The father-in-law who came to deliver the oral message was white and beardless, his eyebrows were furrowed, and his voice was gentle and soft, which made Liu Miaoer feel comfortable for no reason.
But the banquet is about to start in an hour, what does the Queen Mother want from me?
This should come, it will come anyway.
Liu Miao'er was puzzled and glanced at Yuan Shao subconsciously, but Yuan Shao was holding a steaming tea cup and looking at the scenery outside the hall, seemingly not paying any attention to Liu Miao'er.
Don’t you even care about being summoned by the Queen Mother?
Liu Miao'er gave a bitter smile and her mood became even lower. However, she could not disobey the Queen Mother's decree, so she smiled at the father-in-law and stood up.
"Excuse me, father-in-law, please lead the way."
Liu Miao'er practiced some court etiquette before entering the palace, and now she acted dignified and decent. The father-in-law looked at Liu Miao'er's appearance, nodded and helped her leave.
Before leaving, Liu Miao'er looked back at Yuan Shao, but he still looked at the scenery outside the hall and said nothing about her behavior.
After all, we are still strangers.
Liu Miao'er sighed in her heart and followed her father-in-law into the inner courtyard of the palace. She walked very slowly with her big belly, but because of her slowness, she could see the magnificent palace very clearly.
Glazed tiles, red walls; stone pavements, white jade pillars; winding corridors, exquisite guardrails carved with dragons and phoenixes, palace lanterns swaying, the faint light flying frost and snow, Liu Miao'er sat on the palace's special carriage, accompanied by several guards
Carrying it towards the Fengqi Palace of the Queen Mother. Along the way, I met many palace maids and eunuchs. Green palace skirts and blue palace clothes came and went in front of Liu Miao'er. They all lowered their heads and said hello.
The attitude was respectful but suppressed.
Birds in cages will one day forget that they have wings. These palace maids and eunuchs have been destined to be locked up here for decades or a lifetime since they were young. The royal family may seem glorious, but it has an ulterior motive.
The bitterness is just like Liu Miao'er's current situation.
She wanted to leave again, because she deeply felt the palace's overpowering aura, which was mixed with the smell of rouge and gouache, mixed with women's tears and women's blood, and also mixed with the cries of some innocent souls. In this place, even if she
I have long persuaded myself to accept it, but I still can't persuade myself.
She, Liu Miaoer, was born to be a person who needs fresh air.
Night was about to fall, and the remaining light outside was being eaten away bit by bit by the darkness. Liu Miaoer walked to Fengqi Palace in a sitting position, and the palace daughter who had been waiting at the door hurriedly greeted her.
"Princess, you are finally here. The Queen Mother has been waiting in the palace for a long time."
The palace maid who came up stretched out her hand to help Liu Miao'er down, with a gentle smile on her face, just like the father-in-law beside her who delivered the decree. The clear voice and the smile on her face made Liu Miao'er see it.
Feng Qigong's nervous heart suddenly relaxed a lot.
The maid of Fengqi Palace is so kind, so the Queen Mother must also be very kind.
Liu Miao'er didn't know the Queen Mother, and the people in Qincheng didn't dare to say anything wrong about the Queen Mother, so she couldn't find out the news. She only relied on an intuition to understand that this woman who had fallen out of favor for ten years and was demoted from the palace later returned to the palace.
The woman has a kind of fear. After all, a woman who has become a commoner has a way to return to the palace to listen to politics behind the curtain, which shows how powerful she is.
So Liu Miaoer tried her best to avoid meeting the new emperor and the queen mother. This time she even thought of saying that she was too heavy to come, but the queen mother said she wanted to see her, and she couldn't resist. She always thought that she would face what she would face when she came to Fengqi Palace.
He would be in a cold and majestic state, but the moment he stepped into the hall, there was just a warm breath hitting his face.
The Queen Mother is thirty-eight years old, which is not very old. It’s just that she has suffered a lot, so her face looks a bit vicissitudes of life. However, that face with a look of vicissitudes of life is looking at Liu Miaoer with a gentle smile.
.
"Miao'er, you look at your big belly and the Ai family has called you here. It's really hard on you. It's just that the Ai family can't help it. It's been a long time since we haven't seen you. The Ai family also misses you very much."
With that said, the Queen Mother got down from her Arhat bed, stretched out her hand with the exquisite jade gloves to support Liu Miao'er, took Liu Miao'er's hand, and took her affectionately to sit on the Queen Mother's Arhat bed.
.
The moment she was touched by the Queen Mother, Liu Miaoer trembled reflexively. There seemed to be an indelible sense of fear deep in her heart, but the woman in front of her smiled kindly and gently. She didn't know where her fear came from.
where.
Therefore, she didn't know what to do, so she could only follow the Queen Mother's wishes and sit carefully next to her, looking nervous.
"Miao'er, why do you look so bad? Are you tired when you came here?"
The Queen Mother held Liu Miao'er's hand and asked softly. Her voice, as warm as the spring breeze, soothed Liu Miao'er's heart like a mother. Liu Miao'er looked at the Queen Mother, patiently fearful and warm at the same time, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
, can only stay stupidly.
This was far different from what she expected. Subconsciously, she felt that the Queen Mother was a terrifying person. That kind of terror came from the most instinctive perception of Liu Miao'er's body, so Liu Miao'er had no doubt that this feeling was correct. It can be seen that the Queen Mother was
, seeing her father-in-law and maids looking at her with the same gentleness around them, Liu Miaoer felt that this place shouldn't be so scary.
Liu Miaoer couldn't figure it out, so she made a decisive decision and decided to be cautious about her words and actions.
"No, Queen Mother, it's Miao'er who is somewhat flattered by being treated like this by the Queen Mother. Your position, Queen Mother, is something Miao'er wouldn't dare to sit in, so please let Miao'er sit in the lower position."
Liu Miaoer occasionally panicked but never forgot to calm herself down. No matter what happened to the Queen Mother, the Princess was the Princess and the Queen Mother was the Queen Mother. The rules should not be messed up. Naturally, she could not be on an equal footing with the Queen Mother.
So Liu Miaoer stood up in panic, not daring to go beyond the rules.
"Haha, Princess, just sit down. You and the Queen Mother used to sit together, but now why are you separated? Are you married, so you don't want the Queen Mother." The palace maid who greeted Liu Miao'er next to her saw it.
She looked like this and burst into laughter.
I've sat in the Queen Mother's seat before?
Liu Miao'er was very surprised. She looked at the Queen Mother, but the Queen Mother took her hand and asked her to sit back on the Arhat bed.
"You kid, when you become a princess, you don't want to be the Queen Mother of the Aijia family! Okay, don't be so reserved. When we were together, you used to call her Aunt Wan sweetly. Now that you don't call her, you can't be so polite.
"
The Queen Mother looked at Liu Miao'er, her eyes were reproachful but still gentle. Then she saw that Liu Miao'er's hands were a little cold, so she hurriedly asked the palace daughter beside her to add smokeless charcoal to her heater.
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
Liu Miao'er took the heater and held it in her arms. She immediately felt a lot warmer. Looking at the kind face of the Queen Mother, she opened her mouth and didn't know what to say except thank you.
Judging from the appearance of the Queen Mother, Liu Miao'er had a good relationship with the Queen Mother, so the Queen Mother, who was very resourceful, would be so easy-going to Liu Miao'er, but even so, Liu Miao'er still felt like she was sitting on pins and needles when sitting on the Arhat bed.
It wasn't dark yet, but the lights in Fengqi Palace had already been lit, and the charcoal fire was burning "sizzlingly". I don't know if it was because the lights were too bright, but Liu Miaoer felt hot after only a short while.
The Queen Mother took her and talked softly about the affairs of the palace and about giving birth to children. She taught Liu Miao'er earnestly and sincerely with the mentality of an elder. Liu Miao'er listened and learned a lot of experience.
It's just that Liu Miaoer didn't talk much at all during this period. Sitting next to the Queen Mother, she adhered to the principle of saying less and making fewer mistakes. She would not say any more words except monosyllables such as "um, um".
God knows she's already sweating profusely now.
Finally, the Queen Mother finished her instructions and saw that the sky was getting dark. Then she realized that there was still a banquet to be held tonight, so she let go of Liu Miao'er's hand and let her hug the heater and go back.
"Miao'er, go back first. You can't let Yuan Shao wait too long. You are about to give birth. When you give birth to the baby, the Ai family will tell you what to do." The Queen Mother smiled and held Liu Miao'er's hand.
He walked out of the palace door with his hand, and then watched her sit on the door. His words were gentle, but Liu Miaoer felt that she had something to say.
"Queen Mother, I have resigned."
Liu Miao'er was cautious in her words and deeds, and was respectful and even won the praise of the Queen Mother for being knowledgeable and reasonable. Liu Miao'er hurriedly said that the Queen Mother was too complimentary, and then she got on the bus and left.
The palace lanterns in Fengqi Palace were lit. The Queen Mother watched Liu Miao'er leave with a smile, and then she was supported back to the main hall by the palace maid who smiled kindly just now. Then she sat on the Arhat bed and looked at the palace maid next to her with a gentle smile.
With a slight change, it becomes deeper.
On the side, the beardless father-in-law and the kind palace maid stood respectfully, their heads lowered and silent.
The atmosphere in Fengqi Palace suddenly became gloomy. The charcoal fire was burning "sizzlingly", but it could not stop the strange coldness of the hall. The Queen Mother stretched out her hand and touched the jade glove on her little finger. Her eyes suddenly turned sharp.
stand up.
"Xiao Ningzi, do you think this Liu Miao'er is still the same Liu Miao'er as before?"
The Queen Mother was holding the hot tea brought by the palace maid and glanced at Eunuch Ning who looked warm in Liu Miao'er's eyes.
Eunuch Ning just raised his head, thought about it carefully, frowned and shook his head.
Seeing his expression, the Queen Mother pursed her lips and smiled, then looked at the palace maid aside and asked softly: "In that case, what do Jin Si think?"
Aunt Jin seemed to have expected that the Queen Mother would ask her, so she flashed her eyes, looked at the Queen Mother, and expressed her inner thoughts: "Queen Mother, maybe Mrs. Zhao is right. Liu Miao'er just wants to turn her back on her. She
It's as if she doesn't know the Queen Mother now. She must have had a different idea after seeing Yuan Shao and wanted to change her mind temporarily."
The kind smile on Aunt Jin's face had long since disappeared. She frowned and analyzed Liu Miao'er's actions, with a cold light flashing in her eyes.
Yesterday, the concubine suddenly came into the palace to reminisce about old times with the queen mother. They were chatting and laughing with hidden murderous intentions. This woman who came and went in the wind and rain did not come to the palace to chat. Concubine Zhao and the queen mother had talked with each other for a long time, but before they left, they said,
The woman sent by the Queen Mother was very disobedient!
That's why today's test scene happened, but the result was unexpected. Liu Miao'er was too calm and her behavior was correct, but her demeanor had completely changed. Jin Si thought it was because she defected to Yuan Shao's family
reason.
But when she said this, the Queen Mother laughed out loud: "Jin Si, your idea coincides with the Princess's. You thought Liu Miao'er was disobedient and became a wild horse running wild. It's a pity.
This is different from what the Ai family knows. Liu Miao'er is timid and cowardly, she will not have the courage, unless this princess is no longer the Liu Miao'er she used to be!"
The Queen Mother held the tea cup and pointed out the biggest difference sharply, then waved her hand and dismissed the other palace guests, leaving Eunuch Ning and Jin Si behind.
"Eunuch Ning, how did you do what the Ai family asked you to do?"
Jin Si's expression has not yet recovered. She doesn't understand why she regrets saying that Liu Miao'er is not Liu Miao'er. She is clearly a pregnant woman with a child. How could it be false?
Jin Si was puzzled, but Eunuch Ning came out and said in a deep voice: "As the Queen Mother expected, Liu Miao'er's temperament has changed drastically since she woke up, and she is no longer the original Liu Miao'er, because her subordinates went to Liu Mansion for testing.
Everyone saw Liu Miao'er's change. He couldn't remember many people and things, but he was still the same person. The servant was puzzled. He knew that he had consulted the abbot of Huangjue Temple a few days ago.
A sudden realization!"
Eunuch Ning paused, as if he was thinking about what he should say next. The Queen Mother and Jin Si listened carefully, and he continued: "He told the slave that there is a strange phenomenon in the world called soul possession!"
Soul, possession!
Jin Si was shocked, and a flash of surprise flashed across the Queen Mother's face.
"Xiao Ningzi, the Ai family asked you to find out where Yuan Shao got a person who looks exactly like Liu Miao'er. Why are you saying such stupid things!"
The Queen Mother stood up. People in ancient times were always afraid of the talk of these gods and ghosts, so they were very taboo about hearing such words. But Eunuch Ning suddenly knelt down and solemnly said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. That day
When the princess fainted and was found to be pregnant, it was when the slave was sent on a mission. The slave clearly watched the princess die, but he woke up again after burning a stick of incense. After waking up, his expression completely changed, and his eyes were surprised.
At that time, I didn't pay much attention to it. It wasn't until I heard that the princess's temperament changed drastically and I met the abbot by chance at Huangjue Temple that I learned that the princess's condition was consistent with the resurrection of a dead body."
Eunuch Ning knelt on the ground. He was still frightened when he talked about Liu Miao'er's incident that day. After all, he always felt weird and abnormal when he saw a person resurrecting his body.
The faces of the Queen Mother and Jin Si turned pale at the same time. Eunuch Ning was a reliable person. He had contributed a lot to the Queen Mother's return to the court. He would not cause trouble for nothing, so if he said this, there should be nothing wrong.
Resurrection from a dead body!
Even though the Queen Mother had seen a lot of things in the world, she was still shocked by this incident.
"Xiao Ningzi, you should investigate this matter further. It is best to find evidence that Liu Miao'er has resurrected her body. Then as long as there is evidence, this woman will be obedient." The Queen Mother's panic was only for a moment. After so many years of ups and downs,
The Queen Mother had already developed the ability to remain calm in situations of chaos, so she quickly found a solution to this matter.
So what if she borrows a dead body and brings it back to life? This way she has a handle and can better control the chess pieces!
After the Queen Mother ordered her to go down, the voice of a palace maid rang outside the palace, saying that the Queen Mother's phoenix robe and crown had been sent to the Queen Mother for her to change and attend the banquet.
It's a state banquet, it seems it's time for the Ai family to let the people in the court express their opinions!
The Queen Mother smiled and handed over Liu Miao'er's affairs to Eunuch Ning. Then she let everyone in and asked Eunuch Ning to go down and start preparing for the state banquet with Jin Si.