In September, Xuan Ye honored the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager after the Double Ninth Festival, and then led hundreds of officials to the Ming Tomb to pay respects, because it was the first time he had visited the Ming Tomb since he ascended the throne, and the mighty team went out of the palace and could only return in four or five days.

The concubines stayed in the harem to serve the Empress Dowager, and gathered in Cining Palace the next day, which was also very lively.

On this day, Prince Yu Fujin and Prince Gong Fujin led the children into the palace to say goodbye, the Empress Dowager was very sympathetic to Princess Chunxi's biological mother, and every time she came, she asked the eldest princess to come and call her to see her.

The Empress Dowager loves the liveliness of her children and grandchildren around her knees, watching the little ones shuttling and frolicking in the palace, and she is in a good mood all day, and she is always in a good mood all day long when there are many concubines. The concubines sat with them all day, and they were tired, and they walked in twos and threes, only to hear An Guiren laugh and say: "I heard that the emperor is going to set up a prince, and the second elder brother must be the prince, but I don't know which lady will be invited to raise in the future." ”

Because Concubine Zhao and Concubine Tong had already taken a soft sedan chair and walked away, there were only some nobles around, and someone whispered: "Concubine Tong is young, and Concubine Zhao is too busy to run the six palaces, I really don't know which one the emperor will prefer." ”

But some people also said: "The second elder brother is the concubine of Queen Xiaocheng, I am afraid that I will not invite anyone to raise him, who can be more noble than Queen Xiaocheng?" ”

Lan Qi and Bu Changzai listened from afar, and hurriedly walked away because they didn't want to cause trouble, and Bu Changzai said when they were far away: "They have a lot of things to worry about, call me, only the child is good in their hearts." Lan Qi, have you seen it, Duan Jing is getting better and better now, and she can already run behind the eldest brother. ”

Lan Qi looked at her with a smile, Bu Chang always mentioned her daughter with her eyebrows fluttering, she was quiet and quiet on weekdays, and her heart was full of only her own children. At this moment, I heard her say: "When Nala agrees to give birth, there will be another child in the palace, and it would be great if it was also an elder brother, so that the mothers would not think about my little princess." In the past, I always looked forward to which lady was raised, and I could often go to the palace over there to take a look, and I couldn't go in and out casually compared to my brother, but now I don't think so, even if I don't see her a few times a year, she will only call me Eniang. ”

Lan Qi smiled and said, "I heard the princess call you in a milky voice just now, and my heart melted when I heard it." ”

Bu Chang's eyes were moist for a while, and when he remembered something, he took Lan Qi's hand and sighed: "I can't compare with you, the emperor has you in his heart, and the empress dowager also likes you so much, you will always have a good day, and you will not always embroider and write with me in the Zhongcui Palace." Lan Qi, if you sit on the throne of the first palace one day and ask the emperor to let you raise the princess, I am willing to call you Eniang. Without you, I wouldn't have listened to this voice a long time ago. ”

"What's the use of thinking about things that are too far away? Let's not say okay, contentment and happiness. Lan Qi smiled and persuaded her, Bu Changzai was also self-deprecating, and when she went back, she had to copy the scriptures well again, and accumulate blessings for her daughter.

However, the four words of contentment and happiness are easy to read, but not everyone can do it, power position is the most poisonous medicine in the world, it will make people * swell, lose their minds, once contaminated, the only antidote to pain is to climb higher status and gain greater power.

Here Yi Guiren because of the slower pace of walking back, to the Yikun Palace when I saw that there were people in front of the door, into the door some people said, it was Lord A Ling A into the palace to ask for peace to the mother, Yi Gui people avoided going to the West Side Palace, rested thirst to drink tea, Tao Hong brought tea, whispered: "I heard that Lord A Ling A entered the palace in order to establish the prince." ”

Yi Guiren drank most of the bowl of tea and said disdainfully: "She doesn't have children, what is there to worry about." ”

Taohong smiled: "If you can raise the prince in the future, the queen position is just around the corner, Concubine Zhao has always wanted to raise the eldest brother earlier, the queen mother did not let go, and then there was a second elder brother, but the child of Queen Xiaocheng, how can she easily let others raise her, this year has passed, and the prince will be established, and Concubine Zhao must have thought about it." ”

Yi Guiren peeled an orange from the fruit plate on the table and ate it, peeled off the white tendons finely, and frowned after eating a piece of sourness, but he still wanted to eat it without leaving his hand, and said vaguely: "Then she will definitely not want Hui Guiren's eldest brother, Hui Guiren should breathe a sigh of relief." ”

If you want to see this, it is not advisable for noble people to be smart, everyone understands the current situation, whoever can raise the prince will be the future queen, and the second elder brother is obviously the only candidate with his mother, and the other elder brothers are almost not counted, no matter how smart and cute the eldest brother is, he is always shorter than the toddler brother.

Lord Alinga has not entered the palace for a long time, firstly, because of the tense relationship with the emperor before, and secondly, the affairs of the previous dynasty are indeed busy, and now the relationship between the emperor and Concubine Zhao has eased, and he is going to the Ming Mausoleum again. At this time, he was saying: "All matters are almost over, and when the Zhan Mansion is reset, the crown prince will be just around the corner, and I am afraid that this matter will be decided before the end of the year." Niangniang still has to be more active in the palace, although the prince is noble, there must always be someone to raise, looking at the right people in the palace, who else is there besides Niangniang? ”

Concubine Zhao rubbed the corners of her forehead and sighed: "The one in Chengqian Palace who is dancing with teeth and claws, gathered in Cining Palace today, hugged the second elder brother and didn't let go, making the children happy, and asked the empress dowager for credit, asking if he was very close to her." It's really different in the world, when I was her age, where did I have so many thoughts about the city, those slippery eyes didn't know what to calculate all day long, and it was annoying to look at it. ”

Alinga persuaded: "Why bother with Niangniang, the more she is so arrogant, according to the mind of the long-lived lord, the more she looks down on her to raise the prince, these days you must be more stable and generous, the emperor will definitely see it in his eyes." After all, you are raising the crown prince, and you can't just pull a noble person to be there, this is your biggest advantage. ”

"I'm afraid that the advantage has become a disadvantage, you have to clamp your tail outside the palace to be a good person, if it is really me to raise the prince, it is equivalent to the Niu Hulu clan is going to ally with the Hesheri clan, in case I really have this blessing, but you fight to the death outside the palace, what else do I expect?" Concubine Zhao Zhengse said these words, and persuaded even more, "In addition, the brothers in the family should also be harmonious, Ama is gone, you don't say that the family is prosperous, but also infighting, the emperor can see it in his eyes, and he mentioned it to me a few days ago." ”

Ah Ling's face was gloomy and speechless, and Concubine Zhao asked again: "How is the little sister?" I haven't caught up with the age this year, so I can't miss the next batch, send her in early, and I have multiple helpers. ”

Ah Ling'a said: "This is natural, and it is good to give birth to and raise my sister, but my temperament is born weak, and I am afraid that my mother will not be satisfied." ”

"Whether I can do it or not, I have a sister by my side who is considerate, and I am more comfortable this day." Concubine Zhao let out a long sigh, looked up at the twilight outside the window, and said helplessly, "Go back, it's not too early." ”

Here Ah Ling'a only withdrew from Yikun Palace, and the matter of his entry into the palace had been spread to Cining Palace, the Queen Mother had not left, and when she heard this, she said to her mother-in-law: "I talked to the concubine a few days ago, because the emperor told me, the concubine didn't say anything to her, but just looked at the thoughts, but also sincerely." ”

"No matter how sincere she is, it can't be her turn." The Empress Dowager was very disdainful, and said Yoyo, "The emperor has long decided that he wants to raise this child in the Qianqing Palace by himself, and give him a wife and son-in-law, who is qualified to raise it?" I'm just raising myself here, and I don't have the energy to take another child. ”

"Isn't it?" The Queen Mother smiled faintly, slightly embarrassed.

"If you have the chance, tell Concubine Zhao these words." The Empress Dowager said, "Don't ask her to make peace with the emperor in order to fight for this opportunity, as long as she still counts on the throne, she can't get into trouble with the emperor, what is more important than making the emperor value?" Although I don't like her lonely and arrogant personality, she may take care of the palace well, and these emperors also look at it. ”

The Queen Mother said yes again and again, and listened to the Queen Mother's advice, so she thought about sending these "reassuring pills" to Concubine Zhao as soon as possible, people always have intimacy with each other, at least the Queen Mother here, she always thinks that Concubine Zhao is a good child.

However, early the next morning, in the Zhongcui Palace, Lan Qi came to comb Bu Changzai's hair, and the two were smiling and saying that they would wear the same bead flowers today, Jin He hurriedly came in and said that Concubine Tong's people came to invite, saying that the Empress Dowager ordered Concubine Tong to go to the elder brother to see the little brothers, and Concubine Tong asked Bu Changzai to go with Wu Changzai.

Bu Changzai was very happy, I heard that I could go to see my daughter again, and I was busy dressing up and going out, although Lan Qi had to follow behind, but I wondered in my heart, what did the Empress Dowager let Concubine Tong do, and she was not anyone's mother. Sure enough, she followed with trepidation, and it didn't take long for her to have an accident.

Concubine Tong didn't have the will of the Queen Mother at all, and even when she was playing with a few children in the elder brother's office, she let the eldest elder brother fall on the steps, and rubbed a large piece of skin on his forehead.

The three of them knelt in the courtyard of Cining Palace, and when Hui Guiren hurried over, they saw it, and bent their knees towards Concubine Tong and went to the inner hall, how could her son not be in a hurry when he was injured, but he still tried to endure it in front of the Empress Dowager, and then sent the child back with the nurse reluctantly.

"Do the people know that the law is not responsible?" When no one came to pay attention to the three of them, Concubine Tong suddenly turned her head and asked Lan Qi and Bu Chang behind her, "Let's just say that we all want to see the children and go together, and the Empress Dowager can't treat all three of us at once, otherwise, who do you think is more thoughtful than you?" ”

Neither of them squeaked, Concubine Tong looked coldly and angrily, lowered her voice and scolded: "Since you don't want to, don't blame me for being ruthless." Before the words fell, he staggered to his feet and proudly went to the main hall, and not long after Su Mala came out with a frown, and asked the two of them to follow up.

When I entered the door, I saw Concubine Tong crying, and listened to it one after another, but it was said that Bu Chang was missing her daughter, and begged Concubine Tong to take her to see her, Concubine Tong took pity on her motherly heart, so she relied on the dignity of the concubine to break into the elder brother's house, one by one, one by one, and never dared to go back again, but she added all the sins to Bu Chang's head.

Regardless of whether the Empress Dowager believes it, there will always be someone who will come out and be punished to calm down this matter, at this moment she really glared at Bu Chang angrily and scolded: "I usually read your duty, but I didn't expect it to be a person who kicked his nose in the face." ”

Bu Changzai was so frightened that he knelt on the ground with weak legs, and he couldn't even defend for a while, Lan Qi was very distressed, and the Empress Dowager also asked her sharply: "What about you, what do you have to do with you, what are you going to do in that place?" ”

Lan Qi was afraid of the majesty of the Empress Dowager, and on the other hand, she felt sorry for the innocent Bu Chang, and she was also implicated, at this moment, seeing Concubine Tong's crying and pretentious appearance, and then remembering the last time she was trying to vent her personal anger, she beat Huanchun and they couldn't get out of bed for several days, and new hatreds and old hatreds came out, and she was also angry for a while, kneeling down and explaining the matter as it was, and even talking about the eldest brother's injury, it was also Concubine Tong who wanted to catch the eldest brother to play, and she fell out of the way with a while.

Concubine Tong's eyes widened angrily when she heard this, and she stretched out her slender jade finger at Lan Qi, but before she could say anything, she had already been stopped by the Queen Mother, and the old man was too lazy to pay attention to them, so she went out and knelt in the courtyard, and went back after an hour, and she was not allowed to go out of the palace for four or five days.

The three of them knelt in place again, Concubine Tong took a handkerchief and wiped away her tears, but she breathed a long sigh of relief, and a gust of late autumn cold wind passed by, only to hear the hairpin rings on their hair buns. After kneeling for a long time, my knees hurt sharply and my body was cold, and the sun was shining brightly in the morning, but at the moment it was gloomy, which made people's hearts tremble.

An hour has finally passed, Bu Changzai has completely unable to stand up, Lan Qi himself is also unable to move, waiting outside for a few Huan Chun and Xia, can only come in hard, one left and one right with his master out. When they came out, Concubine Tong had already sat in the soft sedan chair on behalf of them, and seemed to deliberately pick up a corner of the curtain, smiling coldly at them.

Cheng Qiangong and his entourage quickly walked away, Lan Qi and Bu Chang were in a few but followed far behind, and it didn't take long for Cining Palace to suddenly come and let Wu Chang go back.

Lan Qi didn't dare to slack off, staggered back, and was about to curtsily when she entered the door, but she heard the Empress Dowager scold: "My knees are going to break, what are you kneeling for?" ”

Mama Su Mala moved a stool to press her down, lifted the hem of her skirt and rolled up her trouser legs to see, the bruises and broken skin were miserable, and she sighed: "Concubine Tong has a cushion in her knees." ”

Let's say that Concubine Tong returned to Chengqian Palace, although there was a cushion tied in her trouser legs, she had never been punished for being pampered, and she suddenly knelt for such an hour, in the end she still couldn't bear it, Jingzhu carried her directly into the dormitory, and then carefully massaged her knees, grinning in pain, but couldn't help sneering: "It's good to live in the back of those two people, you have to find someone to use it at any time, you are not afraid of trouble from a long distance, and you are stupid and obedient." ”

It turned out that Tong Guowei had already sent someone to send a message to his daughter, saying that the emperor had no intention of appointing anyone to raise the prince, and he was worried that Niu Hulu's family should also know, lest his daughter go to the road of Yikun Palace and be pushed on the cusp of riding a tiger, so he asked her to cut off her own way first, do something that makes her unworthy of raising the prince, and avoid this time.

And it was so coincidental that yesterday Ah Ling'a entered the palace to ask Concubine Zhao to fight for it, but in a blink of an eye, the Empress Dowager asked the Empress Dowager to tell Concubine Zhao to know the current affairs, all of this was not in Concubine Tong's calculations, but she inadvertently picked the best opportunity, for her, Wu Chang and Bu Chang are just props in a play, who knew that Wu Ya was so real.

"It's so stupid, I've been kneeling for so long, I still want to wait for the matter to pass and give them some compensation, which is also worry-free." Concubine Tong was indignant, as soon as she thought of Lan Qi's fearless appearance just now, she was very disgusted, and when she heard that she was left behind by the Empress Dowager, she was even more jealous, "This Wu Ya clan hates the most, I really don't know what the Empress Dowager likes about her." ”

This time the incident made Lan Qi grow more. She only knew that people like Concubine Tong Niangniang would not be unreasonable every time, she had a huge and noble family behind her, and every thing she did in the palace would affect everything related to the previous dynasty, this time she and Bu Changzai were purely used, but she was stupid and directly offended people.

"When the emperor left the palace, you were so good, but when you came back, your knee was injured, and the queen mother was afraid that the emperor would be distressed, so she must be relieved that the slave maid gave you medicine." At this moment, Mama Su Mala sent Lan Qi out of Cining Palace, and smiled gently, "What the master said just now, you can remember some of the things you can remember, and forget what you can't remember. ”

Lan Qi nodded again and again, "I remember Mama's words." ”

After staggering back to Zhong Cui Palace, Bu Chang had already cried and slept there, she sat alone on the bed, Huanchun came to ask from time to time, but always saw that the master was stunned, and was very worried, but when he came again, he saw that the master was holding a book next to the pillow, and looked at it with relish.

"Doesn't your knee hurt anymore? Not to mention resting, what are you doing reading a book, the weather is so gloomy today, it's going to be a bad sight. Huan Chun stretched out his hand to grab it, but Lan Qi didn't stop him, he laughed in a good mood, lay down lazily and said, "It turns out that there are many things, there are no books in the book, the knowledge in this palace is not shallower than in the book, the Queen Mother is so powerful, you can see through everything." I don't want to be a stupid person, and I have to pay more attention to learning in the future, don't calculate others, but don't always let people calculate and bully. ”

Huanchun heard it in a fog, saying that the master was thinking wildly, coaxing him to sleep and recuperate, and the injury on his knee was not light, and he couldn't get out of bed and walk around these days.

was also implicated, Bu Chang cried for two days before he recovered, but Lan Qi was happy when she came back the day before, I don't know when she began to become so studious, full of curiosity about any new world, and two days later she was able to move her knees, and the emperor also returned to the palace.

But because of the busy government affairs, I heard that I only went to the empress dowager to say hello, so I threw myself on the government and politics, and after returning until the beginning of October, only Rong Guiren stayed in the Qianqing Palace for two days, and the harem was all left out in the cold.

In mid-October, Nala promised to give birth to a little brother, and Xuan Ye's thin heirs unconsciously prospered again, and now the four sons and three daughters under his knees are very lively, and the empress dowager is very happy. And those days were probably the emperor was also happy, so he got closer to the harem again, and stayed in the Chengqian Palace for two nights, at least in the eyes of others, the farce in the previous elder brother was insignificant, and the emperor didn't mind.

It is inevitable that he will be resentful in this way, and he is even more indignant in front of Lan Qi in private: "Doesn't the emperor care about you?" No wonder Concubine Tong is so arrogant and domineering, the emperor spoils her so unreasonably, of course she has to intensify her publicity, in a few days, I am afraid that Concubine Zhao will be compared. ”

Lan Qi knew that Bu Changzai decided that he would not have the opportunity to be allowed to see the little princess again, and that he would become so resentful because of his excessive grief. She never minded who the emperor favored, but now she can no longer visit her daughter, and the resentment that has accumulated in her heart for a long time is sent out, and she can't be persuaded for a while, only by waiting for the opportunity for her to understand that she has not lost the little princess, I am afraid that she can calm her mood.

But for a while, I don't know what to do.

In the blink of an eye, in November, several snows have fallen in the capital, and the little brother is full moon, Xuan Ye and all the concubines gathered in Cining Palace to celebrate. Brother sent all the children here, Xuan Ye hugged the eldest brother and the second brother one by one, and then picked up the little princess Duanjing, put it on her lap and asked her, "Which one is Eniang?" ”

The little princess babbled, turned around and looked at the crowd, Xuan Ye put her down, and the little man staggered towards Bu Chang, who actually remembered his biological mother firmly, and Bu Chang burst into tears when he landed, but he didn't dare to lose his honor too much, so he couldn't hold back.

Xuan Ye turned around and smiled at the imperial grandmother: "The earth dragon in Brother's place is not warm, and he has not been able to spare time to repair it, since they are all brought out today, it is better to go back to their mothers for one night, and send the earth dragon back tomorrow after repairing it." As he spoke, he beckoned to the second elder brother, "Come, Ama will lead you to the Qianqing Palace." ”

The second elder brother is no mother, the emperor personally took him to the Qianqing Palace today, which also means that some things should be decided, people with a heart look at it, people who don't care don't care, and then there are Hui nobles, Rong nobles, and Bu Chang in these, it is a fantasy to be able to take the child back to his residence one day, but today it has come true, even if it is just an excessive night.

The little princess returned to Zhongcui Palace a year and a half after her birth, Bu Chang was so happy that she forgot all her previous grievances against the emperor, Lan Qi knew that their mother and daughter were short and precious, so she didn't bother on the side, and stayed quietly in her east side hall, and heard laughter from time to time, and she was very happy.

Huan Chun was afraid that the Chengqian Palace in front of him would also vaguely hear the laughter here, which would make Concubine Tong unhappy, so he came out and wanted to close the door, and the door was about to close, but he saw Gonggong Li leading a few little eunuchs to come, and he hurriedly opened the door and invited him in, and he borrowed it to remind the palaces to send the princess and brother back tomorrow, and he couldn't break the rules before coming.

Saluted and said hello, put down the familiar little burden in front of Lan Qi, and unfolded the first few books inside, Lan Qi knew that there were new books coming, turned his head to look at a few books on the bookshelf that had not been moved, and was about to sigh in his heart, only to see Gonggong Li smile and say: "The idle books found by Prince Tuoyu of the emperor have been looking through them in the warm pavilion for a few days. The emperor said that the cold winter is long, and you will be roasted in the dormitory and watch it slowly, just one sentence, you can't look at it at night, for fear of damaging your eyes. ”

Lan Qi was pleased, picked up a book and flipped through it casually, it was really not the esoteric and difficult book, even in the vernacular, I felt very interesting after reading half a page, and I heard Gonggong Li say: "The last time Concubine Tong Niangniang's matter, the emperor also knew that today's incident was originally to comfort Bu Chang, and the emperor said that he also wanted to make you feel at ease." ”

Lan Qi was about to turn the page of the book in her hand, and when she heard this sentence, she stopped, and looked at Gonggong Li's kind and friendly smile in a daze, thinking that the emperor was so attentive to herself, but when she was just beaten, she was determined that if people no longer remember themselves in the future, they would also live in peace. Now that he thinks about it, if he knew, he would be angry.

This night, Lan Qi vaguely listened to Bu Chang singing nursery rhymes to the little princess there and fell asleep, holding the new book that Xuan Ye found for herself in her arms, she just mentioned it that day, but people took it to heart, there is a royal seal behind this book, which is a book that the emperor has read and belongs to him.

Xuan Ye has a few things that are not appreciated easily, the Western clock he loves, and the books he has read.

In late November, the imperial court re-established the Zhan Mansion, at the beginning of the month, the emperor decreed to canonize the second elder brother as the crown prince, sent hundreds of officials to worship the heaven and earth Taimiao Sheji, issued an edict overseas, and gave grace and pardon, and it was lively until the small year, and the palace added another happy event, and the concubine Tong of the Chengqian Palace was pregnant.

Counting up, except for the prince who is the son of the emperor and queen, the other princesses are just nobles who are often born, and the Qing royal family is expensive by their mothers, so Concubine Tong's birth, although she does not dare to compare with Queen Hesheri, will be the second noble child since the emperor established the harem.

In contrast, Concubine Zhao, who has not been in the palace for more than ten years, can't help but make people sympathetic.

When there are no shoulder-to-shoulder people, she doesn't have to go up to compare with Queen Hesheri, she is still comfortable, now there are shoulder-to-shoulder people, and people have been in the palace for less than a year to spread the good news, for her, this good news is nothing less than a humiliation.

The front-line military supplies are huge, and the harem is reduced, and the affairs in the palace on Chinese New Year's Eve, which Concubine Zhao worked so hard to manage, suddenly became bleak, and the Chengqian Palace was lively all day long, and everyone only cared about congratulating Concubine Tong on her happiness, and even at the Chinese New Year's Eve banquet, the Empress Dowager only remembered to blame Concubine Tong for being careful, and never forgot to praise Concubine Zhao's hard work, and forgot to mention it.

In a blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the first lunar month, and on this day, the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to ask about the Lantern Festival, Concubine Zhao sneered, "Even the construction of the queen's mausoleum is going to be stopped, what kind of Lantern Festival banquet is there?" She said that she was sick and sent people away, and she no longer took care of the affairs of the palace for a while, but she wanted to see which of these shallow-eyed women could support the affairs of the six palaces.

She happily received the decree from the Empress Dowager, although she did not hold the phoenix seal for the time being, but in the first month of the month, Concubine Zhao was determined to recuperate, and she had the final say on the affairs of this palace, not more than Concubine Zhao liked the power in the hands of the family, she knew that she was young and careless, and she wanted to hold the precious fetus in her belly, and on the day she came back, she invited the Rong nobles and Hui nobles to go.

In the past, they all worked under Concubine Zhao, but Concubine Zhao had to ask about everything even if she was sick in bed, but Concubine Tong generously put down her power, and said to the two of them with a smile: "We don't ask for anything else, just want to be decent and pass the New Year, the plan of the year lies in the spring, the beginning of the year is not decent and prosperous, and the whole year will be unlucky, you two have been in the palace for many years, and you must know more than this palace, but you who can be the master will be in charge, you don't have to ask anything, I can't trust you anymore." ”

...

...