The emperor doesn't come to Furong Palace often, but he came suddenly this morning.
Concubine Fu led everyone to pick her up, and the emperor smiled and said: "Without courtesy, I am not busy today, so I came to see you. The water chestnut and pine pulp cake I had at your place last month was very good, so I asked them to make it."
"Your Majesty, please have tea. Desserts will be ready later." Concubine Fu personally brought the tea cup to the Emperor.
The emperor took a sip and praised: "The tea in your palace tastes better than elsewhere. I remember that you can play chess, but you are addicted to chess. Why don't you play a few games with me."
"My concubine is not good at chess, so she is really unfit to play chess with Your Majesty. But since Your Majesty has opened the mouth of Chrysostom, I have to show my shame. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy." Concubine Fu doesn't play chess much on weekdays.
Only by chance, I came to play a few games with Xue Hengzhao. After all, the only maid in Furong Palace who could play chess was Xue Hengzhao.
In no time, the chessboard was set up, and the emperor and Concubine Fu were playing chess and talking at the same time.
"Lao Wu has not been in the palace for some time. Although we see him in the court every day, since we follow the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers, it is difficult to continue the relationship between father and son."
"I haven't seen him for some time. It's almost the first day of the new year and he should come into the palace to pay his respects."
"Think about it. When he comes to the palace, I will also come to have dinner with you mother and son. Remember to ask Lan Ning and the child to come."
"Your Majesty, are you missing Lin'er? This child is getting more and more naughty."
"If a child is not naughty, why should he still be called a child? Haha, don't be as old-fashioned as his father was when he was a child."
"Yes, we were talking a few days ago that the fifth child will be more lively when he grows up than when he was a child."
"You taught your child well and chose a good wife for him."
"The emperor is busy with state affairs, and my concubines cannot share the worries. So I can do my part to repay His Majesty's kindness."
The marriage of the fifth prince was decided when the Queen Xu was deposed. Seeing that Concubine Fu was sensible, Xu asked her to choose the person she liked first, and then she made the final decision.
In addition, Lan Ning, whom Concubine Fu chose, was of pure origin, but had an ordinary family background and was far from a wealthy family.
This reassured Mrs. Xu, so she made a smooth favor.
When the second prince married Ma Feiyan, the Xu family tried to stop it in many ways, but because Yao Ziyun was too favored, she finally asked the emperor to make the decision.
Mrs. Xu was very angry about this matter, but in the end she had nothing to do.
"Well, the marriage of children is really a top priority, not just for ordinary people. The second child is burdened by his domineering wife." The emperor rarely sees this.
"I heard that the Queen is also worried about the second prince's marriage. I want to spend some time here and good things will be close by." Concubine Fu said.
"Oh, haven't you heard which girl it is?" the emperor stopped playing chess and asked.
"This concubine is unknown," Concubine Fu said.
The emperor didn't say anything after hearing this. He just smiled and said after landing a few more stones: "Fei Fu, your chess game lacks sharpness and is a bit too gentle."
"My concubine has this temperament, and she will never change it in her lifetime." Concubine Fu laughed at herself, "No one can compare with Your Majesty, who is good at attacking and defending, and taking things by surprise."
"Chess quality means character. You are a kind-hearted person!"
Afterwards, the emperor stopped playing chess and had lunch with Concubine Fu before leaving.
"Why did your majesty think of coming to us today? I was shocked." After the emperor left, Chi Su whispered to Xue Hengzhao outside.
"I'm probably just bored. Let's go out for a walk." Xue Hengzhao said calmly.
"That's right! The emperor is also a human being, and he will naturally want to relax sometimes." Chi Su said, "The queen is too serious, as if she finished the court at the front and then returned to the back to continue.
When you are with Concubine Li, you can't help but talk about love. After a long time, you can't help but get tired of it.
Concubine Xian is grounded, Concubine Hui wants to talk about the sixth princess again, and the remaining few have children in front of them, so they are unhappy. After all, it is better for us."
Xue Heng smiled and said nothing.
A few days later, Wei Zhong came in from outside, went to Concubine Fu and said, "My queen, I have something to tell you."
"Just tell me whatever it is." Concubine Fu glanced at him and felt that his expression was a little nervous.
"I don't know why there was a gust of wind outside, saying that the second prince is going to marry Miss Jin, the cousin of the fifth prince's concubine." Wei Zhong said, raising his hand to wipe the sweat on his forehead. He didn't know why.
The weather was hot, but he was in a hurry for this matter.
Concubine Fu was also surprised when she heard this and said, "Where did this come from? Why didn't I know about this?"
"Of course this is a matter of course, but I don't know who brought these two people together." Wei Zhong said, "That's all. I'm just worried, in case someone misunderstands that we are doing this."
Wouldn't it be unfair to win over the second prince?"
Everyone knew that the second prince belonged to the queen, and there was a deep conflict between the queen and Concubine Fu.
When such words are spread at this time, it is inevitable that people will think too much.
"Girl Hengzhao, tell me." Fu Fei called Xue Hengzhao's name, "How should we deal with this matter?"
"Don't worry, Madam. It's not difficult to deal with this matter. Either you can help Miss Jin to settle the marriage within a few days, and the rumors will be broken naturally."
Settle this matter."
"What did you say? Which thing is confirmed?" Concubine Fu was puzzled for a moment.
"The marriage between the second prince and Miss Jin!" Xue Heng said, "It will be beneficial to us to win over the second prince."
"Is this...is this appropriate?" Wei Zhong still couldn't change his mind, "The second prince is very loyal to the queen. If he gets married to Miss Jin, the Jin family may not be able to help us win over the second prince, but it is very likely that he will get married because of this.
And he went to the Queen's side."
"The second prince may not be loyal to the queen. Has Chief Wei forgotten about Ge Qing?" Xue Heng looked after Wei Zhong and reminded, "The second prince's biological mother is not very willing for her son to seek refuge with the queen!"
"Ah? Ah! You mean...but..." Wei Zhong seemed to understand, but still felt that his mind was very confused because the relationship here was really messy. "Although the second prince's biological mother is not willing, she is here."
How useful can it be in the cold palace? Besides, even the second prince might not be able to agree to this, right? If he agreed, wouldn't he openly show his disloyalty to the queen?
And what about the Jin family? No one wants to be caught in the middle, right?!"
"So this matter is like a game, it depends on which side is smarter." Xue Hengzhao said calmly, "But what we have to do now is to muddy the water, the muddier the better. If this thing comes to pass, what will happen to the Second Prince?"
The water on the side must be muddy."
"Heng Zhao, I'm not willing to sacrifice a girl from the Jin family." Concubine Fu reminded her, "It's better to settle the marriage for her as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, don't be anxious. Why don't you ask the fifth prince to bring Miss Jin into the palace and ask her what she wants. What if she is willing to end the game?" Xue Heng said, looking at the unfinished chess pieces on the chessboard.