Half a month has passed since the Mid-Autumn Festival, day by day it is getting cooler, Wanfu cut new clothes, she is hairpinned to the mirror, Qiuchi comes in from the outside curtain, and her face is gloomy.

Wanfu saw that she asked more, Qiu Chi stopped talking, and said, "The slave maid went to the Internal Affairs Office to get the degree, and the Internal Affairs Office is buying the new concubine's flowers, and the emperor ...... It seems that the emperor is going to draft early. ”

The bead hairpin in his hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Qiu Chi knelt down, his face anxious, "The slave maid is hearsay, it shouldn't be true, I can't say...... Maybe it was the Ministry of Internal Affairs that purchased flowers for next year's new concubine, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs was afraid of delays, so it was purchased in advance! ”

Wanfu glanced at her, bent down to pick up the bead hairpin, and brushed away the non-existent dust on it lightly, "Sooner or later, you are going to enter the newcomer, this year and next year, what's the difference?" ”

Qiu Chi was dumbfounded, and when he saw Niangniang's expression, he didn't know how to persuade him again. At this time, Qian Dai came in from outside, "Niangniang, the Queen Mother sent a message and asked Niangniang to go to Shoukang Palace." ”

……

Today's Shoukang Palace is lively, and when Wanfu's honor guard arrived, Shoukang Palace was already sitting with a number of concubines.

The queen mother sat at the bottom, the queen mother was followed by the eldest prince, and the concubines with heads and faces in the harem were among them. Wanfu glanced at it, stepped forward and blessed her body respectfully, "The concubine greets the queen mother and the queen mother." ”

When the Queen Mother saw her, her face pale, and she nodded casually, "Sit down." ”

The Queen Mother did not like Wanfu, and Wanfu knew in her heart that she could probably guess that perhaps it was because the Emperor was so favored to her that the Queen Mother was dissatisfied with her.

Since ancient times, whether it is right or wrong, the favorite concubine will be regarded as a disaster for a country, and everyone will be punished for it.

Wan Fu Yingying sat down, the queen smiled, and then said: "There are still a few months to go, and there are many affairs in the draft, and the concubines are afraid that they will not be able to do it alone." Concubine Ling is smart, and the concubine wants Concubine Ling to fight for the concubine, but I don't know what the queen mother wants? ”

"Queen Niangniang, Concubine Ling is afraid that she still doesn't know about the new draft girl!" The concubine who sat down added a sentence, which was quite gloating.

Before the draft girl, the emperor went to Concubine Ling every day, and they had no chance to sleep at all. Concubine Ling is getting more and more popular, from the original palace maid of Xianfu Palace to the current position of favorite concubine, it has long made people hate itchy, and I can't wait to hurry in the newcomer, and when the emperor has a new favorite, see how proud Concubine Ling is. Left and right can't get into the newcomers, they can't see the emperor, they don't have a good time, and they can't see Concubine Ling have a good time.

Wanfu quietly played with the jade-encrusted gem armor, lazily lifted her eyelids, and glanced at the concubine, who suddenly stopped when she touched Wanfu's gaze.

In any case, Concubine Ling is now a second-grade concubine, and no one in the harem dares to do anything to her except for the queen mother and queen.

The Queen Mother glanced at Wanfu coldly, "The harem concubines have made mistakes one after another, the emperor is busy with government affairs, and there is no intimate person around to serve him. ”

Wanfu raised her eyes and smiled gently, "The queen mother decided that the concubines didn't dare to put their beaks." ”

The Empress Dowager continued: "Since this is the case, Concubine Ling will assist the Empress in handling the matter of choosing a concubine. ”

Wan Fu lowered her eyes, "The concubine respectfully obeys the decree of the Queen Mother." ”

"The Queen Mother, the emperor has arrived at Shoukang Palace." The little eunuch who had delivered the message hurriedly rushed in, covered his three-mountain hat and threw himself on his knees.

When the words fell, I saw a bright yellow figure enter the inner hall, Li Xuanyin strode in, his eyes paused on the woman for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "Go out!" ”

It goes without saying who the person who let it out. The concubines looked at each other, blessed themselves, and bowed their heads and exited the inner hall.

Wanfu hung her head and was about to leave, when she passed by the side, she heard a man call her in a cold voice, "You stay." ”

Wanfu was stunned, paused, and then stepped aside to stand.

Li Xuanyin saluted the Queen Mother, "My son greets the Queen Mother." ”

The Queen Mother looked at the two of them, and her eyebrows were slightly wrinkled, and her face was obviously not safe.

"You're here in a hurry for the draft?"

Li Xuanyin glanced sideways and first glanced at the woman standing next to her, who hung her head obediently, and wore a lotus-colored palace skirt that made her more and more soft.

He retracted his gaze, "The queen mother chooses a new person for her son, do you want to inform her son?" ”

"Are you questioning the mourning family, and you did it without your will?" The Queen Mother clenched the Buddhist beads in her hand, and her eyes showed anger.

Li Xuanyin put one hand behind his back and said calmly: "The harem concubines are my private affairs, and if you want to take care of things, the queen will also order someone to discuss with her son." ”

"Presumptuous!" The Queen Mother suddenly threw the tea bowl on the case in front of Li Xuanyin, "Do you mean that the mourning family is old and has no right to meddle in your harem!" ”

The shattered tea bowl was warm and splashed on the upper of Li Xuanyin's shoes, and he looked cold and did not say a word.

The Queen Mother was so angry that she covered her chest, and pointed her other hand at Wanfu, who was standing, "You are the son of the mourning family, and the mourning family can still harm you!" Now you are really worth it for this woman to be so disobedient and mournful? ”

"She is not involved with her grandfather, and there is still no explanation. You haven't entered the harem for nearly a month, and you have stayed in the Qiankun Palace to deal with government affairs, aren't you just waiting for her to come over in person? If she can take care of you properly, it will be fine, but what did she do, pretending to be sick and deliberately not going to bed, when did she really care about you! ”

"Queen Mother!" Li Xuanyin suddenly spoke, and his face became more and more cold.

Wanfu's palms tightened, she didn't speak, and in front of the queen mother and the emperor, she had no qualifications to speak.

The Queen Mother's eyes were disappointed, and she closed her eyes tiredly, "Since the emperor loves Concubine Ling so much, it is better to let Concubine Ling decide whether to choose a draft girl in advance!" ”

Wanfu raised her eyes in surprise, her palms were so tight that her armor was almost embedded in the flesh, and no matter how she answered, it was inappropriate.

If she agrees with the Queen Mother and chooses embroidery in advance, she will really offend the emperor. The last time the matter was not over, there was such a thing again. If she disagrees with the Queen Mother, she will give herself another pampered and proud hat in the heart of the Queen Mother, which will make the Queen Mother even more dissatisfied.

However, even if you don't choose now, in a few months, there will be new people entering the palace. Can the emperor really spoil others for her?

Wanfu doesn't believe it, the emperor wants to be sincere with her, but even if she has this true heart, how long can she stay? But if she had to offend one of the Queen Mother and the Emperor, she would rather offend the Queen Mother, who had given her holy favor, but no matter what, the Queen Mother would not like her.

She lowered her eyes and knelt on the ground, "The draft is very important, and the concubines don't dare to say anything." ”

The queen glanced at the kneeling woman on the ground, and curled the corners of her lips imperceptibly.

It is wrong to choose or not to choose, and it is also wrong to remain neutral and not categorically deny it, and in the emperor's heart, he tacitly agrees to the choice of embroidery. No matter how this question is answered, it is doomed.

……

Deep night, Kunning Palace

Combing the willow took off the beads between the queen's sideburns, and hesitantly looked at the tired lady in the makeup mirror, as if she hesitated and did not dare to speak.

When the queen saw it, she said directly: "What's wrong?" ”

Comb Willow lowered his head, as if he mustered up courage, before he dared to speak, "Tonight, the slave maid will wait for the mother to bathe." ”

It was at this time that the little eunuch who delivered bird's nest entered the temple. The little eunuch did not shy away from combing the willow in front of him, took the grate, and personally grated the hair for the queen. The comb willow was squeezed aside, and his face was very ugly.

"You go down first." The queen raised her hand and said to the little eunuch.

The little eunuch was slightly stunned, and a touch of coldness appeared in his eyes, and he aimed at Comb Liu, who was frightened by this look, his heart pounded, and he quickly avoided his sight.

When the little eunuch withdrew from the hall, Comb Liu cried and knelt down, "Niangniang, the slave begs Niangniang not to be wrong anymore!" ”

Comb Willow was the queen's maid when she married into the palace, and the queen had a big girl who was more powerful than Comb Willow, and that girl was loyal and lost her life to save the queen in the palace battle. After the emperor and the emperor, over the years, the queen has always been by the side of the comb.

Niangniang has not been sleeping for a long time, and Comb Liu knows the pain in Niangniang's heart, but she is afraid, afraid that things will break out, which will give Niangniang a fatal blow, at that time, the Queen Mother will not only annoy the Queen Mother, but also have no chance of survival!

Comb willow crawled to the queen's shoe, her face was slightly pale, and she begged bitterly, "Niangniang...... The slave begged the mother, kill that little eunuch, don't go wrong again! ”

The queen unhurriedly picked up the bird's nest porridge, Kunning Palace was no longer favored, and there was also a queen in the middle palace, and the imperial dining room did not dare to slack off, and used the freshest bird's nest. A few petals of osmanthus are sprinkled on the surface, wafting with a faint fragrance.

The soup spoon stirred inside, and the queen's eyes were a little careless, "Wrong? What's wrong? ”

"You've been with Hongu for so long, and you still don't understand Hongu's intentions? How could this palace do such a stupid thing and let people take the handle? ”

Comb Liu was stunned, puzzled, and confusion flashed in her eyes, "The slave is stupid and doesn't understand what Niangniang means." ”

The queen ate half a spoonful of bird's nest porridge, and the warm water that came out of her stomach slowly soaked into her belly, "This little eunuch likes the palace very much, and the technique of serving women seems to have been practiced a hundred times." ”

"Hongu is fascinated, you say...... Will Concubine Ling like it? ”

"!" Comb Liu clenched her palms in shock, Niangniang actually wanted to ......

"Yes...... But the slave and maid looked at the little eunuch very thoughtfully, I am afraid that he is not an idle person, in case he beats the mother and rakes it, will it not hurt the mother! ”

After taking two bites, the queen put down the porcelain bowl, pinched the handkerchief to wipe the heat from her fingertips, and her eyes narrowed slightly, "You say, why did he come to the palace?" ”

"The slave doesn't know." Comb shook her head.

The queen chuckled, "Because this palace is the most noble lady in the harem." ”

Comb Liu withdrew from the inner hall, followed by the little eunuch who wiped his slender hands and walked in with his head bowed.

He brushed off the hem of the queen's robe as usual, but this time the queen raised her hand to stop him.

"The Zhang clan in Hedong has already been exiled, I don't know how many sons of the Zhang clan have infiltrated the imperial city?"

Zhang Xianli froze for a moment, the corners of his mouth hooked a sarcastic smile, and raised his eyes, "Zhang's descendants invite the queen to be safe, I don't know if the mother is still comfortable these days?" It's a pity that the minister has no roots for that child, and he can't let the queen mother Gu owe life and die. ”

The queen ignored his rudeness and said lightly, "Bengong has said that it is as simple as killing an ant if Bengong wants to kill you." ”

Zhang Xianli said: "It is easy for the queen mother to kill the slave, but it will take a lot of thought to kill the child of the concubine, otherwise she would not be so anxious to ask the queen mother to choose a draft girl for the emperor in advance." ”

The autumn night wind was cool, blowing through the small window, blowing the candle shadow slowly swaying. Zhang Xianli noticed it, turned around and closed the window, and cut the wick of the candle to a dull point, because he had been a slave for a long time, and he was able to do these things with ease.

"The slave is curious, the slave has already wiped the past clean, how did the mother recognize the minion?"

The queen stroked her hair and sideburns, "This palace has heard that the Yin /// private of the Zhang family's court." Boys and girls are born with a handsome appearance, except for the Zhang family in the world, the palace can't think of others. ”

"You are really good at hiding, and this palace originally only had three points of suspicion."

Zhang Xianli touched his face and chuckled, "It's the face of the slave who caused trouble." ”

After that, he thought of the humiliation he had suffered because of this face, and his smile faded.

The queen observed Zhang Xianli's expression quietly, and smiled slightly, "You hate the emperor, instead of serving by the side of the palace as a humiliation, why don't you go to the emperor's favorite concubine?" ”

Who is the most favored person in the harem, you don't have to guess to know.

Zhang Xianli stood behind the chair and kneaded his eyebrows for the queen, "Niangniang is willing?" ”

"This palace house is reluctant, isn't the next person you want to find be her?"

……

The matter of selecting the draft girl in advance was finally decided, and Kunning Palace asked An, and the queen left Wanfu to discuss the draft.

The queen raised her hand to summon people in, and the palace people held a stack of portraits and placed them in front of Wanfu.

"The meaning of the Queen Mother, the annual election should not be delayed, and this year's winter will pick a small election first. These are the daughters of eunuchs with clean net worth, you go and show them to the emperor, and choose the right gifts to hire into the palace. ”

No matter how favored Wanfu is, she is also a concubine, and what the queen gave her is not her turn to refuse.

She took the portraits.

The queen sipped her tea and looked at Wanfu, and the smile on her lips deepened.

After leaving Kunning Palace, Qiu Chi couldn't help but speak, "Niangniang, what does the queen mean by asking you to send a portrait to the emperor, the emperor is not happy about this." ”

Wanfu raised her eyebrows slightly, "What do you mean, naturally I deliberately asked me to block the emperor, the colder my relationship with the emperor, the happier the queen will be." ”

Qiu Chi saw that Niangniang's face was wrong, so he was silent and didn't dare to speak more.

Qiankun Palace

Since the matter of the draft was decided, Chen Dehai has never had a good face from the emperor. He didn't understand that the reason why the emperor should come down was to be angry with Concubine Ling, he had never seen a master with such a stubborn temper, and he would have been favored, otherwise his head would have been gone!