Twenty-six, the drizzle and the flowers are silent
The afternoon sun, which has not yet begun to warm up, is reflected through the window screens into the Yining Palace. The shadow of the long window with "Liu Hechun" pattern is cast on the ground, faintly like the ink cherry blossoms blooming all over the ground.
The Queen Mother glanced at me and said: "Shu Concubine, the Ai family has always cared for you, but let's see what you have done with the pity that the Ai family gave you."
The Queen Mother has always shown pity to me, and she has always been very polite to me, considering that I gave birth to a prince and had two concubines in her lap. Even if the Queen was under house arrest, and even if I temporarily took care of the affairs of the Sixth Palace due to the Queen's house arrest, she was always very polite.
I have never seen the Queen Mother speak so harshly.
I was greatly frightened and hurriedly knelt down and said, "I don't know where I went wrong in making the Queen Mother so angry. Please make it clear to me."
The Queen Mother didn't ask me to get up, and just said: "You have always been smart, and the Ai family also likes your smartness, but you should not be too smart." She breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Your maid Huanbi is here.
After reading the genealogy, you married the Sixth King as a side concubine, and your younger sister Yurao married as the Nineth King's main concubine, and the whole family was proud of the ancestors. You are still so greedy that you encouraged your brother to seduce Huisheng. Huisheng was young, ignorant, and full of naivety.
Who knows what tricks your brother used to lure her so much that she only wants to marry your brother..." She didn't go on and just looked at me angrily.
I was originally listening with my head hanging down and my mouth open, but when I heard the Queen Mother insulting my brother, there was a buzz in my head, and my blood rushed to the top of my head.
Before I could say anything, Zhen Ning's usually gentle face was already full of sadness, and he said to me: "That child is like a man possessed. The night before yesterday, he suddenly came to ask for his mother, saying that he wanted a county horse. Huisheng has never known anyone since he entered the capital.
Man, I thought she had changed her mind and fell in love with the number one scholar or top pick, but she actually said he was Concubine Shu's brother." She paused, calmed down and said, "The queen mother immediately became angry and refused.
Only after listening to my mother talk about it did I know that your brother is over thirty, but he still married a wife and had children. If Huisheng had married, wouldn't it, wouldn't it be..."
The Queen Mother's silver hair was slightly messy, and she was only held up by a red gold pine and crane hairpin. She said in a deep voice: "How can we, the princess, be a human being and renew our relationship? It's really a big joke!"
The tea in the white porcelain gold-covered bowl was as green as a new spring leaf, and the fragrance of tea lingered. However, Zhen Ning's fingers holding the tea bowl trembled slightly, "But Huisheng has had great ideas since she was a child, and her mother refused, so she didn't fight, but
I have lost my diet in the past two days, I have been silent every day, and I have become haggard. I am a mother, Concubine Shu, you are also a mother, you should understand."
The Queen Mother was still angry and said calmly: "Zhen Heng is such a blessing! Concubine Shu is such a big heart! The Zhen family is such a great honor! If your brother really marries Huisheng, your family will be rich and the marriage with the royal family will be deep-rooted
, are you about to step onto the throne of the queen!"
"Queen Mother, calm down." I knelt on the gold brick floor, my knees aching. I felt hardened and raised my head and said, "The Queen Mother is right. Not only is the Queen Mother dissatisfied with this marriage, but I am also opposed to it. My concubine does not approve of this marriage."
Because I want to clear away the suspicion of "stepping onto the throne of the Queen" as the Queen Mother said, I have no intention of doing so. I object because I cannot mess up the blood relationship hierarchy. In terms of seniority, I am the aunt of the prince, and I am the concubine.
If the concubine marries her brother, should she call her 'sister-in-law' or should her brother call her 'aunt'? This marriage is definitely not appropriate. And my concubine's brother is not suitable.
She has no intention of remarrying since the death of her wife, Mrs.
The Queen Mother looked at me with a stern face, "Do you really think so?"
I bowed my head and said, "Yes. Because the princess only mentioned this matter to the Queen Mother. The concubine's brother only met the princess for the first time a few days ago. Moreover, the concubine, the concubine De and the two imperial concubines were all here. How could he seduce the princess?
"My brother, I don't know anything about this matter. Therefore, no matter how the Queen Mother objects, I will not have any objection." The Queen Mother became silent. I suppressed the anger in my heart, endured my anger and resigned.
Two days later, Zhen Ning came to see me in Rouyi Hall. She was extremely worried and said, "Huisheng is very determined." She smiled bitterly, "It's all my fault for spoiling her."
I sat across from her and said gently: "Elder Master, you can tell us that my brother misses his dead wife, maybe we will give up."
Zhenning sighed: "Gu He didn't do this, but Huisheng is more persistent. She feels that your brother is deeply affectionate."
I laughed in astonishment, "My brother has a deep affection for his sister-in-law, but he may not do the same to his wife."
Zhen Ning put her hands on her forehead, very troubled, "Huisheng doesn't think so."
I slowly sipped the tea in the cup, pondered for a moment, smiled at Zhenning and said, "Actually, I envy the princess very much."
She looked at me with an "Oh" and said, "How do you say that?"
I said: "The princess can only have the consort, but I want to share the emperor with everyone."
She laughed out loud: "What Concubine Shu said sounded sincere. A concubine's virtue is to be neither resentful nor jealous. Why did Concubine Shu say this?"
I sighed slightly: "It is the wish of all women to be devoted to their husbands. I am an ordinary person and I am no exception."
Princess Zhenning's smile gradually faded and she said, "Actually, I'm glad that I am a princess, so I can live a slightly more peaceful life than others." She looked at me and said, "I understand that only those who truly care about someone will care whether they want to share it with others.
he."
"So," I looked into my loving mother's loving eyes, "Young master should understand that my brother misses his sister-in-law in his heart. If I marry my brother, I will also share him with others..."
"Shu Fei, you are not right." Before I could finish my words, Huisheng had already stepped into the Rouyi Hall. She walked quickly, and her bright lake blue brocade dress dragged across the smooth ground. She had already walked into the inner hall, leaving only
A curtain of pearls behind her was swaying. She walked quickly to me, still breathing, "I like Zhen Heng not because of his great military exploits, nor because I pity the suffering he has suffered. You all think that I am still young and have nothing to do."
Yes, actually I understand. When I saw him on the tower that day, I felt that he was different. I also heard about his deep love for Mr.
, my uncle’s harem is surrounded by so many women, who knows what true affection is? In my heart, I actually envy Prince Pingyang and his wife for their affectionate relationship, so I feel that Zhen Heng is very valuable. He misses Mrs. Xue in his heart, why can’t I accompany him to caress her?
To ease the pain in his heart?"
"Huisheng, you don't understand the rules more and more, how can you yell at Concubine Shu?" She slowed down her voice and said softly: "Even if it is as you said, Zhen Heng is not valuable, so what? He misses him in his heart.
My dead wife, even if you marry him, it is totally worthless."
"Mother!" Huisheng's beautiful eyes widened, and the hazy tears became more and more precious. "What is worth it and what is not worth it? Is it worth it for me to marry a top scholar? If I don't like him, I will spend the rest of my life with him.
Spending time is the greatest worthlessness! According to the ideas of my mother and grandfather, I am the daughter of the eldest lord and I am extremely noble. In fact, marrying anyone is not worth it. It is a degradation and condescension. So why don't I choose the one I like.
Zhen Heng is much older than me, she was married and had children, and she still misses her dead wife, so what, if I like her it will be really worth it!"
Huisheng is a young girl who has not yet left the court. These words made her face turn red and she finally couldn't help but shed tears. Zhen Ning was so angry that she said, "Huisheng, what are you talking about? Aren't your daughters ashamed to say these things?"
Huisheng wiped away the tears with force and said stubbornly: "I am telling the truth, there is nothing to be ashamed of!"
Zhen Ning was about to persuade her again, but she heard a burst of high-fives and a steady male voice praised loudly: "Well said! She is indeed my niece!"
I turned around and saw that it was Xuan Ling. The weather got hot earlier this year than in previous years. When he went to court, Xuan Ling had changed into a crimson gauze uniform with dragon and dark flowers. He stood in front of the palace gate with a smile.
I hurriedly knelt down to say hello to him, and he supported me and said with a smile: "Fortunately, I will come here right after the next court session, otherwise I would have missed the great talk of our Huisheng." He smiled heartily, "Let's talk about this in the court hall.
, it will definitely make those pedantic old people feel ashamed."
Huisheng became embarrassed and said, "Uncle is laughing at me!"
Zhen Ning half-sullen, looked at Xuan Ling and said: "The queen mother is not allowed to do it either, the emperor should give Huisheng some good advice."
"Persuade?" Xuan Ling's thin lips were covered with a distant smile, and the two heroic eyebrows on his temples were slightly raised like flying feathers. He sat down under the window and said with a smile: "I have also heard about Huisheng.
, reminds me of Concubine Shu’s return to the palace a few years ago.” He looked at Zhen Ning with a smile, “What do you think of Concubine Shu as a person?”
Zhen Ning nodded and praised: "Yes, you can be the emperor's virtuous wife."
"Yes. No one knows the outcome until something happens. For example, when I insisted on taking Concubine Shu back to the palace, the Queen Mother refused, and even the ministers criticized her greatly. They thought Concubine Shu was unlucky or charming and deceived the Lord. No one knew.
Concubine Shu will give birth to a prince after she enters the palace, so I will take care of everything in the palace. At that time, everyone objected, and I thought that even if Concubine Shu returned to the palace, she would not be lucky enough to give birth to our child, even if Concubine Shu returned to the palace, she would not be able to give birth to our child.
Jealousy makes trouble, but at that time I just wanted her to return to the palace and stay with me. If she gave up for those unnecessary things that might happen, I would feel very sorry."
I was quite moved in my heart. I raised my head and met his gentle and burning gaze. I smiled unconsciously and said, "Your Majesty means..."
He took my hand and said, "What I mean is that as a parent, I often worry about a hundred years of worry. It's better to leave it to Huisheng."
I objected weakly, "But my concubine's brother..."
"He will marry again, right?" He said gently: "Instead of following the orders of his parents to marry an emotionless person, why not Huisheng? After all, Huisheng likes him. This matter has nothing to do with your brother.
Harmless.”
Zhen Ning sighed and said, "Your Majesty, that's all I want. I'm just afraid that the Queen Mother will be angry."
He said warmly: "The Queen Mother is angry because she feels too much for Huisheng and Sister Huang. Therefore, as long as Sister Huang and I go to persuade the Queen together, the Queen Mother will agree." He paused, and his stretched eyebrows gently raised, "Empress Mother
I feel sorry for my descendants, and I am naturally happy to see them satisfied. Imperial sister, please come with me."
Zhen Ning sighed softly, stretched out her hand to caress Huisheng's cheek lovingly, "Just do it if you wish, and don't regret it."
Xuan Ling smiled faintly, stood up and said, "I asked for it, and I have no words to regret it." Huisheng nodded vigorously, with a smile as bright as a spring flower. Xuan Ling stretched out his hand to caress my cheek, and whispered in my ear: "You give me
This is an opportunity to make up for your brother, and also to persuade him to let go of his embrace, Huisheng is a good boy."
I took a deep breath, looked at him, and said, "Okay."
Maybe it was because of the Queen Mother's compassion and love for her descendants, maybe it was because Xuan Ling's persuasion moved the Queen Mother. In short, when the imperial edict granting the marriage came down, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The elder brother stood under the setting sun with his hands folded, looking at the golden edict woven on the red sandalwood table, and smiled helplessly, "It seems that I can't help myself in every marriage. Last time, you chose Qian Tao for me, and this time, the emperor made the decision to marry me.
Lord Chengyi, you can’t help yourself at all.”
I nodded, "It's true that I have no choice but to do it." I was worried, "Brother, I have a rich body and will inevitably be spoiled, so I will wrong you."
My brother patted my hand gently and comforted me: "I understand. The Zhen family is full of people, and you, Yu Yin, and Yu Rao have already shared a lot. As the elder brother, I cannot stand by and watch."
Marriage is so uncontrollable, how could my brother and I, who are from aristocratic families, not know it? It is extremely difficult to have a Yurao who has everything perfect.
There were fallen flowers rustling in front of the court, and I reached out to brush off a crimson fallen petal from his sleeve. Spring had passed, and it seemed as if the loving time of my children in the past had also been brushed away.
My brother left for a long time, and I just stood in the wind, with the soft wind blowing gently against my soft hair, and my mood fluctuated like this.
Jin Xi gently put on a Qiansha cloak on me and said softly: "If I stand like this any longer, I'm afraid I will catch the cold."
I nodded lightly, "The Queen Mother actually doesn't like this marriage, and she doesn't want the Zhen family to become more and more powerful. She just doesn't want to offend her children."
Jin Xi's fair face showed a hint of sadness, "The Queen Mother wants to protect the prosperity of the Zhu family, so naturally she doesn't like the dominance of the Zhen family. Now that the marriage has been decided, the Queen Mother must also think of ways to avoid being tabooed by the Queen Mother, otherwise the Queen Mother's life will not be easy."
It will be better."
Step by step, I slowly walked out of Weiyang Palace with my silk shoes stepping on fragrant fallen flowers.
If you get something, you must give something in exchange for it. This is human common sense.
Just at this moment, I was lying in front of the Queen Mother, and my mood was no longer as open and peaceful as usual. I kowtowed again, with a light but firm voice, "I am grateful to the Queen Mother for her willingness to fulfill the wishes of the princess and my brother, and I do not want Zhen to suffer because of her maternal relations.
His achievements were prominent in the imperial court, but in order to avoid the shift in power and position and the unrest in the harem, I am willing to hand over the power to take charge of the affairs of the six palaces."
"Give up the power to take charge of the affairs of the Sixth Palace?" The Queen Mother was reclining on a broad sandalwood couch painted with gold and red phoenixes, drinking tea lazily. The dark purple and gold brocade on the couch was reflected in the Queen Mother's face, which was as pale as plain, and the hair behind her fluffy bun was reflected.
The golden hairpin with two dragons playing with pearls and a long life is extremely heavy, as if it is about to fall if it is exhausted. Only the three emerald gold earrings on the earlobes shine dimly under the light, and they still look like the masters of the deep palace even though they are tired.
With her charming charm, she raised her heavy eyes and looked at me, "Then who does Concubine Shu think can take over and manage the Sixth Palace?"
I pondered for a moment and then slowly counted: "The noble concubine and the concubine De are familiar with palace affairs and have assisted in the affairs of the palace for many years. I think they are very handy; the concubine Zhen is calm and careful, and can do everything well; the concubine Xin is outspoken and quick to do things;
Yun Rong is beautiful on the outside, smart on the outside, quick on the mind, and comes from a family that is decisive in her actions, so she is a talent that can be built upon."
"Really?" The Queen Mother raised her chin slightly, and Aunt Sun came up and rubbed her shoulders. After a moment, the Queen Mother showed a comfortable and relaxed mood, closed her eyes and said: "Concubine De and Concubine Ai are naturally relieved, but Concubine is sick and unable to do anything.
It can be seen that Concubine Zhen and Concubine Xin can grow up to be great, and they are not capable of taking charge alone; as for Yunrong..." The Queen Mother pondered for a long time, and finally responded with a soft hum, "I'm afraid this phoenix will fly far away.
.”
I was shocked, a chill ran down my spine, and I was covered in cold sweat. Although there were many rumors in the palace, they never dared to reach the Queen Mother. But the Queen Mother, who has been ill for so many years, could actually know all these things.
Aunt Chu Sun gently patted the Empress Dowager's shoulders and said slowly and calmly: "Concubine De is more gentle. If Mrs. Zhuang Min co-manages the Sixth Palace with her, she may not be able to listen to Concubine De. After all, Madam is still younger."
The Queen Mother gently patted Aunt Sun's hand, and slightly raised her wrinkled face, "You don't have to temporarily take over the Sixth Palace in exchange for the peace of mind of the Ai family. The Ai family has never let go, and there is no need to worry about it anymore.
." The Queen Mother raised her body and sat upright on the couch, "Concubine Shu has always been smart, so the Ai family might as well open the skylight to you and talk openly. You and the Ai family both know how the queen was imprisoned, and the instability of the queen's position is inevitable without concubines in the palace.
People's hearts are floating. Concubine Shu, you may not dare to have the idea of becoming the queen, there are others who are more enthusiastic than you. Naturally, your handing over the power can temporarily reassure the Ai family, but I am afraid that the Ai family will be more worried in the future."
The Queen Mother took a breath and said, "The Ai family also told you clearly that the emperor will never depose the queen during his lifetime. You can't think of such an idea, and neither can anyone else."
I secretly held my breath and said, "I understand the Queen Mother's painstaking efforts. Only by keeping her position unchanged can the harem be kept safe."
The Queen Mother gave me a cold look, "As long as you understand." She paused and said, "The queen's position will not change, the person who oversees the affairs of the Sixth Palace will not change, and there will be no big trouble in front of us."
I kowtowed again, "The Queen Mother taught you this."
She slowly turned her back, leaving me with a cold and straight back, "The emperor is right, they are just county horses." She waved her hand, "Please step back."