Qianqing Palace and Kunning Palace are both located on the central axis of the Forbidden City. They are not far apart. Taking a Luan Chariot, Zhu Qiyu arrived at Kunning Palace in less than a cup of tea.
For his sudden arrival, everyone in Kunning Palace was obviously caught off guard. Xing'an hurriedly led a group of palace maids and chamberlains, and just after arranging the queue, he saw Luan Jia stopped at the gate of the palace.
"My slave is well and well. Please send your regards to your Majesty."
Zhu Qiyu got off the carriage, waved his hand casually, indicating that they did not need to be polite, and entered the palace gate.
After passing the courtyard, Mrs. Wang happened to walk out of the palace, followed by the palace maid Liu Huan. She blessed Zhu Qiyu and asked.
"Why did your Majesty come so early today?"
During this period of time, Zhu Qiyu has been quite diligent. Normally, he would not come to the harem until the time when the palace gate is handed down. Now, it is indeed the first time to come here at this time.
Zhu Qiyu took Ms. Wang's hand and entered the hall, sat down on the couch, looked straight at her but said nothing.
Mrs. Wang felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by him. She straightened her body subconsciously and asked carefully.
"What's going on, Your Majesty? But what did I do wrong to make Your Majesty displeased?"
Zhu Qiyu said calmly: "My subordinates came over just now to report that there were rumors in the capital that the Chengguo Palace used the name of the draft to send women to the palace to regain their titles. Does the Queen know about this?"
Wang's face froze, and she forced a smile and said.
"I am just looking for an opportunity to tell His Majesty about this matter. The primary and secondary selections for this draft have ended."
"Everything else is easy to say. The position of the fourth concubine should not be awarded lightly. I and my concubine have considered it again and again. They feel that the daughter of the Governor Tongzhi Wang Qin is suitable for her appearance and family background. I am about to turn around and hand the list to His Majesty."
To be honest, Zhu Qiyu didn't put much thought into this draft. He left it all to Wu and Wang, and according to previous years' practice, the Queen Mother was indeed in charge of the final selection.
A few days ago, some portraits of candidates were sent to him, but he was busy with other things at the time and put them down after just one glance.
Seeing Wang's aggrieved look, Zhu Qiyu felt a little soft-hearted, but his face was still expressionless and asked: "Is this your intention or the mother's intention?"
Mrs. Wang bit her lower lip, lowered her head and said nothing.
So, Zhu Qiyu felt confident, his face darkened, and he shouted outside: "Xing'an, get in here!"
In the past, Zhu Qiyu was always amiable and cheerful in Kunning Palace, and he rarely got angry like this.
All of a sudden, the maids and chamberlains serving in the palace lowered their heads in fear, not daring to make any sound.
However, Xing'an outside couldn't hide, so he walked in bravely and knelt on the ground.
Zhu Qiyu snorted coldly and said to Xing'an: "You tell me what's going on!"
Now Xing'an is the eunuch in charge of the harem, and he served in Jingyang Palace before, so he must be aware of this matter.
Xing'an was so frightened that he kowtowed on the ground, his voice trembling.
"Your Majesty, a few days ago, the wife of Hu Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites came to the palace and brought the wife of the young prince of Chengguo Palace and the cousin of the young prince's mother's family. She said she was interested in entering the palace for the draft."
"The Queen Mother saw the young lady's appearance at that time and felt very satisfied with it, so she approved the matter. However, the young lady's father was Wang Qin, the governor's fellow magistrate. The Queen Mother felt that if this matter had been spread to the outer court in advance,
, fearing a storm."
"So I won't let the slaves and others talk nonsense, but I have no intention of deceiving the emperor!"
Zhu Qiyu felt a little headache, and as expected, it was Wu who issued the gag order again.
Zhu Qiyu naturally understood her intention.
The prestige of the Chengguo Duke's Mansion among the nobles is very high. If it can be completely conquered, it will be equivalent to indirectly controlling a group of veteran nobles.
At this stage, the fastest and most effective way is to get married.
That old guy Hu Hui probably thought the same thing, so he called his wife into the palace to test it out.
But the problem is that he had no intention of conquering the Chengguo Palace in this way.
Moreover, this is not the first time. Last time, Wu did not discuss Ji Geer's matter with him. It seemed that he wanted to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Wu.
Shaking his head slightly, Zhu Qiyu turned his attention back to Mr. Wang and asked with a frown.
"Mother Yun, tell me the truth. A few days ago, you told me that the imperial doctor stopped taking the decoction you were taking to recuperate your health. But is it true?"
Mrs. Wang didn't speak, she stood up silently, knelt on the ground, lowered her head and said nothing.
Zhu Qiyu felt distressed for a while, but he still hardened his heart. He turned to the eldest palace maid on the side with a cold face and asked: "Liu Huan, tell me, what did the imperial doctor say?"
It was also the first time Liu Huan saw Zhu Qiyu's expression like this. He was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and said.
"Your Majesty clearly knows that the empress's body is indeed fine. However, the imperial doctor said that to be on the safe side, it is best to recuperate for a few more months, and then... and again..."
Zhu Qiyu was so angry that he slapped the small case on the couch, which made all the palace ladies and eunuchs tremble: "Nonsense!"
At this time, Mrs. Wang finally plucked up the courage, straightened up, bowed, raised her head and said.
"Your Majesty, if you want to blame them, blame me. It's me who makes the right decisions, and it's also me who doesn't allow them to talk to Your Majesty."
When she said these words, Mrs. Wang no longer behaved like a little daughter these days, she was graceful, dignified and decent, but her eyes were slightly red, and tears were in her eyes, but they were firmly kept in her eyes.
.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Qiyu finally stopped holding back and stretched out his hand to pull Ms. Wang into his arms, caressing her soft black hair, sighed and said, "I've wronged you..."
A soft sob sounded, and Zhu Qiyu felt that his chest was gradually soaked with tears, and he couldn't help but let out another long sigh in his heart.
He should have noticed it earlier.
Wang's character is reserved, graceful, calm and self-possessed. Even though the two of them are now in a very good relationship, their straightforward behavior like that day is simply abnormal.
Zhu Yi's cousin was from a famous family and had the backing of the Chengguo Palace and the Wang family. Once she entered the palace, her status would be extremely stable.
Because she not only represents herself, but also represents the loyalty of a large number of forces behind her to Zhu Qiyu.
Mrs. Wang may not care about other people, but she must care about this woman.
As the Lord of the Sixth Palace, Mrs. Wang may have already realized that her husband would inevitably have many concubines, and she was well prepared for this.
Zhu Qiyu never felt that a junior position was worthy of her reaching such a level.
Because, even when he was so cold-hearted to Mrs. Wang in the previous life, she never took the initiative like she did a few days ago.
Even if she was deposed from the throne in the end, she would not compete for favors and flattery like ordinary concubines. She had her own pride and dignity.
But now, she is willing to let it all go.
It was not because she was afraid that her position in the palace would be threatened, but because she was afraid that her position in Zhu Qiyu's heart would be shaken.
In the final analysis, she could no longer accept the music and singing these days, and her relationship with her husband returned to the respectful and respectful relationship it once had.
Needless to say, Zhu Qiyu was convinced of this from the beginning.
Patting Wang's back gently, he sighed, tried to sound calmer, and asked.
"My mother-in-law said something to you, right?"
They had been together for such a long time, and if it was just the news that a Wang family daughter was going to enter the palace, Wang would not be so upset. Something must have happened to make her so flustered.
No one else in this palace has the courage, and the only one who can do this is the Wu family.
Wang didn't say anything, she still lay in his arms and didn't want to look up.
Zhu Qiyu had a headache, turned to Liu Huan and asked.
"Liu Huan, tell the truth. What did the Queen Mother say to the Queen? Don't lie, tell the truth!"
This chapter has been completed!