In the early morning, scattered snow drifted in the river.

The concubines were dressed in big hats, holding Tang Pozi, and came to Fengluan Palace on time to prepare to ask Shen Ci for peace.

After everyone had arrived and sat down in the main hall, they realized the strangeness of today.

Not to mention Shen Ci's worries, she didn't even see Pei'er and Qi'er beside her.

However, these concubines didn't dare to complain about anything, so they just started gossiping about things.

"I heard that the emperor didn't go to the early court today, but he was sick?"

"This year's winter is colder than usual, and the emperor may have contracted the wind chill. It may be quite serious, otherwise it would not be easy not to go to court. ”

"Yes, then you say, will the queen mother take care of the emperor?"

"Even if you go to take care of the emperor, you should inform us, you can't let us wait here in the cold, right? Besides, the queen has never been a person who has not explained. ”

There are many voices talking, and Concubine Chen and Concubine Hui, as the leaders of the concubines, naturally have to set an example.

Concubine Chen said: "This queen mother may be stumped by something, Concubine Hui, you go and ask." ”

"Let Hongu go?" Concubine Hui smiled lightly: "The queen mother is closer to her sister, what is the reason for this palace to ask?" Hongu felt that it was most appropriate for my sister to do this. ”

The two of you shirk me like this, I shirk you, and no one dares to provoke Shen Ci's worries.

In the end, when Pei'er got up from the vigil and passed by the main hall, she saw a large group of concubines sitting inside, and she knew that something bad was wrong.

She asked Qi'er, "Didn't you inform them that they wouldn't be there today?" ”

Qi'er was also confused, "Didn't you ask Xing Yun to inform the palaces last night?" He didn't go? ”

Pelle: "Counting on him?" He still doesn't know where the cat is asleep. Well, I'll go and send them away. ”

At this moment, Shen Ciwu in the dormitory was woken up by the sound of chatter outside.

Li Mobai beside her was still asleep, so she crept up and came to the courtyard and beckoned to Pei'er and them, "What's wrong?" ”

Pei'er lowered her head and replied, "Niangniang, we forgot to inform the concubines yesterday that they don't need to ask for peace today, they have been waiting outside for more than half an hour now." The slave was about to send them away. ”

Shen Ci thought about it for a while, and said: "That's it, it's all here, it's the first snow today, and the palace doesn't see them, so it is inevitable that they will talk in private that the palace is deliberately making things difficult." Those bad words are too lazy to hear again. Go to the side hall to serve the palace to dress and change clothes, the emperor is still asleep, you move lightly. ”

After about half an hour, Shen Ciwei, who had dressed up, went to the main hall to meet the concubines.

The concubines waited for her for a full hour, and there was a little impatience on their faces.

But as soon as she came out, the impatience on her face was swept away, and Bi respectfully asked An Fuli and said: "The ministers (concubines) and concubines welcome the queen, and the queen is blessed with gold." ”

Shen Ci raised his hand and ordered them to sit down, and said with a light smile: "I slept late yesterday, and I got up in the morning and delayed the hour. If you want to wait for this palace for so long, is it from this palace? ”

Concubine Chen hurriedly patted her ass and said, "It's our duty to wait for the queen, don't say that." ”

Concubine Hui was not to be outdone, "That's it, it's idle anyway, it's still idle when the sisters gather in the queen's palace on a cold day." It is also excellent to drink tea and eat snacks and casually chat about interesting things in life. ”

Such a compliment did not bring the slightest sense of superiority to Shen Ciwei.

On the contrary, she suddenly had an inexplicable feeling.

She felt that these women were somewhat pitiful.

It's a pity that they enter the palace for the glory of their mother's family, looking forward to their husband's favor but can't, and they have to live so cautiously.

If it were her, she would not be able to survive a day like this.

She remembered many people from the past.

I thought of the queen, Xi Guifei, Ning Fei, and Duan Fei.

And many more.

Each of these women has their own helplessness, and everyone has been forced to this point by life.

It is said that the harem of the imperial city is a place where people eat people and do not spit out bones, but in Shen Ciwu's opinion, it is more like devouring hearts.

Eat away all your expectations of life little by little, let boundless despair and endless loneliness surround you, and torture you to death.

It's a thing that makes people desperate just thinking about it.

And she is the only survivor of this silent storm.

She thought a lot, and she was momentarily distracted.

Concubine Chen called her, "Queen Mother, what's wrong with you?" But not feeling well? ”

Shen Ciwu shook his head, "No, this palace is just thinking about things." ”

Concubine Hui said: "I heard that the emperor did not go to the early court today, I don't know if it is because of his ill health?" ”

Shen Ciwu didn't want to tell them that Li Mobai was in his palace, lest they be sad again.

But before she could speak, she saw the concubine's eyes brushed behind her, and then they got up one after another, bent their knees and bowed, "The ministers (concubines) and concubines ask the emperor for peace, long live the emperor!" ”

Shen Ci looked back at the past and saw Li Mobai dressed neatly and standing with his hands in his hands, his face cold without the slightest expression.

He walked straight to Shen Ciwu's side, and Shen Ciwu got up and gave him the first position.

He didn't say much, and after sitting down, he raised his hand and ordered everyone to calm down, and said solemnly: "It's good that you are here." I have something to say to you today. You each go back to the palace to pack up your things, and the Ming'er Internal Affairs Office will send you a reward of silver, take the reward, get on the palace car, and leave the palace to go home. ”

"This? What does the emperor mean by this? ”

"Your Majesty, don't you want us anymore?"

"Your Majesty, if we do something wrong that makes you dissatisfied, you can tell us, just don't want us."

The concubines exploded, the chatters came and went, and the cries were endless.

Even Shen Ciwei felt extremely surprised, and whispered to Li Mobai: "Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" ”

Li Mobai: "I will only have one woman as the queen's wife, and others will be delayed in the palace." I can tell you plainly that you are here with me and you will not be able to earn a future for yourself. Instead of this, it is better to go home, bury your name incognito, and maybe you can meet a good family in the future. ”

"Again, be of good cheer. Your mother's family, I will make proper arrangements. In the future, if they do anything wrong, as long as it is not a heinous felony, I promise you that I will never kill your mother's family. ”

"The front and back harem are one, when your mother's family sent you into the palace, how many thoughts were thinking about spying on my mind beside me, and I could say two words for my mother's family at a critical moment?"

"This grace has been granted to you today. When you go back, you can also give an explanation to your mother's family. ”

(End of chapter)