The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 501 Concubine Rong regains favor

Concubine Rong Gui is ill. Although the illness is not serious, it is not light. During these days, the emperor would go to Yongxin Palace to visit her when he was in court or when he was free.

Every time the emperor visited Concubine Rong, in addition to a large number of tonics, he would also reward her with a lot of gold, silver, jewelry, and silk. Concubine Rong loves beauty the most, and loves beautiful jewelry and clothes. The emperor gave her these gifts to make her happy so that her illness could be cured faster.

Although in the past few years, Concubine Rong was not favored by the Sixth Palace as before, she was still relatively favored in the harem, but compared to Concubine Ying, she was not as good as Concubine Ying.

Although the emperor did not love Concubine Rong as much as before, his friendship for Concubine Rong still existed. She was well fed and clothed in the palace.

Perhaps it was because Concubine Rong's illness was more serious this time, which aroused the emperor's past friendship and guilt. During these days, the emperor loved her very much, which made the other concubines in the harem very jealous and angry. Of course, the most angry one was Queen Xie.

In recent years, Concubine Mingming has been the most favored, but Empress Xie is not so hostile to her because she has not given birth to a son or a daughter for the emperor so far. Because Concubine Ying has no heirs, no matter how favored she is, the other concubines will not hate her. Of course, privately they would laugh at her for being a hen that couldn't lay eggs.

Now that Concubine Rong has returned to her favor, the alarm bells in the hearts of Queen Xie and the other concubines suddenly sounded, and they all entered a state of high alert.

In the past, when Concubine Rong pampered the harem, she was particularly arrogant and domineering. All the concubines in the harem suffered at her hands. In recent years, Concubine Rong has not been as favored as before, and her temper has naturally become more tempered, and she is no longer as rampant as before, which makes life easier for other concubines in the harem. Now, when they think that Concubine Rong will make things difficult for them like before, the other concubines in the harem feel fear, hatred and uneasiness.

Concubine Rong's return to her former favor was a threat to many concubines, but it had no impact on Concubine Liang. Since Pan Cairen left, she was the only concubine left in the entire Kunde Palace. Although it was a little deserted, no one bothered her. She closed the palace door and lived her own life freely.

Except to pay respects to Queen Xie, Concubine Liang would not leave the Kunde Hall on weekdays. This makes other concubines in the harem always forget her existence.

Last year, because of Zhao Yao's glass incident, Queen Xie, Concubine Rong, and Concubine De all approached Liang Bin and coerced her into telling her son to cooperate honestly with their son.

If Concubine Liang rejected them, she would naturally be hated by them. Empress Xie and Concubine Rong secretly made things difficult for Liang Concubine, but later the emperor found out that they were severely reprimanded by the emperor, while Liang Concubine was placed under house arrest in Kunde Hall. Without his order, she could not Enter and exit Kunde Hall at will. No one else can enter Kunde Hall at will.

After Empress Xie and Concubine Rong were reprimanded by the emperor, they never caused trouble to Concubine Liang again. They felt that Liang Bin, who was under house arrest, would die soon. But they didn't expect that Concubine Liang, who was under house arrest in Kunde Palace, lived a very comfortable life.

As for the other people in the palace who saw Liang Concubine under house arrest, they took the opportunity to add insult to injury and deduct Liang Concubine's special case, which did not happen. It's not that these people don't want to, it's that they don't dare. Sun Kui had warned them that if they were found to be mistreating Liang Bin secretly, death would be waiting for them.

If someone takes advantage of Concubine Liang's house arrest, it would be impossible to kill her secretly, because Kunde Hall is always guarded by dragon guards. Not to mention killing Liang Concubine, as soon as they approached Kunde Hall, they would be discovered by the Dragon Guards and sent to Sun Kui for processing. If these people are delivered to Sun Kui's hands, they will shed a layer of their skin even if they don't die.

In addition to the emperor sending dragon guards to protect Liang Concubine, His Highness the King of Wei also secretly sent people to protect her.

There are several rough envoys and eunuchs in the Kunde Palace who belong to His Highness the King of Wei. There are also people from the King of Wei in many places such as the Shangfu Bureau, the Shangshi Bureau, and the Shangbei Bureau. They will not only help Liang Concubine secretly, but also protect Liang Concubine from being framed by other concubines.

With the protection of the emperor and His Highness the King of Wei, Liang Concubine was very safe in the palace. This is why Zhao Yao can go to Lingnan with peace of mind.

Having said that, Concubine Rong's favor caused quite a stir in the harem and also caused waves in the previous dynasty. For those who represent the royal party, this is a great good thing. In this way, it will help to win the throne on behalf of the king.

It is not a good thing for Queen Xie and Prince Jing that Concubine Rong has returned to her former favor of the Sixth Palace. It is not a good thing for the ministers who support the King of Chu. However, Concubine Li was not troubled by this matter. She was very calm, as if Concubine Rong's favor had nothing to do with her.

The King of Chu had not returned to Beijing yet, and the ministers who supported the King of Chu could not discuss countermeasures with him, so they had to go to Li Pushe to discuss the matter.

They suggested that Concubine Li should be asked to win over Concubine Ying. Concubine Ying has been favored since she entered the palace. If Concubine Ying can be bribed, Concubine Ying will become a great help to them. The most important thing is that Concubine Ying has no heirs. As long as she is willing to help them, when the King of Chu ascends the throne in the future, she can be a noble concubine and remain prosperous and wealthy for the rest of her life.

Li Pushe felt that the minister's proposal was very good, so he asked his wife to go to the palace to see Concubine Li and discuss the bribery of Concubine Ying.

Concubine Li refused without thinking.

Mrs. Li didn't understand why her daughter was unwilling to cooperate with Concubine Ying.

"Mother, Concubine Ying is not a simple person, she will not be bribed by us." Concubine Li couldn't tell the truth to her mother.

"Being a noble concubine and being favored all the time is certainly not a simple person." Mrs. Li thought that her daughter could not bear to please Concubine Ying, so she persuaded her earnestly, "I know you don't bother to do such a thing, but you also We need to consider it for Your Highness. Concubine Ying is favored and has no heirs. Letting her cooperate with us is a good thing for her and us, don’t you think?”

Seeing that Mrs. Li had misunderstood, Concubine Li said in a dumbfounded voice: "Mother, if buying Concubine Ying can help the King of Chu, as a mother, I am willing to do anything."

When Mrs. Li heard what her daughter said, she asked with confusion on her face: "Then why are you unwilling to win her over?"

"Mother, why do you think Concubine Ying is not pregnant for you?" Concubine Li couldn't say directly, "Is it really that she can't give birth? She was very young when she entered the palace."

When Mrs. Li heard this, she was startled for a moment, then thought of something, her face changed drastically, and fear appeared in her eyes.

"Could it be...could it be..."

Seeing what Mrs. Li had guessed, Concubine Li nodded slightly to her: "Concubine Ying has no heirs, and she has never been close to our concubines who have heirs in these years. Do you think I can still find her and let her go with her?" Do we cooperate?"

Mrs. Li said with a look of horror: "No." She didn't expect that this was the reason why Concubine Ying had no heirs.

"Mother, tell Father and the others that there is nothing wrong with Concubine Rong returning to her former favor. Tell them not to do anything and wait quietly for King Chu to come back."

"Are you really okay?" Mrs. Li said again, "King Dai has made great achievements in the north this time. When he comes back, won't it be..." King Dai has made great military achievements and has a very big influence in the army. force. Now that he has made great achievements, the prestige of this generation of kings will rise again, which is very unfavorable to His Highness the King of Chu. "Besides, the Emperor and Concubine Rong are cousins, and their friendship is not comparable to that of ordinary people. For Concubine Rong's sake, the Emperor..."

"No, the emperor will not be swayed by emotions." Concubine Li knew clearly what Mrs. Li and the others were worried about. "We will wait until King Chu comes back to discuss everything." As a mother and concubine, she is not in a hurry. Her father and mother They were anxious first.

"Is it safe for Your Highness to return to Beijing?" Mrs. Li has been worried about King Chu these days, fearing that he will be hunted down this time just like in previous years. "Is your highness okay?"

"It's okay, everything is fine. I will be back in a while, so you and your father don't have to worry." Concubine Li said this, but in her heart she was just as worried about King Chu's safety as Mrs. Li. However, she believed her son would come back safe and sound.

"That's good, that's good." Mrs. Li patted her chest, "You don't know that I have always been worried about something happening to His Highness outside during this period, and I am afraid that what happened back then will happen again." Mrs. Li always likes to love and care. The King of Chu loved his grandson even more than his own grandson.

Concubine Li comforted Mrs. Li a few more words, and then stayed with her for lunch. After finishing lunch, Mrs. Li left.

After sending Mrs. Li away, Concubine Li's expression immediately changed.

Qiu Sang saw something wrong with Concubine Li's face, and asked with concern: "Empress, what's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing." Concubine Li counted the days in her mind. King Chu should be able to return to Beijing in a few days, but she felt a little uneasy for some reason.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Rong's regaining her former favor doesn't mean anything. You don't need to worry too much." Qiu Sang comforted Concubine Li, "Besides, our Highness has been favored by the Emperor over the years. The name written on the back of the plaque is definitely His Highness. name."

Concubine Li thought to herself: "That's why I'm worried that King Chu will be harmful to him." Forget it, it's useless for her to worry anymore. She still believes that King Chu can return to Beijing safely and smoothly.

"Your Majesty, is it true that you can't win over Concubine Ying?"

"No, it's best not to get close to Concubine Ying." Concubine Li could never guess who Concubine Ying was. However, she felt that Concubine Ying's lack of pregnancy must have something to do with the emperor. "I'm tired, I'll take a nap."

"Yes, your Majesty." Qiu Sang immediately made Concubine Li's bed and waited for her to rest.

At this time, in Zhaoyang Palace, King Jing was taking a walk with Queen Xie after dinner. The mother and son also talked about wanting to bribe Concubine Ying.

"Concubine Ying, that bitch, I gave her a favor before, but she rejected me out of her wits." When Concubine Ying first entered the palace, Queen Xie extended her kindness to her, but she didn't appreciate it at all. "Over the years, like that bitch Concubine Rong, she has not taken this queen seriously." Empress Xie hated Concubine Ying with seven points of hatred. It would be a humiliation for her to bribe Concubine Ying again.

"Mother, Concubine Ying has no heirs, and she is deeply loved by the emperor. If we win her over to cooperate with us, we will be more likely to win." King Jing continued, "Concubine Ying has no heirs in these years, but she is still loved by the emperor. This ability is not small, and she is very important to my father. If she speaks good words for me in front of my father, he will definitely listen to her. "

Queen Xie said nothing with a cold face.

"Mother, please do not underestimate the importance of Imperial Concubine Ying in my father's heart."

After hearing what her son said, Queen Xie became more and more jealous of Concubine Ying. "Queen Mother, for our grand plan, we can only wrong you first. When the matter is completed, you can do whatever you want with Concubine Ying."

King Jing's words touched Empress Xie's heart. She had always wanted to get rid of Concubine Ying, but the emperor protected her, and she could do nothing about Concubine Ying. When she becomes the Queen Mother in the future, Concubine Ying, a bitch, will be able to be humiliated by her.

"For your sake, I will give that bitch Concubine Ying another chance."

"Thank you very much, Queen Mother."

King Jing supported Queen Xie and walked for a while, coaxed Queen Xie for a while, and then left Zhaoyang Palace.

Queen Xie was very happy to be coaxed by her son, "You will go to Concubine Ying later and ask her to come and drink tea with me tomorrow." It is impossible for Queen Xie to invite Concubine Ying to Zhaoyang Palace for tea. Her dignity as a queen.

"Yes, empress." After receiving the order, Jiang Chuan went to Concubine Ying's palace to convey Empress Xie's words.

After hearing this, Concubine Ying had no reaction and asked the maid next to her to send Jiang Chuan away. Before Jiang Chuan left, he proudly told the palace maid that Concubine Ying must go to Zhaoyang Palace to drink tea tomorrow and not to make the queen unhappy.

When Jiang Chuan turned around and left, the maid next to Concubine Ying spat at her back.

"what."

The palace maid turned around and returned to the palace, angrily telling Concubine Ying what Jiang Chuan had just said.

"Empress, are you really going to Zhaoyang Palace for tea tomorrow?"

"Why should I go? If she asks me to go, I will go. I am not a dog beside her." Concubine Ying raised her lips and smiled disdainfully, "What qualifications does she have to ask me to wait on her to drink tea? I will tomorrow Go and have tea with the emperor."

"That's right, who does the queen think she is? An unpopular yellow-faced woman who dares to show off her power in front of you, the empress." The palace maid said with a sarcastic face, "It doesn't matter how long it has been since the emperor went to Zhaoyang Palace. Zhaoyang Palace has become a cold palace, how can she show off her dignity as a queen?"

Concubine Ying tapped the palace maid's nose and said with a smile: "You can just say this in front of me, but you can't say it outside."

The palace maid smiled obediently at Concubine Ying: "Don't worry, Madam, I will only say it in front of you, not outside."

"It's good to know. After all, she is still the queen now."

"Your Majesty, she is nothing more than a queen now." The palace maid said venomously, "Look at how old and ugly she has become over the past few years. Not to mention that the emperor doesn't like her, even us slaves don't want to see her face. Old face."

Concubine Ying stretched out her hand and grabbed the palace maid's mouth, and scolded her with a smile: "You are really unforgiving with your little mouth."

"Mother, what I say is true."

"My Queen is not as old as you said." Concubine Ying said the truth. Although Queen Xie's face has become older due to illness in the past few years, she has not reached the level of a yellow-faced woman as the palace maid said.

In the past few years, Queen Xie also knew that she was in poor health, which made her look haggard and older. In order to maintain her beauty, she ate a lot in private and barely managed to keep her face. However, just because she ate these things, she smelled bad, which was why the emperor didn't like her and was unwilling to go to Zhaoyang Palace.

"My Majesty, the Queen has always looked down upon you. Why did she suddenly ask you to come over for tea? What bad idea is she planning?" the palace maid asked in shock, "My Majesty, the Queen doesn't want to do anything bad to you, does she?"

"She doesn't have the courage." Concubine Ying gently shook the exquisite fan in her hand, "She wants to win me over and let me help her and Prince Jing."

"Ah, where does she have the nerve to ask you to help them?"

"Isn't it because Concubine Rong has regained her favor?" Concubine Ying raised her red lips and said with a half-smile, "The Queen and Prince Jing are scared."

The palace maid understood clearly: "So it's because of this, then you can't help them, my lady."

Concubine Ying sneered: "I'm not a fool."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"By the way, you ask the kitchen to make a smoothie, and I will send it to the emperor later." If nothing else, the iced food made by His Highness the King of Han is delicious and antipyretic. When the King of Han Dynasty went to Marsh Mansion, he did not forget to get some delicious food. Thanks to him, she was able to eat a lot of delicious food in the palace.

"Slave, go now."

After a while, Concubine Ying carried the freshly made smoothie to the imperial study.

Concubine Ying went to the Imperial Study Room to find the emperor, but was never kicked out by the emperor. This alone made many concubines in the harem jealous.

The emperor was eating the smoothie brought by Concubine Ying while listening to her saying that the Queen asked her to go for tea tomorrow.

"Your Majesty, the Queen has never asked me to drink tea. This time she suddenly asked me to drink tea. She must have bad intentions. I don't want to go." Concubine Ying has always been more casual and bold in front of the emperor, and she will say whatever she wants. "Besides, I can't get used to the tea from the Queen's place."

The emperor knew in his heart the purpose of Queen Xie inviting Concubine Ying to tea, "If she asks you to go, just go. Maybe it will bring you some benefits."

Concubine Ying waved her hands and said, "I don't dare to ask for the queen's benefits."

"Go without worry and see what she says to you."

Concubine Ying glared at the emperor coquettishly, "Since the emperor asked me to go, then I will go. However, your emperor, if the queen bullies me, you have to help me make the decision."

"nature."

Concubine Ying stopped talking about Queen Xie and talked about the smoothie the emperor was eating, and then naturally talked about Zhao Yao.

"Your Majesty, has His Highness the King of Han found anything delicious recently? I have been waiting for the delicacies His Highness the King of Han has come up with."

"The brat has been busy collecting fruits recently. After a while, he will send someone to bring some back." The emperor said with a smile.

"Then I'm in luck. There are many delicious fruits in Lingnan that are not available in the capital." Concubine Ying said expectantly, "Your Majesty, when the fruits arrive, you can reward me with more."

"It depends on your performance."

"Your Majesty..." Concubine Ying tugged on the emperor's sleeve and shouted coquettishly.

Sun Kui, who was standing aside, saw this scene and quickly lowered his head and left the imperial study room in a hurry.

Sun Doudou was not surprised at all when he saw Sun Kui coming out.

"Master, I just need to guard the door. You can go to the back and cool off."

"I'm not hot."

"Master, Concubine Ying is in there and won't be able to come out for a while. I don't need you to serve her for the time being. You can take this opportunity to rest." Every time Concubine Ying came to the imperial study, she would leave the next morning. This time Certainly no exception.

"I'm not tired, so I'm just waiting at the door."

Sun Doudou approached Sun Kui and fanned his master with a fan. After a while, the eunuch beside you, Concubine Rong, came over carrying a food box.

When the master and apprentice saw this scene, their expressions became strange.