Fair Lady

This year's snow came late, when the first heavy snowfall fell in the capital, the eunuchs from the Palace of Compassionate Ning went to Princess Zhangzhu's mansion to announce the decree, summoning Prince Consort Pei and Mrs. Pei into the palace.

The mother and son of the Pei family thumped: Is the princess bad?

Princess Zhangzhu has been in the palace for more than a month and a half, and no news has come back. Prince Consort Pei asked to visit the palace, but the palace staff only replied that the princess needs to rest. The Empress Dowager will not allow anyone to disturb her.

The Pei family is like ants on a hot pot, they seem to be seeing the glory and wealth and the status of royal relatives are leaving them.Once the princess of Palm Pearl Palace closes her eyes, the empress dowager, who had disliked the Pei family because of her grandson Yuze's early death, will definitely not let the Pei family continue to live in this luxurious and luxurious princess mansion.

However, there was nothing they could do. The royal family allowed them to enjoy the wealth and grace of the emperor, and they had to bear the majesty of the emperor.In other people's houses, the husband is the guide for the wife, and the mother-in-law is a big mountain on the head of the daughter-in-law, but this is the princess's house, and the first thing to pay attention to is "the king guides the ministers."

It was also Princess Zhangzhu's gentle temperament that allowed them to make progress. I don't know when, except for the mothers and maids who are personally served by the princess, they still call them "Princess, Prince Consort". , Master, Madam", deliberately avoiding the "princess".

The problem is that now that the princess is not in the mansion, with the empress dowager standing in front of her, how can they do whatever they want and see them whenever they want?

Even Mrs. Pei, who had always supported Aunt Shi secretly, didn't like her. If she hadn't "cried" the princess into the palace, how could they be so passive?

I am annoyed and anxious.People came to the palace, but they panicked even more. They concluded that the princess must be dying, otherwise the queen mother would not let them enter the palace "to see one last time".

After all, they are entering the palace, and the mother and son still have to change their clothes. The father-in-law who sent the message looked impatient: "Please hurry up, the empress dowager and the princess are waiting."

"What should I do, what should I do? The slaves are always looking after the dishes. Look at the eunuch's face, he is still urging so urgently, it must be..." Mrs. Pei was rather confused, "Are we going to move soon? Did you go to the consort's mansion next door? Your two younger brothers live there, so I'm afraid it's very crowded." He really realized how much the loss of the princess's daughter-in-law would affect their family today.

Concubine Pei smiled wryly: "Mother, it's a trivial matter to live in a crowded place. If the princess is gone, I'm afraid my official position will not be guaranteed." There is one more thing his mother doesn't know, and he must explain it quickly, lest she go to the palace and say something wrong. It's a joke, "According to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, once I marry or raise a concubine as the main wife in the future, the concubine's mansion will also be taken back. If I don't continue the main wife, it means that there will be no sons."

He is incompetent (of course. He will not admit that he is incompetent, he just thinks that he is unlucky), and now he can be in that position, all because of the face of Princess Zhangzhu, because he is a son-in-law after all.If the princess..., the face will be lost.

Mrs. Pei is even more anxious. If I had known...if I had known...she...what should I do now?

At this time, Aunt Shi hurried over with Pei Yuqi: "Mother, master, hurry up and take Qi'er to see my sister for the last time. The empress dowager can't bear to see her sister have no heirs to offer incense in the future, right? The heir has thrown the basin."

That's right, the dead are the most important. How can the Empress Dowager look down on the Pei family? The princess will also be buried in the Pei family's cemetery, and the princess' spirit card will also enter the Pei family's ancestral hall. She also hopes that the princess will have an heir after her death, right?After all, heirs and bastards guarding the spirit are different.

The concubine Pei mother and son finally decided to make a last-ditch effort.

It's a pity that the eunuchs of the Palace of Compassion and Ning did not give them a chance, and stopped Pei Yuqi directly at the door: "A concubine born to an aunt is not qualified to enter the Palace of Compassion and Ning. You can bear the crime of disrespect, Concubine Pei?"

"...He...he..." Mrs. Pei was about to say something, but she was stopped by Concubine Pei, just kidding, the eunuchs didn't come to report the funeral, how dare they curse the princess to death in public?

Seeing the carriage leaving in a hurry and Pei Yuqi standing there crying, Aunt Shi bit her lips in hatred, but she didn't have the guts to speak. When the eunuch was here just now, she didn't even dare to show her face. I don't want to die faster than Princess Zhangzhu who is dying.

Not far away, brother and sister Shi Jing hid behind a tree. They were just nephews and nieces of an aunt's family, let alone dared to appear in front of the palace people.

Shi Juan said angrily: "My aunt is so kind, why is the princess so ungrateful? Hmph, a eunuch is so rampant!"

Shi Jing quickly covered his sister's mouth, and whispered: "Sister, you are going to be 13 years old. You should know that the trouble comes from your mouth, not to mention other things. If such words spread, your marriage will be in big trouble. The wife is A wife, a concubine is a concubine, not to mention that is the royal princess? There is no such thing as being kind or not, or appreciative."

Although Shi Jing was born in a small merchant family, his qualifications are good. Since he was five years old, the family hired a teacher for him, and later entered a school.Now in the academy in the capital, I have more knowledge than before, and I have heard a lot about the rules of the big families in the capital.In his opinion, Princess Zhangzhu is already very lenient, even for "relatives of concubines" like their brothers and sisters, the mansion did not embarrass them.

Shi Juan pouted, Shi Jing had told her these reasons before, but that "concubine" was their aunt, the only relative they could rely on now.And if cousin Yu Qi becomes the emperor's nephew, her cousin will be worth a lot when talking about marriage, so she will have someone to rely on in the future, won't she?Anyway, the sick princess is going to die, and she has no children, so why can't she recognize Yuqi's cousin so that they can all live better in the future?

Shi Jing shook his head and sighed secretly, he was very grateful to his aunt for taking them in, and it was not easy to comment on his aunt's right and wrong, they now only had such a direct elder.However, the aunt's education and influence on the younger sister... Sigh... He sees if he can trouble the aunt again and ask the younger sister to have a foster mother?I don't want too much good, as long as I can teach Shi Juan to be sensible and know the rules.In the future, if my younger sister can marry a relatively wealthy family as the main wife, Shi Jing will be very satisfied that she doesn't have to rack her brains like her aunt to ask him to recognize her son as a legitimate son.

As for himself.There is nothing to do except study hard. If they can pass the Juren and Jinshi exams after two and a half years, that is the real way out for the two brothers and sisters.

Shi Jing did not expect that his sister's thinking had already been deeply eroded by Aunt Shi's theories, and Aunt Shi was her role model and goal.Moreover, after seeing the wealth and enjoyment in the princess mansion, Shi Juan could no longer accept "relatively rich".When Shi Jing discovers this one day, and discovers that Shi Juan is desperately and unscrupulously climbing to great wealth, it is already too late.Of course, this is something.

Prince Consort Pei and Mrs. Pei followed the palace staff into the Palace of Compassion and Peace.As soon as they walked to the entrance of the main hall, they heard cheerful laughter, and the two couldn't help looking at each other. If Princess Zhangzhu was "dying and about to close her eyes", wouldn't it be so "happy" in the Compassionate Ning Palace?

Soon, they were even more surprised.They heard Princess Zhangzhu's laughter: "Bao'er is so good, mother must listen to Bao'er and eat more."

Does the princess's voice have the usual weak taste?What else is there?Who is Boa?Why does the princess call herself a mother?Did the princess herself adopt an heir from elsewhere?

Mrs. Pei immediately frowned in dissatisfaction, how could she be the son of the Pei family if she wasn't a member of the Pei family?

Concubine Pei hurriedly pulled his mother's sleeve, shook his head lightly and quickly said: "Don't talk nonsense. We'll talk about it when we go back." Even if the princess recognized an heir without consulting him, the emperor and the empress dowager would back him up. .What dare he say?

In any case, the princess' heir is his heir, and it is a good thing that the princess mansion and the princess' dowry can stay in the Pei family.With this heir, his official position should be preserved.other?Think again!Hearing Princess Zhangzhu's laughter should still last for a while, and I will take her back to the mansion first before I have a chance to speak.

Walking into the main hall, I saw Princess Zhangzhu sitting on the big armchair.Concubine Pei's eyes are straightened, is there really any panacea?Less than two months.Princess Zhangzhu has seen great improvement, although she can't be said to be in good spirits, she is obviously more energetic, and her face is no longer pale, but has a ruddy luster.

After all, she was just recovering from a serious illness, and maybe she still didn't have much strength. Princess Zhangzhu leaned softly on the big soft pillow, but she added a softness to her. Prince Concubine Pei seemed to see the princess when she was just married again.

The pain in his arm made Consort Pei wake up from the shock, his mother didn't know when he was holding his right forearm tightly, pinching it painfully.He was just trying to remind his mother that it is a good thing that the princess is good. Although she is surprised, she should not be too rude, otherwise, who knows if the Queen Mother Lafayette will misunderstand them and think that the princess is not good (although they really thought they were here for the last time today) ?

Seeing that Mrs. Pei's staring eyes were wide open and her surprised eyes were not facing the direction of the princess, Concubine Pei was even more embarrassed. What's going on, mother today?Following Mrs. Pei's line of sight, Prince Consort Pei saw a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl and a five- or six-year-old boy sitting on the chairs beside her.Uh, although the little girl is very beautiful, mother shouldn't be so surprised, right?Uh, that little boy looks familiar, but... probably never seen him before.

"Ahem," the queen mother was displeased.

Concubine Pei was terrified, and hurriedly pulled her mother to kneel down. They came in only to be surprised, and they hadn't greeted the queen mother and princess yet.This is the Empress Dowager's Palace of Compassion and Ning, and the Empress Dowager is not as talkative as Princess Zhangzhu.

Mrs. Pei had no choice but to look away from Bao'er, and saluted with her son.

The queen mother snorted coldly, she really disdains this mother and son, dissatisfied and pushy, the whole family is a good-looking white-eyed wolf who got cheap.Concubine Pei should be the most unpromising No. [-] scholar in the Great Zhou Dynasty, but he was met by Zhang Zhu, alas.

Concubine Pei shivered in fright at the Queen Mother's cold snort, and Mrs. Pei was completely awake from the shock just now, and even trembled.

Concubine Pei looked at Princess Zhangzhu begging for help.

Princess Zhangzhu sighed, and said coldly: "I'm looking for you today, and I have two things to say."

Concubine Pei's heart skipped a beat. The word the princess used was "speaking" instead of "discussing". He had a very bad premonition.Since the fire caused them to lose their son-in-law, the princess is indeed not as attached and obedient to him as before, but she is still gentle and soft-hearted (except for her resolute refusal to recognize Pei Yuqi as her name).Today's attitude is...indescribably cold.

Moreover, the princess didn't even ask them to get up. Although she is a princess, she is still very filial to her mother-in-law. According to her usual temperament, even if she is not healthy and can't come to help her up, she will quickly wake up.Let those around you help.

Shuyao, who was holding Bao'er, seemed to have her eyes downcast, but she was secretly observing Prince Consort Pei.The astonishment, doubts, and a hint of "I can't believe it" in Pei Ma's eyes did not escape Shu Yao, who has special five senses.She couldn't help despising this man even more. It's really sad that Bao'er has such a father. Now she can only hope that Princess Zhangzhu can "be strong as a mother" and be more decisive.Otherwise, Bao'er's life in the future will probably be miserable, and he might be in danger again, after all, he is still too young.

In fact, before meeting Princess Zhangzhu, Shuyao also despised her a little bit, as long as she didn't have a backer.To have the strongest backer in the world to be bullied like this, and to lose his son, is really not ordinary.

After contacting her many times in a month and a half, she found that Princess Zhangzhu is really simple and kind, but she has a weak temper.

Just now the Empress Dowager has been persuading Princess Zhangzhu to be tougher, and if she can't do it, she will divorce.Shuyao heard Qi Haoning say it.In the past few years, the queen mother felt distressed when she saw that her daughter was not doing well and her health was deteriorating, and she had persuaded her to leave more than once.

For Bao'er, but also for the kind Princess Palm Pearl.Shuyao interjected a rare sentence: "Does the Empress Dowager mean that 'the mother is strong'? In the past, every time our aunt's husband lost money on Xitang Street, he would beat her and her two daughters. My mother I told that aunt that being a mother is strong'."

At that time, Princess Zhangzhu was visibly shocked, but the queen mother gave Shuyao an approving look, and then continued to give her strong medicine: "Yes, if you are a mother, you are strong. This word is too good. Baoer's life Dafuda, I was rescued once by mistake. I wonder if I will be so lucky next time?"

"No," Princess Zhangzhu exclaimed. "There will be no next time, and I will never allow a next time."

Shuyao touched Bao'er's head in a timely manner: "Bao'er is too young, she doesn't know how to protect herself, and she doesn't know how to distinguish good from bad."

Bao'er didn't understand everything Shuyao, her grandmother, and mother said, but she grinned cutely when she heard Shuyao's words: "Bao'er learns martial arts from Brother Wen, and he will beat bad people and protect mother."

At that time, Princess Palm Pearl looked at her little son and burst into tears: "Mother will make myself stronger, Mother will make people dare not bully Bao'er, and Mother will not let anyone have a chance to hurt Bao'er again." The queen mother said That's right, regardless of whether there is evidence or not, in short, no danger should be allowed to get close to Bao'er.

Bao'er is her lifeblood, for Bao'er, she can even give up her life, what does she care about the reputation of being a kind and generous "good wife"?Concubine Pei has other children, but she only has one Bao'er.

Because she made up her mind, and because of Li Erlaizi's description of the reactions inside and outside Bao'er's yard when the fire broke out that year, she was sure that someone deliberately drugged, set the fire, and delayed putting out the fire.Since someone in the mansion deliberately murdered Bao'er, how could she dare to let Bao'er return to such a "home"?

So although the current Princess Palm Pearl looks soft, but she is no longer weak, how can she be soft-hearted towards the mother-in-law Pei who is kneeling in front of her?

Princess Zhangzhu glanced at Nanny Rong, and Nanny Rong stepped forward and threw Li Erlaizi's confession in front of Prince Consort Pei.

Princess Zhangzhu snorted coldly: "Let's take a good look at it, was the accident that happened back then?"

Prince Consort Pei was taken aback, and obediently picked up the paper.Why are you bringing up old things again?Is it because of the accident that the Queen Mother and Zhang Zhu went crazy today?What is this big sheet of paper?

However, the more he looked at his face, the paler his face became, and the forehead began to sweat. When he saw the child being taken away and sold, he suddenly remembered what Princess Zhangzhu said just now, "Bao'er is so good, mother must listen to Bao'er", and suddenly raised her head , staring at the only boy in the hall, the five or six-year-old who seemed familiar, "Ze'er? My son is not dead? He... he is Ze'er, right?"

Mrs. Pei also forgot to tremble: "You... what are you talking about? Ze'er is not dead? He is not dead? Then he must be Ze'er, son, he looks exactly like you when you were a child, I just thought it was strange just now .How could this be? How could this be? My grandson."

Bao'er knew in advance that it was his biological grandmother and father who came in, but his grandmother had already told him that his father had a very bad aunt, and it was that bad aunt who almost burned him to death and was abducted and sold.Then the grandmother and father helped the bad aunt to bully the princess, and the mother almost died of illness.

So, hum, Bao'er doesn't like this grandmother and father.

"Bao'er," Princess Zhangzhu turned to Bao'er, her eyes were so soft that water dripped out immediately, "Take off the shoe and sock on your left foot and let them see it."

Shu Yao helped Bao'er take off her shoes and socks, and the cloud-shaped birthmark appeared in front of Mrs. Pei and Consort Pei.Mrs. Pei was about to rush over immediately: "Ze'er, my good grandson."

Bao'er hurriedly got into Shuyao's arms, but Mrs. Pei couldn't get close, she was blocked by Nanny Liu: "Presumptuous, how can the Palace of Compassion and Ning allow you to make noise?"

Mrs. Pei was so frightened that she knelt down beside Prince Pei.

Concubine Pei murmured, "Princess Zhang, it's a good thing that Ze'er has been found. Mother is too excited. You... why didn't you tell me earlier and let me take you home." He noticed The date of signing the statement was more than 20 days ago.

Princess Zhangzhu snorted coldly: "Good thing? Get it back? Are you going to end up like this? Take it home? When will you accidentally jump into the water and burn to death again? Hmph, maybe change the trick. Drown, fall to death, or die of illness Bar?"

Concubine Pei frowned: "How could it be? Ze'er is at home, why..." No matter what he said, he was also the number one scholar. in my own home.According to the description in the confession, any fool can see that the fire was not an accident.

"What? Can't continue?" Princess Zhangzhu scoffed. "Today, I didn't ask you to come to say goodbye and get to know each other happily. If you don't find out the murderer, what face do you have to let Bao'er call you father? The queen mother will not allow Bao'er to go back."

"This... this..." Concubine Pei became anxious, "It's been so long... I checked it back then, didn't I find nothing? Besides, how can you be sure that the murderer is... from the mansion?" Concubine Pei lack of confidence.The sound is getting smaller and smaller.It's not that he didn't doubt it, it's just...

The queen mother couldn't help being angry again: "My son-in-law is dead. Whoever makes the most profit is the murderer. I really can't find out. For Bao'er's safety, I sold all the aunts."

"..." Concubine Pei froze, but it was the Queen Mother who got mad, and he didn't dare to say a word.However, Auntie sold all of them?How could this be?Even if you don't miss their old relationship.You also have to consider how many concubines and concubines, don't you?Their aunts were all sold out on the charge of murdering their son-in-law. What will they do in the future?Especially Aunt Shi, the noble concubine who knew him best, considered him the most, and gave birth to him two sons and a daughter.Pei Yuqi's three brothers and sisters are the precious children he holds in his hands.

Silence... Quiet... There was no movement for a while...

Princess Zhangzhu sighed: "Forget it, I know you are reluctant, and I don't want to hurt innocent people. After all, it is impossible for all aunts to be murderers."

As soon as Consort Pei's eyes lit up, he knew that Princess Zhangzhu couldn't bear to embarrass him.

The joy, self-satisfaction and obviously relieved expression in his eyes made Princess Zhangzhu feel completely cold, and she was glad that she was not prepared to soften her heart, otherwise she would really be "pinched by mud".

With a calm expression on her face, Princess Zhangzhu continued: "I am not discussing with you now, you only have two choices. One, we are reconciled, Bao'er is not safe by your side, you have already killed him once, this palace Naturally, he will not be allowed to follow you. Of course, his surname is still Pei, and after he can protect himself, if he chooses to return to Pei's house and live with you, I will not stop him."

And away?Concubine Pei collapsed suddenly, Princess Zhangzhu wants to make peace with him?No, how can it be, once he reconciles and leaves, he will have nothing, official position, status, wealth, son, everything. ?How could the son return to Pei's house?If it were him, he would definitely not choose to go back to Pei's house, even if he did, it would be just a show.

However, with the confession in Nanny Rong's hand, no one would criticize Princess Palm Pearl for not letting her son go back to the Pei family, they would only condemn him and the Pei family, and they would praise Princess Palm Pearl for her kindness, Ken let his son continue to be named Pei.

Moreover, Princess Zhangzhu still has the Queen Mother and the Emperor behind her. Even if there is no confession and witnesses, it is not his turn to say no.

Yes, there is a second option, what is the second option, let him catch the murderer?If it doesn't work, he can "catch" one of the aunts he doesn't like the most, or two.

Princess Zhangzhu didn't make him wait too long: "For Bao'er, it's okay to have a disagreement, but we follow the rules of etiquette. It stands to reason that your mother, concubine, and concubine children are not allowed to live in the princess mansion. In the meantime, you all should move back to the Concubine's Mansion. In the future, you can still visit Bao'er, and you can live there for a while if you want. Except for you, no one from the Concubine's Mansion is allowed to enter the Princess Mansion without my palace's permission. One step. On the fifteenth day of every month, Bengong will take Bao'er to the consort's mansion to greet the old lady. After all, the old lady is my mother-in-law and Bao'er's grandmother. However, without Bengong, I The palace will definitely not let Bao'er stay alone in the consort's mansion."

Mrs. Pei moved her lips and was about to speak when Princess Zhangzhu threw another sentence: "I said before that I didn't discuss it with you, you just have to decide, whether you choose to reconcile or move back to the consort's mansion? You can also Go complain and let everyone judge, so as not to say that this palace is bullying others."

Hearing Princess Zhangzhu's last words, Shuyao couldn't help lowering her head and laughing secretly, let's not talk about bullying or bullying. Talking in such a venue is to "struggle with power", okay?However, why not fight if you have "potential"?Aggrieved in vain?That's a fool!Being bullied deserves it!

The mother-in-law and son-in-law Pei couldn't laugh, so they naturally wouldn't choose to reconcile, but, complaining about grievances?They'll just be thrown rotten eggs, okay?

choose?How can there be a choice?

Concubine Pei can only bite the bullet: "They will move out of the Princess Mansion within ten days, and I will stay in the Princess Mansion for the next half month, and visit the Prince Consort's Mansion for half a month."

The queen mother snorted coldly, and threw out a sentence: "In the past few years, the objects and decorations bought with Zhangzhu's silver, even if Zhangzhu honors her mother-in-law, the Ai family will not be that wicked person. However, Zhangzhu's dowry is Those who are registered, Sister Rong, you have to check the dowry booklet." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

ps: two more in one.There is another update in the evening, to make up for yesterday's.Thank you shannee book friend for your peace talisman!Thank you book friends for your pink tickets!Thanks to the review votes from the book friends of Dayouxia Shalifei!Thanks to *miki book friend for the pink ticket!Thank you!