Phoenix Fight: The First Concubine

Chapter 167 Snow Watching on New Year's Eve
Empress Dowager Li was shocked, Xiao Mingrui was trying to persuade her to delegate power?

Her complexion changed, and she said lovingly: "Aijia is also for your brothers. You also know that when you entered the palace with Wei'er, Wei'er was not familiar with the affairs of the palace, so it was inevitable that people would plot against her, and so did Aijia. I was afraid that she would make some mistakes, so I reluctantly helped her do more."

"I know, that's why I've been feeling uneasy all the time. The empress told me that my mother's work is calm, and she is very relieved to hand over the harem to her, and she can raise her children with peace of mind. It's just that I feel that my mother's health has always been poor, so how can I work hard all the time? Now that I'm getting older, The son-in-law would not dare to let the mother hurt her body because of these trivial things, that would be really unfilial."

Xiao Mingrui's eyes were sharp, and he had a smile on his face, but the smile clearly did not fall into his eyes.

"Oh, you and the empress have such filial piety, the Aijia is very comforting. The empress is also busy raising her children, taking care of the palace affairs, and everything is busy. Originally, the Aijia wanted to help as much as she could. But now the palace affairs are handed over. For the queen, I wonder if she can handle it? Weier is still young after all."

Empress Dowager Li didn't say no to it, but she was really unwilling in her heart.

Of course she didn't want to hand over power and be a law-abiding queen mother.

Xiao Mingrui's heart turned cold, "The empress mother is right, but I believe that the empress can handle all this well. This is the responsibility of being a child. Doesn't the empress mother always like to worship Buddha and talk about Buddhism? I wonder if she is in the Palace of Compassion A Buddhist hall is built inside, and the queen mother can just worship the Buddha in it, and some nuns can be invited to preach the Dharma."

Empress Dowager Li was startled, she raised her eyes to see Xiao Mingrui's indifferent eyes, the strong oppression came with power at this moment, as if Emperor Jianwu appeared in front of her again at this moment, which made Empress Dowager Li feel a little awe-inspiring.

It was only now that he realized what he had been unwilling to let go of before, and Xiao Mingrui was already very impatient.

He has now given her two choices. If she is not obedient, he will "force" Empress Dowager Li to pay respects to the Buddha in the Buddhist hall of the Compassionate Ning Palace. To the outside world, he can call it filial piety, which means depriving Empress Dowager Li of all her powers. It's just like being put under house arrest.

And the other option is to hand over power obediently, then everyone doesn't have to tear their skins, and can still do it in a superficially harmonious manner.

Empress Dowager Li was startled and angry, her expression changed, she didn't expect Xiao Mingrui to be so ruthless, she was really annoyed.

"Your father passed away, the Ai family was very sad, now it seems better to go with your father!" Empress Dowager Li was resentful and couldn't help but sarcastically said.

Xiao Mingrui said lightly: "Queen Mother, don't say that. You will naturally be buried with Emperor Father in a hundred years. As for now, Emperor Father has passed away, Empress Mother should take it easy. In such a good time, it's not bad to worship Buddha and talk about books. Empress Mother thinks Woolen cloth?"

Empress Dowager Li has calmed down at this time.

She knew that Xiao Mingrui didn't like her meddling in the affairs of the harem, and the affairs of Rong Taipin's sister obviously made him dissatisfied with him, otherwise, how could he say that?

Empress Dowager Li is complicated in her heart, now she understands that Xiao Mingrui is a person who absolutely does not allow others to escape his control. From the very beginning, it is impossible for him to allow the power of the harem to be in the hands of the Empress Dowager. .

If she has to tear her skin apart and make trouble, it will definitely not be good for her, because she is only an adoptive mother, not a biological mother. Even if the trouble goes to court, there is no reason for the queen mother to take power and not give it to the queen. Even if she can make trouble for Murong Wei was scolded as a favorite, so what?
As long as Xiao Mingrui insists, the officials can't go against his will, as long as Xiao Mingrui doesn't care, Murong Wei is the queen, and the prince, who would dare to say anything about her?
Empress Dowager Li was disheartened, and sighed: "Forget it, you are right, let the queen worry about the affairs in the palace. As for me, I will go to the Buddhist hall to meditate, and I don't bother to care about this matter."

Xiao Mingrui was silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Empress Dowager Li. He said earnestly, "Empress Mother, I am really grateful to you. However, I have to do many things. Daqin, I can no longer afford the monopoly of my relatives."

Empress Dowager Li was silent, thinking of Mu Zong's time when the dictatorship of his relatives led to chaos in the world, she smiled bitterly in her heart, and secretly scolded herself for being confused.

Why didn't you pay attention to such taboos?

"Forget it, you go, Aijia is tired."

Xiao Mingrui got up to leave, feeling really unhappy in his heart, after all he still respects Empress Dowager Li very much, and now that the trouble has come to such an extent, he is really unhappy in his heart.

However, it is absolutely impossible for him to let the Li family grow up, and this will not change anyway.

Xiao Mingrui went to the side hall.

It was snowing outside, and Murong Wei was watching the snow in the side hall. The snow was so vast that it turned the entire Forbidden City into a world covered in silver. It was so beautiful, but also concealed a lot of filth.

Such a world has a lot of darkness, but it also has more beauty.

Seeing Xiao Mingrui coming in, Murong Wei stepped forward and smiled slightly: "Have you talked with the queen mother?"

He stepped forward, saw the snow falling outside, and said quietly: "Wei'er, you need to work harder on the things in the harem."

Murong Wei understood what he meant, he must have said something to Queen Mother Li just now.

It seems that the power of the harem will still be handed over to her in the future.

If it was possible, Murong Wei certainly didn't want to take care of this troublesome matter, but if she wanted to enjoy something, she had to sacrifice something. Although the affairs of the harem were complicated, as long as she arranged them properly, it would be fine to have the various yamen in the inner palace handle them.

It's just that there are usually interviews with wives, and some celebrations have to be attended by the queen leading the wives, but these things are a waste of time.

Now that I have become a queen, do I still want to flutter the butterflies?
There is always a successful woman behind every successful man. This is true. Now that you have enjoyed the infinite scenery, who can see the hard work behind the scenery?

"It's not hard, this is what I should do." Murong Wei smiled.

"It's time to seal the pen tomorrow, and it's almost New Year's Eve. The family has a good New Year."

Murong Wei walked out with him: "Call Fifth Brother?"

"Okay, it's time to be lively."

Murong Wei boarded the imperial chariot with him, the wind and snow could not invade, she held Xiao Mingrui's hand, and winked playfully: "Your Majesty, this concubine is thinking that the plum blossoms are blooming, I wonder how the plum blossoms will be this year?"

Xiao Mingrui had a smile in his eyes: "Let me accompany you to visit the Royal Garden."

Murong Wei smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Mingrui hugged her dotingly, and said with a light smile, "You're going to make trouble with me."

The two turned to the Royal Garden.

The snow was getting lighter, Xiao Mingrui and Murong Wei were both wearing cloaks, they stepped into the pavilion along the Chaoshou verandah, but saw a plum grove to the east of the imperial garden, where a large number of famous plum blossoms were planted, at the moment the snow was white, on the Qiongzhi Yushu, The slanting plum blossoms are in full bloom, and the large areas of red and white complement each other. This scene is almost like a dream.

Sparse shadows and slanting water, clear and shallow water, dark fragrance floating at moon dusk, this plum fragrance is quiet and refreshing, and the refreshing cold fragrance spreads out, bringing a kind of spring inspiration to people in this winter.

Murong Wei looked at the plum grove, feeling joy in her heart, and held an umbrella to enjoy the plum blossoms together with Xiao Mingrui.

"Husband, the queen mother is not young anymore, you should be more filial to her in the future. The tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop, and the child wants to support but does not wait for the relatives. It is always the time for the children to be filial."

Murong Wei suddenly said softly.

Xiao Mingrui paused, then nodded: "I understand, I will never forget my mother's kindness."

"That's good too, so that Fifth Brother won't feel uncomfortable."

Murong Wei saw that the plum blossoms were pleasing to the eye, so she asked someone to break off a few beautiful branches, and returned to the Kunning Palace, put them in a large cloisonné vase, and sent a pair to the Compassion Ning Palace, and kept a pair in her own palace. Floating and refreshing.

The Compassion Ning Palace brought a pair of mother-child jade pendants, Murong Wei smiled lightly when she saw it, and said in her heart, this can be regarded as the empress dowager's cooperation, and the mother-child jade pendants want to express the love between mother and child.

Looking back, Xiao Mingrui saw this jade pendant, played with it for a long time, watching the snow with his hands behind his back, not knowing what to think.

On the night of New Year's Eve, Prince Qin Xiao Mingchen and the Chu family of Prince Qin's residence came to the palace.

Murong Wei was very grateful to Chu's last time for Hutou and others to prevent a disaster, and Xiao Mingrui also rewarded her with many things.

Fortunately, the Chu family didn't do anything wrong last time, otherwise Murong Wei would be very upset.

The family went to a banquet that night, throughout the year, it was rare for the family to get together a few times, Empress Dowager Li was also there, with a smile on her face, no dissatisfaction from yesterday, chatting with Xiao Mingchen, laughing from time to time, looking very happy.

In addition to them, there are several minor princes, such as the sixth prince, the seventh prince, the eighth prince and the tenth prince, who also came to the banquet.

Xiao Mingrui is also in a good mood, and occasionally talks to his younger brothers, but now these brothers are very respectful to him, because Xiao Mingrui is already the emperor, the king, although they are brothers, they are also courtiers.

Even Xiao Mingchen was unambiguous when it was time to salute. Although he was more casual when they were together, he was indeed very respectful outside.

Xiao Mingrui was also very helpless about this point, asked Xiao Mingchen, Xiao Mingchen only said: "Nowadays there is a difference between monarch and minister, and I am no exception, otherwise how can elder brother build up his majesty?"

Xiao Mingrui sighed in his heart, when he told Murong Wei, Murong Wei understood Xiao Mingchen's thoughts.

A companion is like a tiger, maybe Xiao Mingrui can ignore it now, and these will become excuses if he does something wrong someday.

After all, it is in the royal family, and there is no way to do it. The rules that should be followed still have to be followed.

Regardless of other things tonight, the family gathered together, although there were some unavoidable estrangements, but as time passed, the atmosphere became more harmonious, and Xiao Mingrui smiled more.

At the end of the vigil, fireworks were set off in Miyagi. Everyone was looking out of the window. The younger ones were even more happy. Murong Wei saw that fireworks were also set off in other places in the capital. The night sky has turned into day.

After the end of the New Year's Eve, they each went back to the palace. Qin Wang and Qin Wangfei also stayed in the palace, and they would not go back until the next day.

The new year is spent in the sound of firecrackers.

This year was changed to Qiande, the first year of Qiande.

Murong Wei asked Xiao Mingrui, why did he still use the year name Qiande?

She remembered that Xie Mingyan told them back then that Xiao Mingrui would use the title of Qiande after he ascended the throne, but she did not expect Xiao Mingrui to actually use it.

Xiao Mingrui said with a strange expression: "It's strange to say... I want to set the year name, and the cabinet reported that it is Qiande. Originally, I also wanted to use this year name, but then I thought, why not? It can't be because she said Well, I don’t need it, do I? Am I still afraid of this?”

If it wasn't for this, Murong Wei would have almost forgotten the existence of Xie Mingyan, so she asked, "Is she still alive?"

Xiao Mingrui glanced at her. In fact, he didn't tell Murong Wei that he had met Xie Mingyan before, and once after he ascended the throne, he specially went to see that woman and wanted to ask her something.

But what I didn't expect was that the result surprised me very much.

"She's still alive, but...she seems to have forgotten a lot of things. She only remembers that she is a prostitute in the palace. She doesn't know anything else, and she doesn't know why she is there."

Murong Wei was stunned for a moment, could it be that the current Xie Mingyan is not the woman after time travel?

Maybe the woman who time-traveled has already time-traveled back again.

Now, maybe it is the deity?
This ridiculous thing made her feel like a dream.

"Or...she really doesn't remember." Murong Wei said, "She might have been a ghost before."

"Ghost upper body?"

Xiao Mingrui had a strange expression. In fact, many things in that book had come true, so after he ascended the throne, he went to find Xie Mingyan specifically to ask her if she could change some things, because some of the following content made him very restless .

But what I didn't expect was that Xie Mingyan actually lost his memory. Just like before, she was a different person. Now she is more like an ordinary court lady, not the arrogant and stupid woman who said strange things in her mouth.

This made Xiao Mingrui very puzzled.

Hearing what Murong Wei said now, I think it can be explained.

But how could that ghost have such a book?
Murong Wei couldn't figure out whether Xie Mingyan was traveling through soul or body, it was only through body time travel that he could carry things, right?
She also didn't know that Xie Mingyan had brought something, because Xiao Mingrui kept this matter from her, and she had no idea that Xie Mingyan had traveled through the body.

"Maybe she's just pretending to be stupid." Xiao Mingrui snorted, anyway, he didn't believe that woman.

"It's also possible." Murong Wei sighed secretly in her heart. Murong Wei didn't have any sympathy for that inexplicable brain-dead woman. It would be great if she really traveled through souls, but now she can't figure it out.

It is impossible for Xiao Mingrui to let her go.

So the prophet is a very dangerous thing.

Murong Wei thought to herself, luckily she doesn't know anything, as for the future, just go on step by step.

When this matter was mentioned, Xiao Mingrui felt a little unhappy in his heart. He hugged his wife and turned around. When she fell asleep from exhaustion, he looked at Murong Wei with a complicated expression and sighed.

"Wei'er..." He brushed her face with his fingertips, and murmured, "You have agreed, you must live forever."

This year passed the Lantern Festival, and Murong Wei's menstruation did not come as usual, and she was also a little skeptical, so she checked her pulse and was not sure.

After another seven or eight days, it became clear that she was indeed pregnant again, and if she was right, it must have happened during the Empress Seal Ceremony.

Xiao Mingrui was very happy, and Miyagi was beaming.

Murong Wei heard the news that King Qi had gone crazy, how exactly he went crazy, and what was going on was not quite clear.

Xiao Mingrui only told her that he doesn't have to worry about King Qi's affairs in the future, and it is impossible for him to do anything anymore.

Speaking of which, King Qi's insanity is very strange. I don't know if he went insane after the incident was revealed, or because he was mentally stimulated. Now he is under house arrest in Jingling and guarded by Xiaolingwei.

I don't know if it's good or bad for him.

In the palace, since the incident with Qian Caiwei, Xiao Mingrui has decreed a marriage, even if Qian Caiwei is unwilling, for the survival of the Qian family, for the sake of Concubine Rong and the Eighth Prince, she can only compromise.

Concubine Li became seriously ill after knowing that King Qi was insane, and passed away not long after.

Xiao Mingrui was really ruthless, Murong Wei knew that this matter was not that simple, and Rong Taipin's fate was not very good, the place where she lived caught fire, Rong Taipin was locked in the fire scene and couldn't get out, so she committed suicide.

Murong Wei was terrified to hear the news, and asked Xiao Mingrui if he did this.

"She deserves it. If you dare to plot against my son, you should be prepared to pay the price." Xiao Mingrui's eyes were cold and murderous.

What is the big deal if one or two people disappear from the Forbidden City?
The eighth prince lost his mother and became an orphan all of a sudden.

Murong Wei naturally also hated those people who attacked her children with vicious methods, of course she would not have any sympathy for this, she was not the Holy Mother who was worried about others when others harmed her.

It just so happened that Concubine Liu Gui wanted to adopt the Eighth Prince, so she entrusted the child to her upbringing.

"You can live with the evil done by the sky, but you can't live with the evil done by yourself... Alas, it's a pity that the eighth prince lost his parents at a young age."

Xiao Mingrui was noncommittal, few children born in the royal family were stupid, and his eighth brother was also smart, but he didn't have time to grow up, and he didn't wait for the opportunity.

He promised his father to treat his brothers well, and King Qi spared his life, but he has already done a good job to the other younger brothers.

Not everyone can be as good as he treats the fifth brother.

Murong Wei is currently in charge of the affairs of the harem, and when she is pregnant, Xiao Mingrui is afraid that she will be too tired, so he sends her a lot of capable nuns to help her manage the affairs, and is also responsible for her safety when she is pregnant. The palace was calculated.

But now that the power in the palace is gradually being controlled by Murong Wei, there is no risk at all.

Because there is not even a concubine in the palace, what is there to fight for?

The concubines of Emperor Jianwu also had no chance of doing anything to Murong Wei. If the deaths of Concubine Li and Concubine Rong were not enough for them to understand, so many years of court life would be in vain.

In the autumn of the first year of Qiande, Murong Wei gave birth to the second son of the emperor, named Wen Pei, Xiao Mingrui was overjoyed, and this year specially opened Enke to celebrate the event.

When Wen Pei was full moon, Xiao Mingrui gave Murong Wei a big gift.

"Ah, have you found the barbarian's treasure?"

Murong Wei asked in surprise: "Is this all done?"

"I'll take you to see it." Xiao Mingrui said with a smile, and took Murong Wei to the treasury of Kunning Palace.

"I asked someone to dig there before, and it took me a while to dig out the treasure. Because it was buried too deep, it took me some time to clean it up. After I dug it out, I had someone appraise it. Now I have selected some to send to the capital."

Murong Wei was stunned: "No wonder when I called Xiangtao into the palace some time ago, she said that Wu Jing went out of Beijing for business. Is this the reason?"

Xiao Mingrui nodded, and as he spoke, he went to the treasury of the Kunning Palace, asked someone to open the door, and entered it.

Xiaoluzi took the key and opened one of the iron doors, and the two entered.

As soon as she entered, Murong Wei felt that there was a golden light in front of her eyes, which almost dazzled her eyes.

But it turned out that there were more than a dozen sandalwood shelves in front of him, on which were placed various treasures.

There are gold, silver and jade ornaments, Jade Buddha, Golden Buddha, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, and all kinds of exquisite gadgets, which are priceless.

Murong Wei widened her almond eyes and said with a smile: "There are so many, Your Majesty, you don't plan to send them all to me, do you?"

"Why not?" Xiao Mingrui went forward and took a phoenix crown made of pearls and put it on Murong Wei's hair, and said with a smile: "So it was said to celebrate your queenhood, but now we even celebrate the birth of our brother Pei. These are left to you, and they are all yours.”

Murong Wei went around and said with a smile: "Okay, I will leave it to the children in the future. If Lele gets married at that time, I can give her a lot of dowry."

Xiao Mingrui laughed: "Why did you think so far away. You can pick and display these things you like. Some famous calligraphy and paintings, as well as decorations are all good. These were all snatched by the barbarians during the chaos in the Central Plains. antiquities."

Murong Wei chose a few calligraphy and paintings to take away, and took some children's toys and asked someone to send them back.

"Well, this time I will thank the emperor for the reward. In the future, I can borrow flowers to present Buddha and give you some treasures on your husband's birthday."

Xiao Mingrui was overjoyed, "This is not bad."

After coming out of the vault, in Kunning Palace, Hutou and Lele were watching around the small bed. When they saw their parents coming in, Hutou excitedly said to Murong Wei: "Mother, my brother is so young."

Lele was curiously stroking Brother Pei's little face with her soft fingers. The little baby avoided it uncomfortably. Murong Wei smiled and said, "So you are so young."

"Really?" Hutou asked in surprise: "Father, is what the mother said true?"

Xiao Mingrui nodded: "You were born like this too."

"Then how did we get out?"

Lele's small face was wrinkled into a bun, and she looked at Murong Wei's stomach curiously: "Like my little brother, did he escape from the stomach? How did he escape?"

Murong Wei's face was full of embarrassment, how could she tell the children about this.

Xiao Mingrui coughed lightly in embarrassment: "You will understand this when you grow up, don't ask now."

Hutou pouted dissatisfiedly, and every time there was a question that he didn't understand, his father said that he would understand when he grew up.

Lele ran over and pulled Murong Wei's sleeve, her innocent eyes were full of anticipation: "Queen, can Lele grow up right away?"

"That's right." Hutou said depressedly: "Why can't I grow up right away? Last time my little uncle said that I need to eat more to grow up, but I have eaten a lot of food, why haven't I grown up?"

Murong Wei couldn't help laughing. She said why her son loves to eat so much recently, and his appetite has increased greatly. It turned out that she didn't know the fallacy she heard from her brother Chun.Brother Chun himself is not very old yet, so how could he understand this? Mostly he heard adults say that he grows taller after eating, so he told Hutou.

Murong Wei smiled and touched Lele's little head: "Don't worry, it takes time, and you can't grow up all at once."

Lele was very disappointed. Seeing the child like this, Murong Wei took the little gadgets from the treasure house to amuse the child.

Hutou played with a Jiulianhuan, and Lele made a small bell. Soon, the two children forgot about the serious topic of how to grow up and played.

Xiao Mingrui laughed and said, "Today I realize how difficult it is to be a parent."

Murong Wei deeply felt the same way.

If you are not a parent, you will never know the difficulties of your parents, let alone how deep the love your parents give you.

"Hutou has to be educated now. He should leave the cabinet to study when he is five years old. I started studying when I was five years old. Before I leave the cabinet, I will be crowned prince first."

Murong Wei was thoughtful: "Is it too early for him to be crowned prince at the age of five?"

Xiao Mingrui said: "Recently, a minister has mentioned this matter. I said that it is not too early to wait for him to be canonized before he leaves the cabinet. It would be better if the crown prince is established earlier, so as to avoid brothers fighting."

Murong Wei looked at her second son and thought to herself, if their brothers would fight to the death for the throne in the future, she would not be able to accept it.

That being the case, it is better to decide everything early.

Hutou is the eldest son, and Brother Pei is the second son, she doesn't want the two brothers to be like Qi Wang and Xiao Mingrui, and finally make brothers unable to do it.

Perhaps this is unfair to Brother Pei, but it has always been the case since ancient times, because the system of eldest son succession is flawed, but it can also avoid infighting within the dynasty and brother rivalry.

Xiao Mingrui's requirements for the eldest son are also very strict. Although Hutou is only three years old, Xiao Mingrui has already taught him every day, and he is completely raised as a prince.

For other children, it may be a little spoiled.

In the third year of Qiande, Xiao Mingrui officially conferred the title of eldest son Xiao Wenzhi as the crown prince, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, the country, and the ancestral temple.

(End of this chapter)