Phoenix Fight: The First Concubine

Chapter 160
"Mom..." Hutou yelled out of tune, and Lele listened to his brother calling mom, turned his head and blinked strangely.

Murong Wei was overjoyed, hugged the tiger's head and kissed it fiercely for a while, making Xiao Mingrui jealous, she also teased her son, hoping that his son would save face and call him daddy.

But I don't know that this word is too complicated, anyway, in the end, Hutou will only call his mother.

Xiao Mingrui stared at his daughter and snorted: "I'd better teach Jia Lele, she must be more obedient than this brat."

The tiger head was still restless in Murong Wei's arms, trying to pick up the things on the table, eager to eat.

Murong Wei smiled and said: "But I gave birth to him in October, and I'm with him every day. If he doesn't call me, who will he call?"

Xiao Mingchen wanted to tease Lele and call him uncle, but Lele ignored him at all and asked Xiao Mingrui to hug her.

Everyone was happy.

When Xiao Mingchen left, he was still a little resentful, feeling very disappointed at not being able to make his nephew and niece call him uncle.

Murong Wei was overjoyed, humming a ditty happily, watching the baby take a bath and put on dry cotton clothes. This dress was made by Murong Wei herself. The patterns on it were cartoon animals, very cute. Who saw it? like it all.

Murong Wei was teaching her daughter to call her mother and father, saying these three words over and over again, and even took food to try to attract her daughter, but Lele half-closed her eyes, unable to hold her back.

Murong Wei was helpless, Xiao Mingrui came over and teased her daughter again, at this moment Lele suddenly shouted: "Big..."

Murong Wei widened her almond eyes in surprise, Xiao Mingrui was also a little surprised, and saw Lele open her arms: "Big...big..."

Only then did Murong Wei realize that she was calling Xiao Mingrui!
It's just that the child's pronunciation is not accurate, and he called his father too big.

But this kind of calling is also okay, and this is how father is called in some places.

Xiao Mingrui was overjoyed, picked up his daughter and kissed her, but Lele's eyes were fixed on the scarf on Xiao Mingrui's head, and he reached out to grab it.

Don't look at her little person, she has a lot of strength, and it hurts a bit when she scratches her face, and then she scratches her hair, shouting loudly, which makes Murong Wei jealous.

"I'm your own mother, how could you call your father first after giving birth to you?" Murong Wei said pretending to be sad.

Attracted by the expression on her face, Lele turned her head to look.

Xiao Mingrui was very proud: "It's the lady who said prenatal education. I'm sure my daughter will know me when she is in your womb."

Murong Wei despised him for a while, looking at that proud look, she dared to love that the child was not born to him!

Xiao Mingrui was in a good mood, played with the two children for a while, and then let the nanny carry them to rest.

"You gave me good children, I should thank my wife very much." Xiao Mingrui said with a smile.

Murong Wei had loose black hair, long hair reaching her waist, black hair like a waterfall, Xiao Mingrui stepped forward and teased: "My lady, how can I thank you?"

Murong Wei shot him a glance, and said angrily, "It depends on the prince's conscience."

Xiao Mingrui laughed lowly, and suddenly deliberately hugged her horizontally, so frightened that Murong Wei hurriedly hugged his neck, her little heart was pounding, "Rui Lang!"

Xiao Mingrui hugged her and rolled onto the soft couch, his voice suddenly became hoarse: "Wei'er, shall we have another child?"

Murong Wei was stunned for a moment, "Don't be in such a hurry..."

The two little devils alone were enough for her to worry about. Murong Wei originally planned to wait until the child was two years old, and besides, giving birth in a short period of time would also hurt her health.

"Prepare now, after all, there is no telling when you may be pregnant."

Murong Wei curled her lips: "Hutou and Lele alone are enough for me to be busy. If they come again, what should I do?"

In fact, she thought that only two children would be fine, but unfortunately, in Xiao Mingrui's situation, it is impossible for her to be so selfish.

"There is also a nanny to take care of them. Besides, if they get older, they will live in a separate yard. You have to worry about everything, so how can it be done?"

Murong Wei glared at him angrily: "You won't raise it after you're born?"

"What nonsense, I think our two children are still a little lonely?"

Murong Wei curled her lips, "Then let's wait until the children are one or two years old. By then, they will be older. Otherwise, I won't be able to share too much of my heart."

"Okay, as you said." Xiao Mingrui was talking, but he was actually a little absent-minded, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Seeing him like this, Murong Wei felt doubtful in her heart: "Husband, is there something bothering you?"

Xiao Mingrui stretched out his arms to hug her, "Wei'er, elder brother is also a smart person, but he was knocked down to guard the imperial mausoleum under the hands of his father. In the days to come, it may not be so easy for you and me."

Murong Wei held his hand with some distress, and said softly: "No matter how hard it is, I will be with you."

Before Emperor Jianwu died, they all had to be cautious, no one could say for certain that they might be tricked one day, just like King Qi!
"But I still believe that my husband will definitely succeed." Murong Wei said softly.

She also knew that Xiao Mingrui said that he wanted her to have another child because heirs were also a reason, one son was too few, although Xiao Mingrui's younger brothers were still in their teens, it was difficult to say that they would not have any ideas in ten years.

King Qi can be dragged down today, so wouldn't Xiao Mingrui be dragged down in the future?

"Well, if you come, you will be safe, and you don't have to think about it so much."

Xiao Mingrui smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I have everything."

Time passes by like a white horse, passing by in a flash, passing through summer, passing through autumn, and ushering in the snowy winter.

It was not long after New Year's Eve, and it was the first month of the month. It was snowing and the sun was shining brightly. The Luo Palace was full of people and it was very lively.

To catch up with the twins' Zhou Catch Banquet, no matter the relatives of the emperor or the ministers in the capital, there were people who brought gifts to curry favor with Xiao Mingrui.

A few days ago, Qin Wang Xiao Mingchen's eldest son was also very lively when he was full moon, but it was still not as dazzling as the recent days when the twins of the dragon and phoenix caught the week.

Murong Wei got up early in the morning to dress up, put on a jacket and skirt inlaid with sable fur, with red twigs, lotuses, butterflies, flowers, and spring, her black hair was tied up in a peony bun, and a red gold scarf with a hundred birds facing the phoenix was inserted diagonally. Lei Sifeng held a pearl in her mouth and walked forward, a pair of pearl headbands were piled up in front of her, and Lu'er put on a pair of tourmaline earrings for her. It looked dignified and festive at first glance. In winter, it is necessary to wear bright colors. It looks bright and colorful, and it is even more eye-catching.

With the help of the nanny, a pair of little brothers and sisters also put on a pair of bright red silk jackets like Fuwa, and a pair of goose-yellow hats on their heads. The two children, carved in powder and jade, are almost exactly the same when they look at each other. , like the golden boy and jade girl in the sky, it is so lovely to look at.

Murong Wei was delighted to see it, and stepped forward to kiss each of the two children's cheeks: "Be good today, my mother told you to pick some things before, do you want them?"

Murong Wei has done simple training in the past few days, at least they will know what to choose when the time comes.

The items of the Royal Catch Week are also particular, and not everything can be placed, and generally bad things will not be placed.

Because there are two children, one boy and one girl, each prepares two kinds of things to catch the week.

Hutou giggled and said, "Mom, I want that!"

He stared straight at a treasured sword on the ancient shelf not far away, and the shiny scabbard attracted the child's attention very much.

Murong Wei turned her head and saw that it was the trophy sword that Xiao Mingrui had snatched from the barbarian prince before, she hurriedly shook her head: "We have more good things today."

Hutou still wanted to make trouble, so Murong Wei would not pay attention to him. Children cannot be used to it. Besides, it is a knife, which is a dangerous item. It is absolutely impossible for her to let her son play with a knife. What should I do if I get hurt?
Lele squinted her eyes, as if she was half asleep and half awake. When she woke up early in the morning, the child seemed to be still asleep.

Murong Wei asked the nanny to watch over the child, while she went out to greet the guests.

At three poles in the sun, there are already many guests coming and going. When the auspicious time comes, everyone gathers in the front hall to watch the children catch the week.

The weather was severe cold, the snow had just melted, and the front hall was vast and deep, but the people who could enter here to watch the ceremony were all relatives and ministers who had a good relationship with King Luo. Men and women gathered together to watch the ceremony. .

The nanny carried the two babies into the hall, the earth was rolling, and the room was very warm. When everyone saw such a pair of little dolls carved in pink and jade, they couldn't help but praise them repeatedly.

The king of Chu and the king of Qin all came, and the little princes who couldn't go out in the palace also brought gifts early, but the king of Wei didn't come because he was still in confinement.

Xiao Mingchen said with a smile: "Today is a good day, second brother, what do you think my little nephew and niece can choose today?"

Xiao Mingrui also smiled and looked at Murong Wei, "It's good to catch anything, but Tiger Head is always naughty, I'm really afraid that he will catch something special."

"I think my nephew must be grasping the sword. Every time he sees me, he always stares at the sword-shaped jade pendant I wear."

"Make a bet?"

Xiao Mingchen raised his eyebrows: "Okay, this jade pendant was given to me by my father. If he grabbed a sword today, I will give this to him as a congratulatory gift!"

"Fifth brother, you are an uncle, you can't favor one person over another." Murong Wei joked with a smile: "My family, Lele, can cry."

Everyone laughed lowly.

The King of Chu looked at Le Le lovingly and said, "Yes, fifth brother, but today the two of them are catching Zhou, so no matter what they catch later, we uncles must not be stingy."

Xiao Mingchen hurriedly said: "All right, this is definitely necessary."

While talking and joking, someone came to preside over the Zhou Catch Ceremony. According to the regulations, two round tables of huanghuali blossoms and wealth were arranged in the hall, covered with red velvet soft cloth, and placed some things, such as abacus, pens, inks, paper inkstones, swords, etc. On Lele's table, there are rouge and gouache, piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework and other things, all of which are different.

The things were arranged in a dazzling array, which immediately attracted the two little dolls to look at them.

The nurse carried the two children to the round table, and Murong Wei encouraged: "Tiger head, Lele, come and catch what you like."

"It's mine!" The tiger's head widened its eyes and rushed forward. First, it caught a golden abacus. Murong Wei raised her heart when she saw the abacus. It's superstitious, they really believe in it.

If Hutou caught an abacus, it would be hard to say.

But the kid grabbed it and played with it twice, then threw it aside, then continued to crawl forward, and then grabbed a book, and someone shouted loudly: "Wenquxing descends to earth!"

Who knew that this kid didn't give people face at all, he turned his head and threw it away, then turned his head and saw the toy sword with jewels inlaid on the scabbard, and grabbed it excitedly, Xiao Mingchen was immediately happy, "Hey, two Brother, it seems that I won."

Xiao Mingrui laughed, "That's not necessarily the case."

He knows Hutou very well, this kid just likes new things, this time he put more than these things to attract children.

Sure enough, Hutou played with the small sword for a while, and suddenly saw a seal on the left, that seal belonged to Xiao Mingrui, in order to attract the child's attention, he deliberately made the precious light shine, and as expected, Hutou turned his gaze to the seal , reached out and grabbed it.

"Ah, this kid even grabbed the seal, tsk tsk."

Everyone smiled and congratulated on coming over. Now Xiao Mingrui is the most likely to inherit the throne, but as the son of King Luo's tiger head, grabbing the seal is equivalent to inheriting the position. This is of course a good sign.

Although Xiao Mingrui was happy, he secretly heaved a sigh of relief, this little ancestor must never throw away the seal again.

Although this incident cannot prove future achievements, at least it leaves others speechless now.

Hutou was holding the small sword and the seal, his eyes turned to other objects on the table, and soon his eyes were attracted by the things in the distance, but this time he didn't throw the things away, but grabbed the seal with one hand and the other Xiaojian crawled forward, and finally sat a copy of "The Analects of Confucius" under his buttocks, then pulled all the other things to his side, and then hugged the seal and Xiaojian and laughed so hard that his teeth could not be seen.

"Mine, all mine!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"This kid is quite greedy, he wants everything?"

Xiao Mingchen's eyes widened, "What did he catch?"

Murong Wei laughed and said, "It doesn't matter what he holds in his arms."

But looking back, Lele hasn't moved yet. Seeing her brother holding something silly, Lele seems to be a little disdainful. She turns her head and crawls forward, and finally grabs a beautiful embroidered handkerchief in her hand to play with. Brother Xue sat on the abacus.

Murong Wei was overjoyed: "This girl will definitely be able to manage the family in the future."

Everyone is naturally cheering, no one will make trouble at this time.

The two children ended up catching Zhou Fang, Xiao Mingchen lost a jade pendant, and several uncles and aunts also gave them gifts, which can be regarded as a big gain.

These were naturally put away by Murong Wei, and as for these items for catching Zhou, she planned to use them for catching Zhou when her grandson was born in the future, so of course she specially asked someone to put them away.

Just when everyone dispersed to go to the banquet, Su De came over and whispered something in Xiao Mingrui's ear.

When Xiao Mingrui heard this, he stopped and called Su De to the study to talk.

"What you said is true, father is seriously ill?" Xiao Mingrui was taken aback, and he didn't hide his emotions when he got here.

Su De nodded: "The news came from the palace just now..."

He said it carefully: "The emperor has been ill since he got up this morning. He seemed to have suffered from the wind and cold while enjoying the snow last night, but unexpectedly, it became serious."

Xiao Mingrui frowned, guessing in his heart whether this was caused by Emperor Jianwu's serious injury last year, because after last year, Emperor Jianwu would get sick easily, and he didn't know if the old injury was not healed, anyway, although he looked at his complexion Not bad, but Xiao Mingrui still felt that Emperor Jianwu's energy was not as good as before.

"Father is sick now..." Xiao Mingrui was thoughtful, at this time, would father be the crown prince first?

He couldn't just go like this.

Xiao Mingrui recalled the contents of that book again.

If the content in that book is true, will he really have a chance this time?

Xiao Mingrui's heart fluctuates, but the most important thing now is not to test, lest his father be jealous, but to show his filial piety, if he thinks he can jump up and down while his father is ill, the contact person will write to Emperor Jianwu to establish the crown prince, Then when Emperor Jianwu recovers, I'm afraid he will have to play him to death!
Xiao Mingrui lost his mood for a while and stayed at home, thinking about the current situation in the palace is not clear, I'm afraid many people will get the news after a while.

Thinking of this, Xiao Mingrui went to the place where the brothers had a banquet and told about it.

The faces of the princes who were drinking and joking suddenly changed slightly, Xiao Mingchen said anxiously: "Father is seriously ill? Second brother, why don't we enter the palace immediately!"

The King of Chu nodded and said, "Yes, we, as sons, are going to serve the Emperor Father."

Xiao Mingrui nodded and said: "I am about to enter the palace with my younger brothers."

Today was originally the time to catch the Zhou banquet, Xiao Mingrui and his brothers couldn't care less about it now, so they immediately left the Luo Palace and entered the palace.

First, the servants were asked to go to Qianqing Palace to inquire about the situation, and Gao Wugong sent Eunuch Sun, the eunuch of Bingbi, to answer them.

"Several lords, Eunuch Gao asked the servants to come and answer the questions for the lords. The emperor is awake at this moment and just needs to rest. It is not suitable to see guests. Please invite the lords back."

Xiao Mingrui said calmly: "It's good that the father is fine, Eunuch Sun, you answer the father, just say that the sons and servants will pray for the father at home, please take care of the father."

It's not surprising that Emperor Jianwu didn't want to see his son. Who likes to watch the performances of his sons when he is sick?
Moreover, Emperor Jianwu probably didn't want others to pry into his weakness.

Although the tiger is in his old age, Yu Wei is still intimidating, none of Xiao Mingrui's brothers dared to disobey Emperor Jianwu's order.

Eunuch Sun agreed with a smile, and after sending them away, he returned to Qianqing Palace to return to his orders.

Gao Wugong was standing beside the fire with his brows frowning, wondering what he was thinking, when a white mist rose from the small stove next to him.

Eunuch Sun came back to report, Gao Wugong heard his words, his eyelids twitched: "Sun Li, is that what King Luo said?"

"Yes, but the prince said that they will come to visit the emperor tomorrow."

Gao Wugong nodded and shook his head.

Passing through the ear room of the side hall, he entered the hall. Emperor Jianwu was lying on the dragon bed with a gray complexion, and an imperial physician was checking his pulse beside him.

He was still awake, but he had a terrible headache, his head was heavy, and his body seemed to be weakening.

After the imperial doctor diagnosed the pulse, he said in a trembling voice, "Long live is because the old injury has affected the body. It is because of the invasion of external evils that you will be infected with wind evil..."

Emperor Jianwu said coldly: "I ask you, can you get well as soon as possible?"

It's not the Lantern Festival yet, and it's still the Spring Festival holiday, so it doesn't matter if you don't have to go to court.

But if the health is not good by the Lantern Festival, if you still can't take things seriously, there will always be rumors from outside.

The imperial physician originally wanted to say that he needed to rest, but seeing Emperor Jianwu's expression, he dared not say any more.He could only say: "I will try my best to make His Majesty recover as soon as possible."

In fact, this way of getting better as soon as possible is a temporary solution, not a permanent cure. It looks good, but it is very dangerous.

The next time I get a serious illness, I might never get up again.

But Emperor Jianwu didn't want rumors to spread from the outside world. Although he knew it might be bad for his health, he still chose to control the situation instead of letting it get out of control.

When the imperial physician left, Emperor Jianwu frowned and sighed inwardly.

Since King Qi was punished to guard the mausoleum, Xiao Mingrui had no equal enemies in the court.

Originally, Emperor Jianwu had been suppressing him, but now he lost confidence in his body, and began to think about whether to prepare for the crown prince.

He didn't want to become Qin Shihuang Yingzheng, a hero of the first generation, but because he didn't choose a successor in advance, the second generation died.

No emperor is willing to give up power, and that alluring power is the temptation that every man cannot resist.

Just as women cannot refuse gorgeous clothes and ornaments, men also cannot refuse the expansion of ambition.

Emperor Jianwu had this idea in mind, but now he intends to observe carefully, he wants to make sure that his heir can handle the political affairs of the empire well, as long as he can keep it, it is considered good.

On the second day, Xiao Mingrui and other brothers all came, the sixth prince, the seventh prince and the eighth prince also came, and the ninth prince was only two or three years old, so of course he couldn't come.

Emperor Jianwu looked better after taking the medicine, but he didn't meet his sons face to face, and spoke a few words to them through the gauze curtain.

"Mingrui, what did Wen Zhi's kid catch Zhou Zhou yesterday?"

Emperor Jianwu suddenly asked.

Xiao Mingrui's eyelids twitched, "I grabbed the sword and seal."

"Oh? This kid is really interesting." Emperor Jianwu laughed, as if he was a little happy: "I will recover in a few days, I will take him into the palace and let me have a look."

The King of Chu glanced at Xiao Mingrui, and said in his heart: "Father is like this, but there is a deep meaning."

He didn't think that Emperor Jianwu would be unaware of Luo Wang's son's arrest of Zhou, and now he deliberately said that, of course that was not the intention.

He glanced at his brothers, looking at their noses and noses and their hearts, but just pretended not to know.

Emperor Jianwu was about to rest without saying a few words, the princes withdrew, but the eighth prince dawdled and did not leave.

"Eighth prince, why don't you go back, it's cold today." Gao Wugong said meaningfully.

The eighth prince looked inside and said worriedly: "I'm worried about my father, and I want to stay in front of my father to serve my illness. Eunuch Gao, can you tell my father?"

Gao Wugong smiled and waved his hands: "The emperor fell asleep just now, we dare not wake him up, Your Highness should go back first, it will be bad if it freezes again."

The Eighth Prince lowered his head and felt aggrieved and regretful: "That's it, then I'll go back first."

Gao Wugong watched the eighth prince leaving in fox fur, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then shook his head and went in.

It's true that as the princes have grown up, their thoughts are also different.

No wonder.

Gao Wugong is used to this kind of drama in the deep palace, even if he looks at the harmless fifth and sixth princes, he still has the means to protect himself, otherwise how can he survive in this deep palace and grow up safely?
When Emperor Jianwu saw Gao Wugong coming in, he slightly opened his half-closed eyes.

"The princes have all gone back. The eighth prince wants to stay in front of the emperor to serve the sick, but the slaves have been ordered by the emperor and dare not agree."

Emperor Jianwu hummed, and turned his gaze to the distance. No one knew what was going on in his mind.

Xiao Mingrui went out of the palace gate with King Chu and King Qin, King Chu smiled and said: "Let's separate here, Second Brother, come to my house for a drink when you have time."

Xiao Mingrui also agreed with a smile.

Xiao Mingchen got into Xiao Mingrui's carriage, and asked a little excitedly: "Second Brother, does Emperor Father mean to..."

Xiao Mingrui pointed his eyes, "This is not a place to talk."

Xiao Mingrui was also a little emotional, although he didn't know what the other brothers thought, but Xiao Mingchen respected and loved him very much, and he didn't have any thoughts of seizing power.

The Chu family's natal family might also want to have another queen, but Xiao Mingchen didn't have that intention.

Although he is also very heroic, he still has self-knowledge, knowing that he still likes to fight on the battlefield, rather than worrying about political affairs, and he loves Xiao Mingrui, his elder brother, so how could he betray him.

Xiao Mingchen said with a smile: "Okay, but I think the meaning of the emperor is very clear."

Xiao Mingrui said lightly: "That's not good."

Seeing his sullen appearance, Xiao Mingchen couldn't help but despise him: "Second brother, just pretend, you don't know how happy you are."

Xiao Mingrui sighed: "What's there to be happy about? Father's body is really worrying."

(End of this chapter)