After Tian Minyan officially took over the stewardship of Prince Xian's Mansion, he implemented a series of vigorous and resolute measures. First, he revised the errand system. The arrangement of servants in the mansion was disrupted again, just like the arrangement of the Zhongxian County Bofu.
There are more than two people working in each position, and rewards and punishments are clear. If someone reports a mistake, there will be additional rewards. At the same time, a shift vacation system is implemented, each person can take two days off per month, and there are also rewards during holidays.
Some old people were not used to the reorganization of the personnel on duty, because there was not much money to be made, and they even gave up their jobs. Tian Minyan was not afraid, and immediately proposed a lower-level person in the same position as a substitute, and explained that if the lower-level person reported
If the superior does not perform well, he will be punished and dismissed according to the seriousness of the case, and the position will be replaced by the subordinate.
The man who had given up the job was immediately dumbfounded and went to appeal. But in the mansion, the appeal went to the chief steward. What did the chief steward say? The prince was guarding him, and there was nothing he could do. At the same time, he also told everyone that there were only two masters in the mansion.
One is the prince, and the second is the princess. You have no choice but to do your job and work hard without complaining, unless you get out!
There were some people who wanted to bully Tian Minyan because of his young age. They wanted to fool around and pretend to be stupid. Tian Minyan was not polite and exposed it in front of everyone. He was so shameless that he turned red and gray.
If she goes down smoothly, no one will dare to bully her for being ignorant!
And Tian Minyan has placed her confidants in several important positions to supervise and supervise each other. At this time, people in Prince Xian's mansion are in panic and fear. Especially the managers, who are afraid that they will be dismissed if they fail to do their job.
Everyone was staring at their position with eager eyes. As a result, the people in Prince Xian's mansion immediately became nervous. No matter who was in charge or whoever was in charge, they were all trembling with fear, not daring to make any mistakes.
In such an atmosphere of mutual supervision, the efficiency of doing errands in Prince Xian's palace has been improved by more than one level. Tian Minyan's prestige has also skyrocketed. Sometimes, with a look, the servants will make all kinds of speculations in their hearts, trembling with fear, fearing that they will be betrayed.
Stare up.
Tian Minyan also arranged two times to listen to the servants reporting for errands. In the morning, it was a quarter of the hour, and in the afternoon, it was not the end of the hour. This is what she said, in the morning she wanted to enjoy breakfast and exercise. If she didn't have time, she would have to do it in the afternoon.
She has to take a nap and go for a walk after midnight. If she comes to report an errand, the narrative should be simple and easy to understand. When reporting an errand, it’s best to make a draft in advance. Don’t wait for her to ask questions and waste time by being verbose.
.
If she misses these two hours, no matter who she is, Tian Minyan will not see her again. If it is really important, she can first report to her steward, Grandma Wang, and Aunt Qin, and then she can decide whether to see him or not.
The affairs of the housekeeper were stabilized in such an orderly manner. The servants of Prince Xian's palace gradually got used to Tian Minyan's way of doing things, and their efficiency quickly improved. But people in other palaces knew about it, and they raised their thumbs in praise, which caused
Come, everyone is vying to imitate it.
In November, the autumn and winter hunting season entered, and there were several heavy snowfalls in Kyoto. Before leaving for the trip, because Tian Minyan caught the wind and cold, she was ordered to rest in the mansion, but Qi Shiqi, as the prince, could not leave.
Besides, Emperor Rende has also gone. No matter how reluctant he is to leave, he can only obey the order.
But what this person fears most is habit. Once you get used to someone, once the other person leaves, it will seem like something is missing.
Tian Minyan was also surprised that she got used to this kind of life so quickly, used to sleeping in his arms at night, used to seeing him when she woke up, used to eating together, used to reading and writing together.
Now that he is not here, the huge bed is always cold no matter how many quilts are covered with it. Without his warm embrace, I can never sleep well. When I wake up in the middle of the night and touch the cold place next to me, I feel inexplicably sad and tearful.
It fell silently.
It's okay during the day, I'm busy with something, and I have a girl to talk to, but at night, I feel very cold and lonely. Is this just emptiness?
Tian Minyan curled herself up into a ball, half asleep and half awake, when she suddenly heard a noise outside, and further away, it sounded like someone speaking urgently.
"Ruyi." Tian Minyan turned over and sat up and called out.
Soon, there was a sound of footsteps, and Ruyi, who was responsible for tonight's vigil, walked in. Seeing Tian Minyan sitting up, he took the coat aside and put it on her.
"What's going on outside? Why is it so noisy now?" Tian Minyan asked with a frown.
Before Ruyi could answer, Jixiang walked in and replied: "Princess, it was Butler Song knocking on the courtyard door, saying that he wanted to see the princess."
Tian Minyan's heart tightened. It must be something important if she came to see him at this time. She couldn't help but think of Qi Shiqi who was far away in the hunting paddock, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Quickly, wait for me to change clothes, set up the screen, and let Grandma Gu come over to accompany me to meet people." She got out of bed and took off her shoes.
When the two girls saw this, they both started to move. One of them helped Tian Minyan get dressed, while the other got ready.
The entire Chaoxi Hall was immediately brightly lit, dressed neatly, and a red sandalwood carving screen with hundreds of birds facing phoenixes was placed. Several maids and nuns stood beside Tian Minyan, and then Butler Xuan Song came in to meet him.
As soon as Butler Song came in, he knelt down and saluted Tian Minyan. Tian Minyan quickly stood up and said: "Butler Song, there is no need to be more polite. Now, Butler Song is asking to see you, but what's the important matter? Could it be the prince..."
"Replying to the princess, you should deserve to be disturbed. It's just that the matter is so important that this slave is getting further and further away..."
Butler Song first said a few words, but before he could finish, Tian Minyan said: "Stop talking about this, tell me what's going on?"
Butler Song frowned and looked at the people around Tian Minyan through the screen. Seeing this, Tian Minyan became more and more nervous and winked at Jixiang. Jixiang went outside to keep watch and then said: "Butler Song, it doesn't matter.
They are all trustworthy people.”
"Yes!" Butler Song responded in a deep voice, and then said in a lower voice: "Your Majesty just sent a message to say that the emperor suddenly fainted while hunting today and is now unconscious. The imperial doctor said that the emperor was poisoned. Your Majesty
I told you to let the princess stay in the palace and not go out no matter who summons her, especially the palace."
After Tian Minyan heard this, her face turned pale, she clenched her hands, and her breathing became rapid: "Are you telling the truth?"
"There is no doubt that the news came from the prince."
Tian Minyan stood up abruptly and frowned. Qi Shiqi must have grasped something and felt unsafe before giving such an order.
"The prince also said that if it really comes to the last step, the princess can go into the secret passage to escape temporarily." Butler Song said again.
Tian Minyan's pupils shrank, and if he wanted to open the secret passage, it would prove that the situation was very serious.
Just as he was about to speak, Ji Xiang suddenly walked in and said: "Princess, the lady who was guarding the door just now sent someone to report that someone has come to the palace. She said that the queen is ill and has invited some of the princess's wives to come into the palace to accompany her. Princess,
What should we do now?"
Tian Minyan squeezed the handkerchief in her hand tightly and gritted her teeth. It came so quickly.
She thought for a while and then said: "Steward Song, go and make arrangements to turn on all the lights and have the guards of the palace step up patrols everywhere, especially at the entrance. No one is allowed to come in or out, and no flies are allowed to fly.
Go out and anyone who dares to disobey the order will be beaten to death with sticks."
"yes."
Tian Minyan looked at Aunt Gu again and said: "Aunt Gu, you are an old man who came from the palace, and you can handle it properly. You go to see the palace people. I am unwell and have a high fever. I can't go anywhere."
"Yes, Princess."
"If you wish, go and hand over the sign in person, ask Dr. Gong to come, and tell me that my condition has worsened."
"yes."
"Zi'er, go and watch this yard for me. Anyone who makes any move will be tied up immediately. If you don't obey, you will be killed or alive." At this point, Tian Minyan's tone had become a bit chilling.
Her temples were beating hard as she was given instructions one by one. She sat on the bed and thought about it.
If the emperor's poisoning and coma is related to the queen, then she has hidden it too deeply. The Qiu family has been defeated. The eldest prince has been imprisoned in the clan mansion, and she herself has been banned. What kind of trump card does she have hidden in her hand?
How dare you plan this?
If she was not mistaken, the next thing should be that the queen detained all the wives of the great gods and forced the palace to rebel. The queen hated her to the core and would definitely not let her and her family go.
Family members, Tian Minyan's face turned pale, she jumped up from the couch and shouted into the air. A gray figure immediately knelt down on the ground: "Princess!"
"Li Ying, you go to the uncle's house in Zhong County immediately to protect my parents and kiss them." Tian Minyan said eagerly.
"Li Ying's duty is to protect the life of the princess." There was no emotion or anger in Shadow's voice.
"They are my life!" Tian Minyan shouted sternly: "This is the master's order, do you dare to disobey it?"
Li Ying raised his head, pursed his lips, and said, "Li Ying obeys your order."
"Go quickly."
Li Ying hugged a fist and left with a whoosh. Tian Minyan walked around anxiously, hoping that it would still be too late.
"Here comes someone." Tian Minyan shouted loudly.
A little girl of twelve or thirteen years old with buns in buns came in. Tian Minyan glanced at her and said, "Where are you waiting?"
"Back to the princess, your servant is Ningbi. She is serving the tea. My sisters are all busy. I heard the princess calling and came boldly." The little girl said with her knees bent.
Tian Minyan snorted and said, "Please help me change my clothes." In order to see Butler Song just now, she had dressed up neatly, all wearing complicated clothes. If she really had to run away, it would only be a burden.
Ningbi was overjoyed, unable to hide her excitement, and let out a crisp sigh. Tian Minyan said again: "Get some simple but warm clothes."
Ningbi quickly took a jacket, a mink fur peony red jacket, and cotton trousers from the two large wardrobes in the house. On top of it was a Hunan-colored leather skirt, which was simple and warm. She couldn't help but nodded in approval.
"Can you tie your hair?" Tian Minyan asked again.
"The slave girl will meet. I have learned from my grandmother. I know how to do the fairy bun, the moon-chasing bun, the concentric bun, and the birds facing the phoenix bun..."
"It's done." Tian Minyan waved her hand and said, "Please help me make a simple one, not a complicated one."
"Yes, Princess."
Sitting in front of the dressing table, Ning Bi divided Tian Minyan's hair into bunches and pulled it up with dexterous hands.
She quickly combed her hair. Tian Minyan looked at it and saw that it was a slanted bun. The temples were combed into small braids and bunched up into flowers, and then pinned with ruby beads. It was playful and charming at the same time.
"Yes, you said your name is Ningbi, right? Come and tie my hair in the future." Tian Minyan smiled and said.
This was a promotion. Upon hearing this, Ningbi immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Thank you, Princess, for your grace. Thank you, Princess for your grace."
"Get up and talk to me." Tian Minyan looked at the clock and found out that it was already the third watch and she couldn't sleep now, so it would be better to talk to distract herself.
"yes."
Ningbi got up from the ground nimbly, poured out a cup of tea from the tea cup that was simmering on the stove, and presented it to Tian Minyan. Tian Minyan took it, felt the warmth, and couldn't help but feel a little more satisfied.
The two exchanged questions and answers, and after a while, Grandma Gu, who had returned from the past, walked in, and Tian Minyan looked at her eagerly.
Grandma Gu first glanced at Ningbi, who was also good-looking, and then said: "The princess may be hungry. I will go to the small kitchen to get some snacks for the princess."
Tian Minyan nodded approvingly, and Ningbi left happily. Grandma Gu lowered her voice and said: "The people who came are from the Queen's Palace, but they came from behind. The slaves in the past also granted her favors, so they
She was able to talk. She said that the Queen sent someone to pick up several princesses, including the three princes and concubines, as well as the wife of Zuo Xiang, Mrs. Jing Zhaosi, the wife of the Cabinet Bachelor of Arts, and the wife of the Minister of Rites.
..”
The more Tian Minyan listened, the more frightened she became, and veins appeared in her fisted hands. When she heard that the queen had ordered the eldest prince to come and fish him out of the clan mansion, she even pursed her lips and looked at Grandma Gu.
Grandma said: "Mammy, you have weathered the storm for a long time. What do you think of this?"
Grandma Gu nodded, her voice getting lower and lower: "Nine times out of ten."
"That's so audacious!" Tian Minyan slapped the armrest and said, "No wonder it's been so peaceful and quiet this year. I've been waiting for this day."
Ji Xiang ran in from outside again and said breathlessly: "Princess, Butler Song sent someone to tell you that there are many officers and soldiers outside the house."
"What!" Tian Minyan stood up and said through gritted teeth, "Jixiang, go and tell Butler Song that no matter what, keep this Prince Xian's Mansion tightly guarded."
Another girl broke in and said, "Princess, there's trouble over there in Bafu Alley."
Tian Minyan looked aside, Bafu Hutong is the residence of officials in the middle of the capital. It is a dry and dry place. Once water leaks, not just a whole family will be implicated.
She walked outside the house and looked out, only to see flames rising into the sky to the west. This was definitely not as simple as running through the water.
Tian Minyan was very angry. Is that position so important? It was more important than human life. For the sake of that position, he would not hesitate to hurt innocent people?
In the yard, there were a few little girls who seemed to have sensed something was wrong. One timid girl started to cry. With this cry, the other two also started to cry.
Tian Minyan was very upset. When Grandma Gu saw her, she shouted sternly: "Why are you crying? Drag it down."
Immediately, two women came forward to drag him away. The little girls were so frightened that they begged for mercy. Tian Minyan became even more agitated. She turned around and walked into the house until the crying gradually faded away.
After a restless and sleepless night, Tian Minyan squinted slightly at dawn, but within a quarter of an hour, she woke up.
"Ruyi, Ruyi." She turned over and sat up, shouting fiercely.
Grandma Gu hurriedly walked in from the outside. When Tian Minyan saw her, she quickly asked: "Has Ruyi come back? Have the officers and soldiers outside dispersed?"
Grandma Gu frowned and shook her head, and said, "Butler Song set up a ladder and looked on the wall of the mansion just now. There were not many people walking around on the street outside. Those officers and soldiers were still guarding outside our mansion and no one was allowed to come in or out."
Tian Minyan got out of bed with her support, sat at the table, took a sip of the tea she handed her, and said, "What on earth is the queen planning?"
"Now the news can't be delivered at all, and it can't be transmitted in, so we can only wait." Grandma Gu's face was as dark as water.
"Princess, Concubine Song is here." Hong Ye came in and reported.
Tian Minyan put down the pink, white and blue kiln porcelain tea cup in her hand and said, "Please come quickly."
After setting up a screen, Tian Minyan sat at the back. After Butler Song came in, he bowed his hands and bowed, then sat on the small spoon held by the maid and replied.
"Have you received news from the prince?" Tian Minyan asked eagerly.
Butler Song shook his head and said: "The news is completely blocked. It cannot be transmitted in or delivered out. Pedestrians are not allowed to move on the entire street. I estimate that Kyoto is now under control."
Tian Minyan frowned and said, "Can't you detect it at all?"
"Yes." Butler Song nodded and said, "Princess, the food in the palace can still be maintained, and I am only afraid that they will invade."
"They surrounded our house last night. If the news is not clear yet, they probably won't go all out. This is a rebellion." Tian Minyan said in a deep voice: "They don't move, we don't move, you have to let the guards in the house guard.
"
Princes, princesses, and princes have private guards according to their rank. The proportion of Prince Xian's palace is eight hundred private soldiers. The emperor favors Qi Shiqi and adds another two hundred, for a total of one thousand.
When Qi Shiqi went hunting, he brought 150 soldiers with him. Now there are only 850 soldiers left in the mansion. They can barely hold on. If thousands of soldiers really come,
Attacking, I'm afraid it won't work.
Tian Minyan gave housekeeper Song a few more instructions and let him go out. She removed the screen. She pursed her lips and thought for a while, then asked Ji Xiang to bring Zi'er over.
"While it's still dark, go out from the secret passage to find out the news, especially the Zhong County Uncle's Mansion, and then go to Princess Ruimin's Mansion to have a look." Tian Minyan ordered in a low voice.
Zi'er agreed, quickly went back to the room to clean up, and then came to Tian Minyan's house. Tian Minyan climbed on the bed, touched the mechanism on the inside, and when she pressed it, she heard a rumble on the wall behind the bed, and a stone door opened heavily.
.
"Be careful." Tian Minyan handed her a token and said, "This token was given to me by the prince. Hu Qiu, the commander of the Royal Forest Army, is his. If necessary, you can ask him for help. Zi'er, you must protect me.
Mom and Dad’s safety.”
Zi'er took the token, nodded and said, "Don't worry, Princess. I'll be back as soon as I can."
After sending Zi'er away, Tian Minyan pressed the switch back again and sat on the bed, feeling very dizzy.
"Princess, let's eat something first. You look very bad." Grandma Gu walked in with a bowl of bird's nest and shredded chicken porridge and said.
Tian Minyan hummed, but after a few bites, she felt it was very fishy, so she pushed it away and said, "I have a severe headache, so I won't eat. I'm going to rest for a while. If you need anything, call me."
"Um."
Tian Minyan fell asleep under the care of Grandma Gu. However, she was groggy in her dream, and her figure was shaking, making her sleep very uneasy.
When I woke up again, it was time to turn on the lights in the house, and the voice of a little girl could be heard talking softly from outside, talking about the strange things in the house.
"Here comes someone!" Tian Minyan called out, but found that her voice was hoarse, as if it had been rubbed by sand. She sat up with her elbows and a handkerchief fell from her forehead.
Jixiang walked in quickly, saw her, came over to help her up, and said, "Princess, you're awake."
"What's wrong with me?"
"You're feeling hot again." Jixiang touched her forehead and said, "It's still hot."
"Water." Tian Minyan coughed lightly.
Ji Xiang quickly poured a glass of warm water for her to drink. Tian Minyan took a few big sips before pushing away and asked, "Zi'er hasn't come back yet? Where's Ruyi?"
Seeing her shaking her head, her eyes couldn't help but feel sad, and she felt more and more uneasy.
"Princess, don't worry. You are not feeling well now. If you continue to worry, you will be annoyed when the prince comes back." Jixiang frowned and advised.
Tian Minyan smiled bitterly, how could she not be worried? There was no news about him, and there was no news from Zhong County's uncle's house. Zi'er and Ruyi had gone out, but they hadn't come back yet. They didn't know anything about the situation outside, how could they not be worried?
"What time is it now?" Tian Minyan asked again.
"It's the second quarter of You hour." Ji Xiang replied, "Slave, please bring some food in. You haven't eaten anything all day, so you can't do it if you're hungry."
Tian Minyan nodded, and Jixiang asked the little girl Ningbi to come in and wait on her. Seeing that Tian Minyan couldn't show her face, Ningbi picked some trivial things to have fun with, and Tian Minyan's gloomy mood relaxed a little.
Jixiang brought the food, which was still porridge, but replaced with shredded shredded scallops and a few appetizers. Tian Minyan was really hungry, so she finally ate a bowl of porridge. Jixiang breathed a sigh of relief.
After dinner, he drank some tea, took the girl's handkerchief and cleaned his hands. After all the things were put away, Tian Minyan was able to ask Grandma Gu how the affairs were in the house.
Fortunately, Tian Minyan, the housekeeper, was very strict in the future. Now, few people dared to make trouble. Some restless ones were tied up directly and locked in the woodshed. They were only given a steamed bun and a bowl of water. The rest were
People are working at their posts with trepidation, and they are even more cautious when walking and talking than before.
Tian Minyan sneered and said: "When this matter is over, these people will climb out." In the face of a disaster, what are you going to do if you can't even hold on to your position?
"Aunt Qin is not here, so I can't help you to take more care of me." Tian Minyan looked at Grandma Gu and said gratefully.
"Look at what the princess said, this is the slave's duty." Aunt Gu smiled gently.
Tian Minyan smiled and said: "I wonder where Aunt Qin went? She also left in time to avoid this disaster." She doesn't know what the outcome will be. She can only go one by one.
After Aunt Qin took over Tian Minyan's housekeeping affairs, she said she wanted to travel around. First, she would go to the warm spring-like Jiangnan to see the humanities. She has been away for a month now.
"Who says it's not the case?" Grandma Gu also sighed.
The two of them were speechless for a moment, but suddenly there was a slight noise in the house. Tian Minyan glanced at her and immediately winked at Aunt Gu, who immediately went out to guard her.
The door of the secret passage opened, and a man all in black came out. Tian Minyan took a closer look, and it was Zi'er.
"Zi'er." She stepped forward, but when she saw the person hanging on Zi'er's body, she couldn't help but be startled.
"princess."
"Sister." Yaya was very happy to see Tian Minyan and reached out her hand excitedly.
"What is this?" Tian Minyan hugged Yaya and saw Zi'er taking off her cloak, revealing that she was carrying a small bun on her back, sleeping soundly on Zi'er's body.
She was suddenly startled and asked, "What happened to the uncle's house in Zhong County?"
"Don't worry, Princess, there's nothing going on in Zhong County's house." Zi'er smiled slightly, went straight to the table and poured a cup of tea to drink, then blushed and apologized: "Princess, please forgive me, I have been thirsty for a long time."
"It's okay, please tell me what's going on?" Tian Minyan waved her hand and said.
"The Zhong County uncle's house is very good, and there are no officers and soldiers to guard it. When the servants arrived, people from the Queen's Palace also came to announce Madam's entry. However, Princess Ruimin arrived in time, saying that she was about to give birth, and asked Madam to accompany her.
"Zi'er slowly told the news after she left.
"Is everything okay with Princess Ruimin?" Tian Minyan asked with a frown.
"There are also people guarding the princess. It is the midwife sent by the queen. She said that the princess was about to give birth and was afraid of something happening, so she sent someone to take care of her." Zi'er said with a solemn face: "There are also soldiers guarding the princess's residence.
With."
Tian Minyan sneered after hearing this, "personal care is clearly surveillance, the queen can be so tough this time."
"What about them?" Tian Minyan looked at Little Baozi and Yaya and asked.
"It was Master Rui's wish. He was afraid that the young master and young lady would not be able to be taken care of if chaos broke out, so he asked the servant to bring them to the princess. After all, there are soldiers in the palace."
Tian Minyan smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid my brother is wrong. If it's unsafe, Prince Xian's Mansion is the most unsafe place."
After all, it is Tian Minyan who is having trouble with the Queen and the others. If the Queen really wants to touch her, will the house be safe?
But everyone has been brought here, and it is difficult to send them back at this point. Since the Queen has also set her sights on Zhongxian County's uncle's house, the house is no longer safe.
"Where's Ruyi, can you see Ruyi?" Tian Minyan thought of Ruyi and asked hurriedly.
"Ruyi was in the mansion. She said that she saw that the palace was surrounded, so she went to the uncle's mansion in Zhong County. It's a good thing that she went there first, otherwise Madam and the others might not know that something happened."
"Do you know what happened to the other mansions?" After hearing this, Tian Minyan breathed a sigh of relief, as long as everything was fine. After gathering her thoughts, she looked at Zi'er and asked.
"The ladies who were summoned to the palace by the queen haven't come out yet. I'm afraid they won't be released for a while."
Tian Min pursed her lips. If this is the case, then tomorrow at the latest, the queen and her party will definitely take action. After all, the nights are long and the dreams are many. I just don’t know how they will force the palace to ascend the throne. Is it to seduce the emperor, or simply say that the emperor has died?
The more she thought about this, the more Tian Minyan felt irritable in her heart. She didn’t know what happened to Master Qi Qiqi, and the emperor didn’t know whether he was alive or dead. Who would win this battle? Now, all he can do is hope.
