"Xiu Xin..." A soft call came. Xiu Xin put the styrax that she had lit in her hand into the incense burner and hurriedly walked into the inner hall. The queen leaned on the pillow and frowned and said, "It's getting colder and colder today.
I just wanted to take a nap, but as soon as I lay down, I didn’t want to get up.”
Xiuxin took the phoenix robe and waited on the queen to dress. When she heard what the queen said, she smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, my queen always gets up early every day. She is afraid that she will lose her status if she gets up late. This is the most popular person in the palace."
Apart from the Emperor, you are the one who has worked hard. Now take advantage of this opportunity to take a good rest, sleep when you need to, and eat when you want."
The queen raised her hand and touched her still flat belly, and the smile on her lips was a bit bitter, "Yes, now, I am a twin, and in my belly is the most noble child of Ningguo.
, I should have a good rest, but... in this palace now, if I take a nap, someone might crawl on my head and shit."
Xiuxin also followed the queen's gaze to look at the queen's belly, her eyes flashed, and she silently helped her get dressed.
"If a concubine in the palace is pregnant, her family can come to the palace to see her. I may not have seen my father and mother for a long time. Please help me send a message to announce that they will enter the palace tomorrow." The queen stood up.
, opened his hands and closed his eyes, letting Xiuxin tidy her up, and then walked to the dressing table.
Xiuxin responded, and the queen hurriedly shook her head, "Forget it, just declare mother, father... let's forget it..."
Xiuxin was stunned for a moment, lowered her head and said "yes".
The queen looked at herself in the mirror, raised her hand to touch her face, and stayed at the corner of her eyes for a long time before sighing and saying, "I seem to be... old, Xiuxin, you see, there are wrinkles
Already."
Xiu Xin looked at the Queen's face carefully and said with a smile, "My Majesty is not old, how can she be old? I look at the concubines who have entered the palace in recent years, and none of them can compare with the Queen."
The queen raised her lips slightly, "You are the only one who can comfort me, you are not old... I remember that I and Concubine Jin entered the palace in almost the same year, but recently she lived in Qiwu Palace.
The palace just realized that I look like ten years older than her now. Also, although she has been in the cold palace, sometimes the cold palace is a good place without intrigues. Although I am in such a high and low position
On top of that, there are a lot of things to worry about every day. Besides, who would have thought that this queen in this palace is just a chess piece in the hands of others."
Hearing this, Xiuxin did not respond, and was busy fixing the queen's hair.
"Concubine Jin is so cruel. Although I seemed to have won more than ten years ago, in the past ten years, I have not been able to touch her hair, and I have to help her raise her daughter. Fast forward ten years.
For many years, when others went into the cold palace, they would already be dead when they came out, but Concubine Jin did not. When she came out, she was very beautiful. The emperor went to greet her personally, and as soon as she came out, she moved into the palace.
After twenty years in Qiwu Palace, I still have to serve you carefully." The Queen touched her lower abdomen with her hand, with a hint of coldness in her smile, "I don't believe it, I can't fight her, this time
This time, I will definitely make her unable to eat and carry her around."
In the eyes of the Queen, Concubine Jin's face that pretended to be aloof and noble flashed across her eyes, her silver teeth were biting secretly, and her ten fingers couldn't help but clenched.
The sound of jingling accessories clanking could be heard outside. The Queen frowned and raised her voice, "Who?"
The door curtain was opened, and the queen saw in the mirror. The person walking in from the outer hall was Hua Jing, who was dressed in bright red. Hua Jing's face was full of smiles. When she saw the queen dressing up, she came forward with a smile.
Lai said, "My mother is so beautiful now. People say that pregnant women are the most beautiful. It is really true."
Hua Jing's compliments made the queen frown, and she glanced at Hua Jing with some displeasure, "The prince-in-law is trapped, and now his life or death is uncertain, but you are dressed like this, how do you behave? If someone sees you, you may not know.
What are you talking about behind your back?"
Hua Jing pursed her lips and raised her voice, "Why should I care about other people's opinions? I am the daughter of my mother, who is the mother of a country. Besides, she is still pregnant with the future prince. Who dares to say..."
With a "bang", the room suddenly became silent. After a moment, Hua Jing's slightly trembling voice was heard, "Mother...mother, why did you hit me?" Hua Jing's eyes fell on herself.
On the white patch of body, just now, the Queen Mother picked up a box of lead powder and threw it towards herself.
The queen gritted her teeth, sneered twice and said, "Why do I beat you? I think you have nothing to offer except arrogance and complacency, so why don't you quickly change out of your clothes! From now on!
When you get up, if there is no news from your consort, you will have to wear plain clothes for that day."
Hua Jing lowered his head, feeling that the tip of his nose was a little sore, but he held back the tears and responded in a low voice, "Yes..."
Just as he was about to exit the inner hall, he suddenly remembered something, stopped again, and said softly, "The queen mother, the consort's mother, took a few guards to the border early this morning..."
The queen was stunned when she heard this, and turned to look at Hua Jing, "What did you say? She really went?"
Hua Jing nodded quickly, "Yes, I left early today. When Jing'er went to greet her last night, I saw her packing her bags. When Jing'er went out, she saw her leaving with a few guards.
.”
There was another "bang", and a Jin Bu Yao hit Hua Jing's face. Hua Jing didn't dare to move. He stood upright and was hit. The Jin Bu Yao hit Zhong Hua Jing's forehead.
, smashing out a blood mark.
The queen stood up suddenly and walked to Hua Jing, "She, a woman in her forties, rushed straight to the border in such a hurry, but you actually have the thought to show off in this palace in colorful clothes. Jing'er, I have a look.
You are really getting back to life more and more. Do you know what the women in this palace will say about you? Do you know what the people in the world will say about you? It doesn't matter if you are laughed at by the people in the world, but you are me
Li Yiran’s daughter, you are the daughter of my Li family. If you dare to harm the reputation of the Li family at all, I will not have a daughter like you! Why don’t you quickly change into plain clothes and go after her! Go and ask your grandfather to give her
Twenty of your more skilled guards will be on their way as soon as possible."
Hua Jing opened her mouth wide, feeling a little confused. After a long time, she said, "But... that's the border... Mother..."
A sneer appeared on the queen's lips, "Border, what's wrong with the border? This time the emperor has sent Prince Jing to lead troops to rescue the consort. If you can successfully rescue the consort from the border, then the people will say that you traveled thousands of miles to save your husband.
, it should be a good talk. Even if you can't rescue the prince-in-law from the border, you should come back crying from thousands of miles away. At that time, the people will say that you value love and justice."
Hearing this, Hua Jing pondered for a long time, then lowered his head, responded, and exited the inner hall.
The queen still stood there with a frown on her face, her eyes full of disappointment. Xiu Xin stepped forward and raised her hand, and saw a blood mark on her palm from Jin Bu Yao. Xiu Xin quickly took out the medicine bottle and took it.
He took some ointment and put it on the queen, and said distressedly, "My queen, why are you doing this? You have hurt Princess Huajing and yourself."
The queen smiled bitterly, "I used to think that Jing'er was very good and obedient, but now I feel more and more that she always does things without consideration, and she is even not as good as Yun Shang."
After a pause, she thought of Yun Shang again, feeling a little uneasy in her heart, "I always felt that something was wrong with Yun Shang after she came back from Ningguo Temple. I felt vaguely that she was not as we imagined.
She is so easy to control, and her behavior during the haircut ceremony was clearly premeditated. Moreover, the few times Jing'er attacked her in recent times, she failed. Although Jing'er didn't tell me, although every time,
It all looks like a coincidence, but when put together, these coincidences are a bit weird."
Hearing this, Xiu Xin paused while applying the medicine, thought for a moment, and then said, "But Princess Yunshang looks so fragile and can be blown over by the wind. She doesn't seem to be someone with scheming intentions."
"It would be good if you really have no scheming. If you clearly have scheming but can hide it so well, then I should be more on guard." The queen squinted her eyes with a hint of contemplation.
After applying the medicine, soft footsteps came from outside again. The Queen thought it was Hua Jing and said, "Didn't I tell you to chase after me quickly? Why are you back again?"
There was a pause of footsteps outside, and then a soft voice sounded, "It's my concubine who came to see my sister."
The queen paused, a cold look flashed in her eyes, it was Concubine Jin.
The queen walked to the door, and the moment the door curtain opened, she changed into a smiling face, "Why is my sister here? It's cold, look at you, you are still wearing such thin clothes, what should you do if you catch a cold?" at the door.
The woman was dressed in elegant pear white. Only the hem of the dress was embroidered with a plum blossom with silver thread. When she looked up, she saw a melon-seed face with a seven-point smile on her face.
Mei, if you lose one point, it will be cold.
"After my sister left yesterday, I felt a little uncomfortable, so I took a rest early. Today I heard Aunt Zheng say that my sister is pregnant. She is very happy, and I have nothing else to give.
, this is the warm jade that the emperor gave to my concubine a few days ago. It is said to be warm in winter and good for the body. I thought that it is getting colder and colder today and my sister has just been pregnant, so I sent it to my sister.
." Concubine Jin held a piece of jade in her hand, with plum blossoms engraved on it. Concubine Jin's voice was soft and seemed to be extremely sincere.
But the queen couldn't laugh. Why did she take a rest early? Yes, she took a rest early. Yesterday, after the emperor heard that she was pregnant, the first thing he did not come to talk to her was to rush to Qiwu Palace and spend the night there.
He didn't come out. As the owner of Qiwu Palace, he didn't even see the emperor's shadow.
"Concubine Jin, you are so polite. Since it was given to Concubine Jin by the emperor, I can take advantage of others." The queen did not smile, but walked straight past Concubine Jin, walked to the chair in the outer hall and sat down.
Concubine Jin smiled and said, "I don't have anything else valuable. Could it be that my sister dislikes it?"
When the queen heard this, the corner of her mouth slightly raised, "Since Concubine Jin has said so, if I don't come next, wouldn't the emperor have to blame me for bullying you again?" The queen stretched out her hand and took the warm jade.
, but the tentacle had a gentle touch, but the queen frowned slightly, took it, and handed it to Xiu Xin.
Concubine Jin saw this and smiled nonchalantly. She turned to the queen and whispered, "Sister, I just saw Princess Hua Jing leaving in a hurry, but what happened?"
The queen secretly clenched her hands in her sleeves, "The prince consort was trapped at the border. Hua Jing was worried for a moment and came to ask me to allow her to take people to the border to ask for the prince. I was worried about her safety, so I cursed a few words, but
But she seemed to have been determined by eating a weight, and she had to go to the border to pass. I didn't agree, so she hurriedly left."
Concubine Jin frowned and said with some worry, "I heard that my concubine is at the northwest border. Recently, the Yelang Kingdom is about to make a move, and the emperor is also very worried. The men of the Yelang Kingdom are brave and good at fighting, and they are all as fierce as wolves.
How can the princess, a weak woman, go to the border at will? If something happens, the emperor and her sister will definitely be very sad. My sister should persuade the princess. The emperor said that Prince Jing should go to the border to fight against Yelang's invasion of the palace.
, preparations are still being made now. Before Prince Jing arrives, the situation at the border is extremely dangerous..."
The Queen was stunned for a while, and then said, "Is this what the Emperor told you?"
Concubine Jin nodded, "Yes, the emperor has been saying a few days ago that this time the Yelang Kingdom has raised an army of 200,000 and is approaching the border step by step. Recently, he has been asking King Jing to step up military training and dispatch troops as soon as possible.
Woolen cloth."
"Really?" A cold chill ran down the Queen's back, and she smiled reluctantly, "Really? Fortunately, I didn't let Hua Jing go to the border, it would be so dangerous, and she only has a daughter..."
Concubine Jin smiled, "Yeah." Then she changed her subject again and said softly, "By the way, sister, just now Empress Shu's maid came to tell me that in a few days, Empress Shu will be at her house.
There is a banquet in the palace, and I heard that the emperor will also go there. I just asked the palace maid what good things happened, but the palace maid didn't tell me, does my sister know what good things are going on in the palace?"
The queen was stunned again, "Really? Concubine Shu is going to hold a banquet? I don't even know about it."
When Concubine Jin heard this, she seemed to be stunned for a moment, but after a moment, she laughed again, "Look at my concubine's mind. The biggest good thing in the palace now is that my sister is pregnant. Since the emperor knows,
It must be the emperor who ordered Concubine Shu to hold the banquet, and he deliberately hid it from my sister, because he must have wanted to give her a surprise."
When the queen heard what Concubine Jin said, although she thought it was a little impossible. After all, the emperor's attitude towards the child in her belly was very cold, but she still felt a little bit of hope, so she smiled and said, "Really?"
?”
Hearing this, Concubine Jin nodded and said with a crooked smile, "Sister, don't say it was my concubine who spilled the beans. You must pretend to know nothing when the time comes. If Concubine Shu said it, it was for congratulations."
My sister is pregnant with Ryuko, so I have to pretend to be very surprised and don't give her away."
The queen smiled slightly and replied, "Definitely."
The two chatted randomly for a while, and then Concubine Jin got up to say goodbye and left.
As soon as Concubine Jin left, the queen removed the smile on her face and returned to an expressionless look.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Jin has always been lukewarm to your Majesty since she moved into Qiwu Palace, and she is also lukewarm to the Emperor. Why does she seem to be a different person today? Suddenly she is like this
He came so diligently to pay his respects to the empress and spoke in such a tone. Really, this is not the style of a concubine." Xiu Xin looked at the door of the palace and said worriedly.
The queen smiled coldly, "You also noticed it, right? I was also surprised just now. I and she have always been on good terms with each other. She has been living in Wu Palace for so many years, and the things she has said are nothing compared to today."
There are too many, but since she is willing to act, I can just accompany her."
Xiu Xin paused for a moment and then said with some hesitation, "But, Madam, what Concubine Jin said just now is true? If the situation at the border is really as urgent as Concubine Jin said, then Princess... Do you want this slave to go to the Princess Mansion?"
One trip?”
The queen snorted coldly, "How could you listen to Concubine Jin's words when they were full of loopholes? Then the Japanese palace heard the emperor say with her own ears in the Qinzheng Hall that the purpose of sending Prince Jing to the border was to rescue the consort, but she changed in the blink of an eye.
It became a large army to resist Yelang Kingdom. How could Yelang Kingdom, a small country, send an army of 200,000 people? She said this just to prevent Hua Jing from going to the border.
From what the people in the Imperial City say, if Hua Jing doesn't go to the border, just one word from the people in the Imperial City will be enough to completely destroy her."
Xiu Xin nodded, "I am still smart, Jin Fei is really..."
The queen sat on the chair, a little lost in thought, and murmured to herself, "But, she suddenly said that Concubine Shu was going to hold a banquet in the palace. What did she mean?"
Xiu Xin also frowned, but after thinking for a long time, the two of them couldn't figure out the reason. The Queen raised her head and said to Xiu Xin, "Go and check first, what happened with Concubine Shu's banquet?"
Is it true or false? Does the emperor really know who is invited to the banquet? When and where the banquet will be held? The more detailed the better..."
Xiu Xin nodded quickly, "I know, I will do it now."
The queen nodded and added, "I will invite my mother into the palace tomorrow. Don't forget to tell her that I want to eat the hibiscus cake made by my grandmother at home."
Xiu Xin responded and said, "I have taken note of this. Your Majesty may have other instructions."
"You go to the father-in-law in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs later and ask him to send over some more pots of flowers and plants."
"Flowers and plants?" Xiuxin was stunned for a moment, then asked, "None of the flowers that I like are blooming this season. How about I ask the manager of the House of Internal Affairs to send me some pots of daffodils?"
The queen shook her head, "No, I don't want daffodils. Just tell the manager of the House of Internal Affairs and tell me that if I put it in the bedroom, I want a big pot with more soil..." (To be continued)