As a concubine, it is also your responsibility to teach the concubines below. ”

Lan Qi saw Concubine Rong winking at her, and seeing the imperial concubine's angry appearance, she understood that she would not be satisfied with anything she said, so she simply replied calmly: "That day, the concubine was unwell, and she hurried back to Yonghe Palace to ask for a doctor, and she did see the Ping nobles scolding the palace maids, but it is common for the master in the palace to teach the slaves, and the Ping nobles also have their own ways of teaching the slaves, although the concubines have the responsibility to teach the Ping nobles, there is no reason to interfere in the affairs of her house." ”

The imperial concubine sneered: "Yes, your few words will push things clean." ”

A few concubines sat on the side, glanced at each other, and the concubine said to the imperial concubine: "Niangniang forgives the concubine for talking too much, the concubine listens to how this matter is in the wrong direction, and now there is a lot of trouble in the palace and outside the palace, it is said that Concubine De Niangniang abused the palace maid, and Niangniang asked Concubine De why she didn't stop the nobles, it seems to be two things." Naturally, the concubines knew that Concubine De was gentle and generous, and would not abuse her subordinates. ”

The imperial concubine glanced at the concubine coldly, "You have been talking nonsense for a long time, since you know that Concubine De will not abuse slaves, what else does this palace ask?" ”

The concubine was stunned with fright, and everyone present was also a little surprised, even Lan Qi herself didn't expect that although the imperial concubine had a bad attitude towards her, she didn't seem to take those rumors seriously, and made such a big battle, as if she just wanted to ask the nobles about their faults.

The kneeling little Hesheri stared at the concubine and asked: "Why did the mother mention this, speaking of which, the concubine still feels strange, the concubine did not wronged Concubine De Niangniang and forced the concubine's palace maid to death, I don't know who spread this word." The palace maid couldn't stop her from looking for the dead concubine, but the concubine punished her for doing something wrong, and it was not wrong. ”

There was an uproar in the palace for a while, and everyone thought that it was a rumor spread by the noble person himself, but she took the initiative to deny it, and she did not hide it at all against the beating of the palace maid, but this is inconsistent with the voice of the court, even if there is a result today, what will the emperor think?

Concubine Hui and Concubine Yi didn't speak, Concubine Rong had been robbed by the imperial concubine just now, and she didn't bother to speak at the moment, Concubine De was half a party, but she had finished what she should have said, and the concubine who spoke rashly just now had a red face and a white face, and it took a long time to say: "Yes...... I really don't know what kind of rumors came out, how did they slander Concubine De like that. ”

Ping Guiren snorted: "This has nothing to do with the concubines." ”

"Shut up." The imperial concubine scolded, straightened her spine slightly, and said coldly, "There has always been this kind of atmosphere in the palace recently, but if you all manage the people in your palace one by one, where do you get so much idle business?" But I came to you today, not for any rumors, but for the sake of the palace maid who committed suicide, and to warn each and every one of you. Looking at the end of the year, don't make yourself unhappy. ”

Everyone said yes, waiting for the imperial concubine to deal with the nobles, but the little Hesheri on the ground still had a little temperament, and straightened up to defend herself: "The concubine has the right to punish her palace maid, how can she stop the concubine if she wants to find death?" Punishment and abuse are two different things, and concubines do not admit that they have abused their subordinates. ”

The imperial concubine sneered, with a look on her face that she didn't care if you admit it or not, raised her hand and raised her slender armor and pointed at Concubine Rong, "The noble man of Ping will be fined for one year, and he will be grounded for another month, and the dead palace maid will send someone to the house to appease the aftermath, since it has been rumored that it is unbearable to abuse and commit suicide, don't hide it, naturally how much silver was spent, and the noble man took it out, and the money in the palace is not used on this." ”

"Niangniang, concubine ......"

"Shut up!" The imperial concubine Huo Ran got up, and when she saw that Xiao Hesheri still dared to stare at her unconvinced, she couldn't help but sprinkle all her resentment against Lan Qi on her, and said quietly, "It's been more than half a year since I entered the palace, and I can't learn the rules at all, and I have no one in my eyes, I heard that the Queen Mother taught you the rules a while ago, and it seems that you still haven't learned it well." Noble Ping, if you can't do this, Queen Hesheri's face will be lost to you. ”

Because the imperial concubine was angry, all the concubines got up to listen to the training, Lan Qi moved slowly because she was pregnant, and the moment she lowered her head, she saw Concubine Hui and Concubine Yi glance at each other, she quickly swept her eyes, while listening to the imperial concubine's lecture while thinking about the look of the two of them when they looked at each other, although it was just a hurried glance, but she always felt that there was something in it, and naturally warned herself, don't because of the sentence "Be careful of Concubine Hui", from now on you can't look at people and things calmly.

"After a while, you go to the place where you beat the palace maid on the road that day and kneel for two hours, and you will be awake when the cold wind blows." The imperial concubine put down this sentence, and even left a room of people about to leave, everyone bowed down to see each other, but the Ping nobles were still not convinced, shouting that they were wronged, the imperial concubine suddenly stopped, and called Concubine Rong and said: "Send someone to watch, four hours, one less moment, whoever takes care of her, kneel for me for a day." ”

The imperial concubine walked away, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, passed their eyes to each other and did not dare to speak, obviously the imperial concubine had just taught everyone not to have abuse, but in fact, the imperial concubine herself had a bad temper at the beginning, and it was slightly better over the years, a few years earlier, which palace maid and eunuch in the Chengqian Palace had not been beaten, it was the bluffing words just now, and she had to kneel all day at every turn, to put it bluntly, only the state officials were allowed to set fires and the people were not allowed to light the lamps.

Everyone dispersed, Concubine Rong went to order someone to take away the Ping Guiren, because she refused to live or die, and also said a few heavy words to scare her, and then turned back to see Lan Qi helping Bu Guiren to walk out slowly, and asked worriedly: "Is it a joy and a bad thing?" ”

"I'm like this, others don't dare to touch me." Lan Qi smiled, "Otherwise, everyone would come over to talk, and it would be very annoying, but seeing that I am not very energetic, I dare not come closer." ”

Bu Guiren also smiled: "Scared Niangniang?" Don't worry, Concubine De is fine. ”

Concubine Rong couldn't cry or laugh, and only waited for them to return to Yonghe Palace together, Lan Qi got up, and several concubines also came to sit down, talking about what happened just now, and sighed: "I thought that the imperial concubine would embarrass you, but I didn't expect her to stand on your side except for that sentence." ”

Lan Qi also felt incredible, if she had to think of the best reason for this, it would probably be the fourth elder brother. For the imperial concubine, if she causes trouble, she will also be ashamed of the fourth elder brother, that is what she hates the most, as for whether it is a dead palace maid or a eunuch, or even a nobleman who is looking for a short-term view on her own, it may not be able to make her move her eyelids to take a second look.

Concubine Rong said: "Do you think that little Hesheri said that she didn't spread rumors, is it really false?" ”

Several people calmed down and thought, and Bu Guiren was the first to say: "With a person like her, can there be a fake?" ”

The sisters didn't discuss this matter and came up with a result, Duan Concubine and they left first, Concubine Rong stayed alone for a while, and said to Lan Qi in private: "I told you that day, why did Suo Etu let Ping Guiren do such a stupid thing, I can find out how she abused people in the house, and the top really wants to deal with her, can't you find out?" Today, I don't think she's necessarily preaching it. ”

Lan Qi thought of Concubine Hui and Concubine Yi's glances, but she didn't mention it to Concubine Rong, she wanted to see for herself what they were calculating, and then consider whether to discuss with Concubine Rong in the future.

But after Concubine Rong left Yonghe Palace, the people under her hands went back and forth, saying that the grandmother who was in charge of the noble people had changed a person in the middle of the sentence, it was Zhang Sheng's face, and he didn't know where it was for a while.

Concubine Rong felt strange, so she instructed her subordinates: "No matter what happens, first watch coldly, I don't know what kind of demonic wind is blowing in the palace, I must see it clearly." ”

In this matter, with the imperial concubine severely punishing the nobles, the rumors about Concubine De's abuse of the palace maid were self-defeating, and the emperor did not have to deal with the voices of the court, and the world was finally peaceful. Although the imperial concubine is a little more domineering, but this kind of thing really has to be pressed down hard to make people shut up, Xuan Ye is satisfied with the result given by his cousin, and naturally praises her afterwards, so that she can continue to understand what to do with the phoenix seal.

In the days that followed, the palace was finally peaceful again, time passed in a flash, and the events of the Mid-Autumn Festival in August seemed to be still in front of them, and it was the wax moon in a blink of an eye.

On the fourth day of the lunar month, Jingyang Palace Wan Chang gave birth to a little brother smoothly, Wan Liuha could not raise it personally because of his low status, he thought that Concubine Rong would take it down, and all palaces were ready to congratulate Concubine Rong on winning the prince, but she told the two palaces that the fact in the palace was too busy, and she was afraid that the little brother would be negligent in Jingyang Palace, and it was most appropriate to send it to Brother Rong's care, and she did not become her adopted son.

Everyone didn't understand why Concubine Rong let go of such a good opportunity, she only said to Concubine Duan in private: "If it is a girl, I will raise it, but I have long thought that if it is a prince, I will not raise it." I have no support outside the palace, and the palace is also the face that I have earned for more than ten years, and I can't stand a little toss, if I am targeted by those things because of one more son, the gains will outweigh the losses. I'm a little more low-key as a mother, and the third elder brother will be more peaceful. ”

After the little brother washes the three, it is Laba, because the royal family has added a son is a happy event, Laba has entered the palace to congratulate the clan nobles more than in previous years, lively and lively all day, the palaces are tired of coping, only the brothers in the study did not suspend classes, the fourth brother came back from the study according to the usual hour, Chengqian Palace was unexpectedly a little deserted, Xiao Hezi said that the ladies went to Ningshou Palace, so that the little master changed his clothes and also passed.

Yinzhen came to his room, only to enter the door to put down things, and suddenly saw a five or six-year-old girl crawling down from his bed, sleepy-eyed and barefoot walked out, and suddenly saw Yinzhen master and servant, half-asleep and half-awake as if he was frightened, and suddenly cried: "I want my mother's ......"

Yin Zhen was even more strange, and asked her: "How do you sleep in my bed?" ”

Naturally, someone came to take care of the affairs here soon, and Yinzhen also recognized this little girl as the young lady of the Wulanala family, remembering that her name was Yuxi, and she went to the palace to play during the Dragon Boat Festival, but she didn't see her again. And Yinzhen inevitably remembered his younger brother when he saw Yuxi, how good it was for a few children to play together at that time, he couldn't suppress the discomfort in his heart, and he didn't even want to go to Ningshou Palace, so he sent Xiao Hezi and said: "You go and tell Eniang, today's book is very difficult, I have to memorize my homework at home." ”

Yuxi was originally playing in Chengqian Palace with Eniang in the afternoon, because she was sleepy after lunch, the imperial concubine asked her to put her in the fourth elder brother's house to sleep, and the adults went to Ningshou Palace to get together afterwards, leaving a few grandmothers to take care of her. At this time, the grandmothers dressed up the young lady neatly and went to Ningshou Palace.

Yin Zhen sat at the desk, aimlessly flipping through the books in front of him, thinking of his younger brother, he felt a pain in his heart, raised his hand and rubbed his reddened eyes, and bit his lip tightly to prevent himself from crying. He has always adhered to the principle that men do not flick when they have tears, but whenever he thinks of his younger brother, he will always feel so uncomfortable that he wants to shed tears.

"Fourth Brother, why are you crying?" The beautiful Yuxi suddenly appeared in front of the door, she clumsily stepped over the high threshold, staggered to the edge of the desk, was not tall enough, stood on tiptoe and pulled the desk to look at Yinzhen with her neck hard, and asked sweetly, "Fourth elder brother, did Mr. scold you?" ”

Yuxi also has a husband at home to teach homework, she doesn't understand why since the Dragon Boat Festival, the carefree days have suddenly ended, and now she has to learn a lot of things every day, just learning the piano has been beaten a lot by Eniang, it is to see the fourth brother's eyes red and rub hard, thinking that he was also scolded by Mr.

Yin Zhen said angrily: "I won't cry, why don't you leave, I'm going to study." ”

Yuxi looked at the fourth elder brother fiercely, couldn't help pouting, and said softly: "Fourth elder brother, let's go to Ningshou Palace together, I'm hungry, and grandma said that there are a lot of delicious foods in Ningshou Palace." ”

Outside the door, Lan Qi and Huan Chun are coming, it was the afternoon when everyone went to Ningshou Palace from here, Lan Qi wanted to go back to rest, the imperial concubine asked her to take Yuxi with her when she passed the night, and then she came to lead Yuxi, so it happened that Yinzhen came back, and when she entered the door, she met Xiao Hezi to pass the word, and asked a few words to let him not go first, and wanted to persuade Yinzhen.

"Fourth Elder Brother, aren't you hungry?" In the house, Yuxi's voice was sweet and glutinous.

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