"It seems that this palace is also a place where the three religions and nine streams are mixed, and although the imperial power is very prosperous, it is difficult to prevent the number of arts from appearing in various faces. Thinking of this, Chen Huahe quietly called Mu Zuo aside and asked, "What is the surname of this father-in-law, and what is his position beside the Queen Mother?"

Mu Zuo lowered his voice and said: "Gonggong Li is the eunuch in charge of the inner palace - Li Lianying, he is a big celebrity around the Queen Mother, although he is a father-in-law, but he really has the power to tilt towards the government and the opposition, which official in the court wants to get close to the Queen Mother Lafayette, and he must take care of Gonggong Li." ”

"Li Lianying?is the legendary hair-combing eunuch Li Lianying?" Chen Huaji had heard a little about this name.

There is a eunuch in the palace who combs the hair of the Queen Mother, but his surname is not Li, but his surname is Liu. This Gonggong Liu can be different from Gonggong Li, gentle and docile, polite, loyal to his master and considerate to his subordinates, even if the palace maid or the little eunuch in the palace asks Gonggong Liu for peace, he will be humble and courteous. Never compete with others for favor, excellent popularity. Mu Zuo said.

"This is a rare person, but in the palace, it is like living in the land of tigers and wolves, with such a gentle character, how can he not be shot and arrowed?" Chen Hua said.

"Hehe, that's true. Mu Zuo laughed quietly, "But Father-in-law Liu is in a safe corner next to the Queen Mother Lafayette, and even the Queen Mother often sends palace maids to make tea for Father-in-law Liu." Second brother, do you have to know that in this harem, if you can let the palace maid make tea for your father-in-law, that is a big face and a very decent thing! The queen mother spoils him so much, who in this palace dares to offend him?"

"So, Grandpa Liu is even more favored than Grandpa Li?" Chen Hua said.

"The two are different, so it's hard to compare. That father-in-law Liu is more able to be a man, and he is tepid and humble on weekdays. often bring some needlework, thread, rouge and gouache to the palace maids, which is what the palace maids lack. The housekeeping in this palace is well arranged. Mu Zuo said, "But Gonggong Li is indeed a different way, there is only the queen mother in his eyes, as for the rest, whether you are a prince or a palace maid and eunuch, all of them cannot be entered into the eyes of the law, if the subordinates have a little disobedience, they will be punished heavily and never spared!"

"I see. Chen Huaji nodded and said, "These two people, one is lenient in matters and the other is respectful in matters, and they are both well versed in the art of serving the king...... At first sight today, it seems that this Li Lianying and Li Gonggong are indeed very difficult to approach. ”

"What's the matter, second brother, seeing the benefits in this palace, also want to use Gonggong Li to climb up to help?" Mu Zuo smiled, "With a foolish brother here, why bother so much." On the Queen Mother's side, the foolish brother will bring you great benefits!"

"The eldest brother said and laughed, I just saw the characters in the palace for the first time, and I was curious and sighed. The court is right and wrong, and it is better for me to stay away from the cloth, and it is better to stay away. Chen Huahe shook his head.

In fact, if you say what Mu Zuofang said, every sentence is true. But after all, he lives outside the palace, and he only knows one thing about the inner garden of the deep palace. This Li Lianying's original name was Li Jinxi, she entered the palace at the age of seven and entered the palace at the age of eight, and was given the name "Lianying" by Cixi at the age of fourteen.

At that time, the great eunuch An Dehai was deeply favored by Cixi and was a first-class celebrity in front of the Queen Mother. Although An Dehai and Li Lianying entered the palace in the same year, their status is very different. But An Dehai is crazy by nature, and once he gains power, he is arrogant, while the young Li Lianying is smart and well-behaved, and never openly competes with An Dehai for favor, but does everything possible to please the big eunuch, and is cautious and cautious everywhere. Finally, An Dehai was charged with "violating the ancestral system and leaving Beijing without permission", and was beheaded by SD Governor Ding Baozhen in the eighth year of Tongzhi!

Since then, Li Lianying has quickly gained power, and she and Gonggong Liu have been serving Cixi together, and they have been in the limelight for a while. And there are gradually rumors in the palace that the reason why An Dehai was killed was framed by Li Lianying behind his back. This kind of language reached the ears of the Queen Mother, and Cixi didn't take it seriously at first, but later there was a lot of gossip, and she slowly became suspicious and intended to investigate. When Li Lianying learned the news, she had a plan and sent someone to create a statue of Guanyin in the appearance of Cixi behind the Daxiong Treasure Hall of Wanshou Temple in the capital.

After the completion of the construction, Li Lianying personally reported to Cixi and said: "Recently, I heard that there are often double Buddhas in the Daxiong Hall of Wanshou Temple, which is a good omen, and the slave wants to invite the Queen Mother to come and watch." ”

Cixi originally believed in Buddhism, and did not hesitate to leave the palace when she heard the words. To Wanshou Temple, enter the mountain gate, go straight to the Daxiong Treasure Hall, and at a glance he was furious and said: "It is clear that the three Buddhas are still enshrined, where are the double Buddhas showing aura!"

Li Lianying said unhurriedly: "The Queen Mother is happy and angry, please move the apse to the imperial view." ”

Everyone surrounded Cixi and came to the back of the third Buddha, and saw a newly enshrined Guanyin statue standing in it, and the monks of Wanshou Temple and the civil and military ministers who accompanied them lined up on both sides, Li Lianying lost no time in shouting: "Lafayette has arrived!"

When everyone heard this, they immediately understood, knelt down and shouted: "Welcome to Lafayette!"

Cixi pretended to be puzzled and said, "Which Lafayette are you greeting?"

Li Lianying replied: "The one who greets you is the Queen Mother Lafayette!"

All the civil and military prostrated again and again, and said one after another: "The world says that the Queen Mother, you are the reincarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and if you look at it today, it is indeed so!" "Oh! Yes, you are exactly the same as that Guanyin Bodhisattva!" "The Queen Mother Lafayette is the Guanyin Bodhisattva who is merciful and compassionate!"

Cixi was overjoyed when she heard this, and she was very blue-eyed at Li Lianying. Put on the Guanyin costume prepared for her in the temple, and stand in the temple with a jade bottle in hand to accept the bows of everyone. Li Lianying pretended to be the protector of the Dharma, with a pestle on her wrist, standing behind Cixi, intending to serve and protect the Queen Mother for eternity.

Since then, the title of Lafayette has spread throughout the capital from Wanshou Temple. Soon, the whole country respected Cixi as "the Queen Mother Lafayette". Cixi was delighted and accepted with peace of mind. Since then, Li Lianying has been on the rise, and was quickly promoted to the head of the four-grade flower feather, and was rewarded by Cixi for wearing the second grade and wearing the flower feather.

You must know that since Emperor Yongzheng, the eunuch grade is limited to four grades, but Cixi broke through the rules handed down by her ancestors for Li Lianying, it can be said that there is no one before or after among the eunuchs, which shows Cixi's favor and favor for him!

"What are you muttering there? The Queen Mother Lafayette is still here, and she doesn't understand the rules of the palace at all!" a voice came from a feminine and soft voice.

Chen Hua looked back at it, and sure enough, it was Li Lianying and Li Gonggong who spoke with anger on his face.

Just as he was about to speak, Mu Zuo clenched his fists and said: "Lafayette atones for his sins, and Grandpa Li atones for his sins." I and the little divine doctor sighed that the Queen Mother was merciful and merciful, and even the birds and fish were reluctant to leave, and I asked who else in the world could have such great power? This is the blessing of my Qing Dynasty and the blessing of all the people!"

When Cixi heard this, her heart was overjoyed, and she smiled and said: "Good, good, Changji's sweet mouth is pleasing to people." It's all filial piety, no matter how good it is! Xiao Lizi, after shopping for a long time, I'm a little thirsty, so it's better to go and drink tea first, and let the little doctor take a look at the mourning family by the way. ”

Li Lianying said respectfully: "Yes, Lafayette." You looked back and said to Chen Huahe: "After a while, after drinking tea, give Lafayette a good look." If you mistake the phoenix's health, I'll ask you!"