Lin Jue nodded and said: "I have the same worry. After all, I can find out everything about this matter. They have far more manpower and resources than I do. If you want to find out, they will definitely find out. So, the empress
I’m afraid we need to make plans early.”
Concubine Rong rubbed her hands and frowned: "What can I do? What can I do?"
Lin Jue said: "Your Majesty, please don't worry. This is just our worry. It will take a lot of trouble to investigate. Without irrefutable evidence, they don't dare to mess around. Otherwise, they will spread rumors and frame the Majesty and damage the majesty and reputation of the royal family. They will not do it easily."
It's hands-on. So there's no need to worry yet. Just pay close attention to this matter, and if something happens, think of a countermeasure. There's no need to be frightened now, as it will expose flaws."
Concubine Rong smacked her lips and nodded: "You are right, they are just suspicious, and there is no evidence, so they dare not launch it easily. I must also be prepared."
Lin Jue said softly: "Have you ever thought about what will happen after Guo Xu becomes the prince?"
Concubine Rong was stunned and frowned: "He becomes the crown prince? How is it possible? Hasn't the proposal for the crown prince been shelved? Besides, even if there is a proposal to establish a crown prince, it will not be his turn, Guo Xu. The Queen Mother said that the ancestral rules must not be changed.
The Queen Mother will definitely intervene in the matter of establishing a crown prince. Even if the Emperor wants to establish Guo Xu, he still has to pass the Queen Mother's hurdle."
Lin Jue nodded slightly. It seemed that Concubine Rong and the Queen Mother had already discussed this matter. The Queen Mother's statement was extremely important. The Queen Mother would never let Guo Xu become the prince.
"Concubine Rong, with all due respect, the Queen Mother's attitude cannot influence the situation. It can only make the Emperor think more. What really matters is the Emperor's own thoughts and the attitudes of the ministers. The harem is not allowed to interfere with government affairs. This
Your Majesty, you don’t understand at all. Perhaps the Emperor will consult the Queen Mother for her opinion on the Prince’s proposal. However, asking for opinions is just a form of respect, and does not require the Queen Mother to nod her head in agreement. Regarding major national affairs, the Queen Mother may not have the right to make decisions.”
Concubine Rong frowned and muttered: "What you said is not unreasonable. The Queen Mother also said so. The Queen Mother once said that she would not interfere in government affairs. She had already reluctantly dealt with Prince Liang's matter last time, but it was an internal matter of the royal family after all.
, the Queen Mother still has the right to speak. According to what you said, doesn’t it mean that once the Crown Prince’s proposal is reviewed, Guo Xu will be sure to win? "
Lin Jue said: "If it were a few days ago, I would have said that King Jin had a better chance of winning. But if it were later, I'm afraid King Huai would win."
Concubine Rong said in astonishment: "Why is that?"
Lin Jue said in a deep voice: "It's very simple. The civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty will become monolithic in the near future. After the dissidents are eradicated, the attitudes of the Privy Council and the Political Affairs Hall will be unified, and the officials from top to bottom of the Zhou Dynasty will also have the same opinions. There will no longer be any disputes, and they will all agree.
He made King Huai the crown prince."
"Eradicating dissidents? You mean... about Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru?" Concubine Rong asked with a frown.
"The empress is smart, and it seems that the empress is also paying attention to this matter. That's right. The court was originally divided into factions because of the reform. The reformers and the opposition were evenly matched, and even the reformers had the upper hand for a time. Lu Xiang and others launched several impeachments
They failed, but were at a disadvantage. Regarding the matter of establishing the crown prince, Master Yan and Master Fang were on the side of the King of Jin. In addition, with the opinions of Prince Liang and the Queen Mother, overall, they were equally powerful, so they had a dispute. Now Yan
Your Excellency and Mr. Fang were convicted for their remarks, and everyone in the court unanimously requested that they be severely punished. Once these two people fell, the reformists would be defeated. The entire situation in the court became one-sided. Sooner or later, the prince's proposal will be
If it needs to be mentioned again, as long as it is brought up, it will be overwhelmingly towards Prince Huai, because no one will have any objections. The opinions of Prince Liang and the Queen Mother are certainly important, but can they be compared with the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, and their hearts and minds? Your Majesty
Don’t you know who you like in your heart?"
Concubine Rong nodded slowly and frowned. Lin Jue looked at her, then turned to look at Lu Wu, sighing in his heart. The faces of her mother and daughter were indeed very similar, especially the frown.
, they are simply similar in appearance and appearance, the only difference is that one is younger and the other is older. Even ordinary people would probably have some doubts in their hearts when they see them together.
"According to what you say, Guo Xu will be the crown prince? If this bastard becomes the crown prince, will we have a good life in the future? The Queen Mother and I are not happy with him, and he hates you to the core. He has become the emperor, but
What a terrible thing." Rong Fei smacked her lips and said.
Lin Jue said softly: "Your Majesty said it more tactfully. According to me, if Guo Xu becomes the emperor, we will all die without a burial place. This is the truth."
Concubine Rong shook her head and said softly: "We can't let him become the prince, absolutely not. Not under any circumstances."
Lin Jue nodded and said: "It is true that we cannot let him become the prince. Guo Xu looks kind and honest, but in fact the city is difficult and ruthless. If he becomes the prince, we will have no way to survive. So we must stop him."
Concubine Rong raised her head and stared at Lin Jue: "How to stop it? Do you have a way?"
Lin Jue said: "Empress, I ask you to think of a way to rescue Mr. Yan and Mr. Fang. They cannot fall. They are a big banner. As long as they don't fall, the reform faction will not fall. The situation in the DPRK will not be for Lu Zhongtian and others.
If they are under their control, the matter of establishing the crown prince will not be one-sided. Therefore, rescuing them is the first step to prevent Guo Xu from becoming the crown prince."
Concubine Rong looked at Lin Jue angrily and said: "Yan Zhengshen and Fang Dunru said treasonous and unjust words, and the emperor was furious. You want me to say good things to them? Isn't this asking for trouble? The emperor will definitely reprimand me, but I can't do it."
It’s absolutely impossible to do that.”
Lin Jue said: "If you can't do it, you have to do it, otherwise we will die without a burial place. When Guo Xu becomes the emperor, your relationship with Lu Wu will also be revealed. Will he spare you by then?" I thought.
Think of a way, maybe... go talk to the Queen Mother. Both Lords Yan Fang are loyal ministers in the court, but they just said a few wrong words. Although the Queen Mother has no power to interfere in government affairs, she can protect loyal ministers and advise the emperor.
But it is the responsibility of the harem. If I don’t give it a try, will I just let this matter go without any solution?"
Concubine Rong finally understood. The purpose of Lin Jue's coming today was to ask the Queen Mother to intercede for Yan Fang and the two of them. All the things mentioned above were just foreshadowing. But this matter was really embarrassing.
, those three shortcomings were also spread to the palace, and even the Queen Mother scolded Fang Dunru for talking nonsense and should be executed. Asking the Queen Mother to intercede for him? How is this possible?
"But...but this matter is really difficult to handle. The Queen Mother may not be willing to come forward for this kind of matter. If I tell her, the Queen Mother may even reprimand me." Concubine Rong hesitated.
"Mother!" Lu Wu beside her suddenly called out softly.
Concubine Rong turned her head to look at Lu Wu in shock and said blankly: "Lv Wu, is that what you called me? Did I hear you right? You called me... mother?"
Lu Wu nodded quietly and said, "Yes, you are my mother. This is a fact."
Concubine Rong cried with joy and stepped forward to hug Lu Wu. Lu Wu sided away and said in a deep voice: "I can recognize you, but you must save Mr. Yan and Mr. Fang. Lu Wu doesn't understand any big principles, right?
She doesn’t know what the overall situation is, but Lu Wu knows that Mr. Fang is very important to her husband. Mr. Fang is her husband’s teacher, and her husband regards him as his father. If something happens to Mr. Fang, he will definitely be very unhappy. Mom, I
Calling you mother means asking you to help me as a daughter. The person your husband regards as his father is the person Lu Wu regards as his father. You cruelly killed my father before, but now you must save a daughter.
You saved the man you regard as your husband's father, not only for me, but also to forgive you for your sins. Mother, can you agree to my request?"
Concubine Rong nodded without hesitation: "I promise you, I will tell the Queen Mother that even if she reprimands me, I will not be afraid. I will definitely ask her to promise me. This is the first time my daughter has begged me, how can I
Do you agree? Don’t worry, I will definitely go."
A smile appeared on Lu Wu's face and he nodded slightly. Lin Jue was deeply moved when he saw all this. This was not an arrangement beforehand, and Lin Jue would never force Lu Wu to do this scene. Lu Wu did this completely spontaneously.
Concubine seemed to want to refuse, so Lu Wu used his trump card. But in fact, Lu Wu's grudge and resentment towards Concubine Rong had not disappeared. She could do this only for herself.
…
After dinner, in the Shoukang Hall of Yanfu Palace, the Queen Mother Wei was lying in the warm spring pavilion of the back hall. Several palace maids were stroking her hands and feet to relax her muscles. The old problems of the Queen Mother Wei were becoming more and more serious.
Guo Chongshi's confinement syndrome has been difficult to recover from. Every autumn and winter, when it is cold and rainy, she has to have the maids massage the sore parts of her body before she can sleep. At this time, the old queen mother is also the most temperamental.
When things are bad, they will get angry at the slightest discomfort.
At this time, Concubine Rong walked in quietly. Several palace maids were about to stand up and salute, but Concubine Rong waved her hand, walked to the soft couch quietly, replaced the position of a palace maid, and placed her hand on the arm of the old queen mother.
Knead gently.
Empress Dowager Wei seemed to be aware of it, closed her eyes and hummed: "Who is this, so clumsy? Is that monkey spirit Yourong here to show his courtesy again?"
Concubine Rong was stunned for a moment, then giggled and said: "Aunt, you are so shrewd, you can even tell that this is my niece's hands and feet. My niece has been very careful, but you still discovered it. Hey, it seems that
, there is nothing in this world that can deceive my aunt."
Queen Mother Wei opened her eyes and looked at Wei Yourong's smiling face sideways, and spat: "Don't come here to flatter us, the Ai family doesn't know it's you who is here? The smell of the powder you rub on your body is very offensive. Yourong
Ah, if you want to please the emperor, you can't rely on these fragrant powders."
Wei Yourong blushed and said coquettishly: "What did my aunt say? My niece doesn't have that kind of thoughts? My niece is already more than half her age, do she still want to be favored by the emperor? Aunt, please don't be ashamed of me.
.”
Empress Dowager Wei sighed and said: "Yes, it's too late for everything now. The Emperor is old and in poor health. You have passed your prime, and it's too late for everything. It's only because of fate that you
The child died early, otherwise we would be very satisfied."
Wei Yourong sighed and said, "My aunt mentioned Hao'er again. She said she wouldn't mention him. How can I live my life now that you mention him?"
Queen Mother Wei reached out and patted the back of Wei Yourong's hand and sighed: "No more, no more, good boy, don't be sad. I'll never mention it again."
