Looking at this situation, the Queen is doing better than she imagined. She originally thought that a woman who lost her only son and whose children and grandchildren died at the hands of her husband would be more extreme. Unexpectedly, as the mother of a country, the Queen is indeed the Queen.
, very comparable to others.
The queen also looked at Concubine Wei with a smile, thinking about the purpose of the eunuch's message just now, and suddenly asked: "Concubine Wei, why do you look a little bad? But you are not in good health?"
Concubine Wei was startled and stood up quickly to reply: "Thank you, Queen, for your concern. I may have caught a cold, but it's nothing serious."
"That's good." The queen nodded and said in a gentle and unhurried voice: "However, although it is June and the weather is already hot, you still shouldn't be too greedy for the cold. You should get more rest and don't be careless.
"
"The previous Concubine Yang was originally very good and the Emperor loved her, but she got greedy and fell ill."
"That's what the Queen said." Although the words were unlucky, Concubine Wei still looked grateful and replied respectfully: "I must be careful."
The two of them were both old men in the palace, so they didn't have anything to say, but if they had a lot to talk about, they didn't.
More than ten years ago, one was the empress and the other was just a concubine. After the empress lost her son and closed herself up in the palace, the concubine Wei gradually rose to the rank of concubine, and because of her seniority, she took the position of concubine.
The huge disparity in status in the past made Concubine Wei feel a little unsure now, and she even speculated: "Did the queen summon me late at night to say these indifferent words?"
Just then she thought about it, there was a sudden commotion outside, the palace maids separated, and Concubine Wei suddenly had palpitations in her heart. She could hardly control herself, and she managed to calm herself down. When she looked around, she saw a big eunuch coming in. It was none other than Eunuch Zhao, the chief eunuch around the emperor.
Eunuch Zhao first saluted the queen, but did not kneel down. He only said, "I have seen the queen."
The Queen's eyes narrowed, she guessed something, and she stood up quickly. As a Queen, unless there is a special order given to her, otherwise, there is no need to kneel down, she can just stand up.
Sure enough, Eunuch Zhao turned around and said to Concubine Wei: "Concubine Wei, please give me the order!"
Concubine Wei's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a sense of impending disaster. Her expression immediately changed, she stood up quickly, knelt down and knelt down, "I'm concubine, I'm here to tell you!"
Eunuch Zhao not only announced an oral instruction to her, but also said to the queen who had walked down: "Queen, please also give an oral instruction."
"My concubine said this." The queen also wanted to prostrate herself, but was stopped by Eunuch Zhao.
"Queen, you don't have to kneel down and say this. This is the emperor's wish." Eunuch Zhao had no expression on his face and just spoke in a deep voice, each word being clear.
"The Emperor has decreed that Concubine Wei spends extravagantly and exceeds her position. The Queen should issue an edict to deprive Concubine Wei of her concubine position and strictly control her."
"Ah!" After hearing this, Concubine Wei fell to the ground.
The queen couldn't help but change her color. Concubine Wei had always been cautious, if nothing else. This is true. It's been twenty years, who doesn't know?
This expense is extravagant and beyond its scope. How can we talk about it?
Of course, as long as there is a reason for doing things in the palace, it doesn't matter whether it is true or not. Queen Bingxue was smart and immediately understood: "Something must have happened to King Lu."
Seeing that Eunuch Zhao was about to leave after delivering the message, he hurriedly said: "Eunuch, please stay!"
Eunuch Zhao stopped in a hurry, bowed and listened to the queen ask: "It's so late, where are you going?"
Eunuch Zhao said respectfully: "Queen, my slave has just given an oral edict, and I still have to go to the Prince Lu's Mansion to ask for the formal edict."
"Go to Prince Lu's Mansion to convey the decree? Can you sue me? What's the reason for this?"
Since the queen asked, and the question was about something that everyone would know soon, Eunuch Zhao did not hide anything and replied directly: "Back to the queen, the emperor has issued a decree that King Lu will be deprived of his title and become a commoner."
Plop!
"Concubine Wei!"
Not far away, Concubine Wei, who was already holding on, fainted when she heard this answer.
"Cut off King Lu's title?"
The queen couldn't help but take a breath. Since it was so serious, she couldn't ask any more questions.
Although I don’t know what the specific matter was, it allowed the emperor to directly depose a concubine, and also deprive the adult prince of his title.
This was a major event that was enough to alarm the entire capital and even the world. The underlying feeling of a storm was coming, which even gave the queen the illusion that she had returned to more than ten years ago.
What is that cruel man going to do again?
This was the queen's first reaction. The second reaction was, would this matter involve the king?
Seeing Eunuch Zhao resigning and leaving, the queen recovered her thoughts and ordered: "Take a few people and wait for the concubine to go to the side hall to rest."
He also specifically warned: "Although the emperor ordered that the concubine's position be reduced, she is still a concubine after all, and she has given birth to a prince for the emperor. She is not allowed to treat her coldly. The emperor has not said that the concubine's status has been removed, so let's start from the original concubine.
The palace members allocate part of their money to give them concubine-level treatment."
Below the concubine are the concubines, who not only comply with the emperor's will, but also show their benevolence and generosity. As for the emperor, if he is dissatisfied, he can kill them at will, which actually does not cost a few dollars.
"Yes, the Queen." The female officer responded immediately, led several palace maids to pick up the still unconscious Concubine Wei, and walked towards the side hall.
Another female official went out and asked those who came with Concubine Wei to go back to Concubine Wei's residence first to wait for the final verdict.
After everything was settled, the queen walked back to her seat and sat down.
"What's going on?" She pondered: "Why did the emperor suddenly abandon Concubine Wei and Prince Lu? Did the mother and son violate the emperor's taboo?"
But except for the tragic murder of the former prince more than ten years ago, most of the time, the emperor was tolerant and generous to the princes, princesses and concubines.
Even those concubines who were not favored would not be bullied and could live a life of food and clothing.
And the princes who have grown up have all been crowned kings and opened mansions. They are as high-profile and arrogant as King Qi, and have not been killed by the emperor yet. But King Lu, who is low-key and does not know the truth, can live a good life.
There were several underage princes and princesses who lived with their mothers and concubines. Although they were not taken seriously and the mother-concubines were of low rank, the emperor could not even think of them easily, but they would not have died young.
For such an emperor to suddenly attack an adult prince who has been in office for several years, anyone who sees it will feel that Concubine Wei has been implicated by King Lu.
The queen thought about it for a long time, but felt that something was wrong here.
"Recently, the emperor has gradually favored King Lu. I am still worried that it will be detrimental to the king."
In fact, she had long noticed the change in the emperor's attitude towards Prince Lu. She knew that even if the acting king came back and was awarded the title of king, he would not be included in the emperor's choice. No matter how outside the world thought that the prince's son had a reputation and was superior to other kings, the emperor would only feel like a lump in his throat.
, becoming more and more unpleasant to the eye.
The Queen was secretly vigilant: "Why did the thunder suddenly explode? This matter must be investigated and understood!"
Thinking of this, the queen immediately ordered the eunuch in front of her: "Go and find out what happened to King Lu, and tell me later."