Phoenix Fight: The First Concubine

Chapter 67
Murong Wei raised her eyebrows, you thought you were a chrysanthemum?
Xiao Mingrui frowned, and said lightly: "Flowers naturally have their seasons, you can see them when the time comes, so you don't need to mention it."

"In fact, what is the nature of flowers? It's just that people have added legends to them. Each flower blooms in a season, but it's its own flowering period. Chrysanthemums like cold, that's just its nature, why bother to say Whether it is noble or not."

Murong Wei picked a peony with one hand and played with it: "I prefer peonies, only peonies are really beautiful, and they move the capital when they bloom. It looks graceful and luxurious."

Qi Yan wanted to say something, but Wu Lan, the concubine at the side, secretly pulled her away, "No, peonies look really good when I look at them. I like any flower that looks good. I really don't know what kind of flower it is." , Poetry, listening to it gives me a headache."

Everyone laughed, and the embarrassment just now was immediately forgotten by everyone.

Even if you don't forget, no one will say it at this time to be unpleasant.

Qi Yan was a little upset, Wu Lan gave her a wink, and she stopped saying anything just now.

Xiao Mingrui said: "Okay, now that you have paid your respects, let's all go back."

The women said yes, then bowed and left.

Qi Yan and Wu Lan walked behind, Wu Lan frowned and said: "You are crazy, do you still want to argue with the princess?"

Qi Yan looked puzzled, "It's my business to like chrysanthemums, so how can she say when flowers bloom is her nature? Could it be that she likes peonies, so others can't like other flowers?"

Wu Lan shook her head: "You, you always can't recognize your identity. Don't forget that we are just concubines. If the concubine sees you as a dislike and treats you, the prince will not even blink if you die."

Qi Yan's face immediately turned pale.

After a long time, I went back with Wu Lan in silence.

Su Mei and Liu Yue were walking in front, Liu Yue said with a smile: "The princess really likes the prince."

Su Mei nodded: "That's not true, I have never seen the prince like this before."

"It's really worthy of being a lady of everyone. No wonder she won the title of Xiangjun. The princess is indeed extraordinary."

Su Mei looked at Liu Yue and remained silent.

It's not simple, don't look at her not changing any rules in the house, just Xiao Gui Cao followed, it doesn't mean that people don't understand.

Simply put, Zhang Yuqian will be trampled underfoot and locked in the yard when he can come, can't he get out?
Zhang Yuqian didn't get the slightest advantage from her.

Your lord, it really is eccentric.

"People's hearts are biased." Su Mei sighed, "I just want to live my life simply."

Liu Yue also fell silent, and her smiling eyes also darkened.

Yes, people's hearts are inherently biased.

The prince only has the princess in his heart, who can make him see it.

Looking at the eyes of their husband and wife, they looked like outsiders no matter what.

Liu Yue smiled and said: "What do you want to do with those things, I think the pearls given by the princess are not bad, I'll get someone to wear them later."

Su Mei also concealed her thoughts, the two talked and laughed, as if nothing had happened just now, and everything seemed to be back to normal.

Murong Wei saw those concubines leaving, but she didn't really take them to heart, she looked back and said with a smile: "My lord, how about this peony?"

Xiao Mingrui took it with a smile and Yanyan put the peony on her temples: "The beauty of the country is heavenly."

Qingqiu and Zangdong who followed were very surprised by Xiao Mingrui's gentleness. Although they could see the prince's love for the princess these days, it felt more obvious today.

The prince was not such a person before, he was more majestic in front of women, maintaining the etiquette of his prince and prince.

It's rare to see him being so tender and affectionate towards women.

Qingqiu blinked, looked at Zangdong, and said in a low voice: "It seems that the prince really likes the princess."

Zang Dong didn't say a word, she didn't talk much at all, she kept very low-key and silent.

In normal times, he is like a transparent person, except for finishing things, he basically doesn't talk much.

Qingqiu's face is a bit cold, and her cheekbones are high, which makes her seem even more unfriendly.

Unlike Aichun who has a good relationship with everyone, Zhixia is a silly elder sister who has no heart and is happy all day long, Qingqiu has her own little calculations in her heart.

On the contrary, Zang Dong's silence made her very used to it.

She was not angry, and said to herself: "I'm afraid things will change in the mansion."

Qingqiu was thinking about whether to lean towards the princess or just sit on the sidelines.

If she falls to the princess now, she will have a lot of credit, and she may be promoted to a first-class maid at that time.

However, the contacts left by the former princess cannot be underestimated, and it is not known who can win against whom.

Just as Qingqiu was thinking about it, he saw Su De running over from a distance, and stopped in front of him: "My lord, the Fifth Prince has come down. He is waiting for you in the Cunxinyuan."

Xiao Mingrui was taken aback for a moment, what is this kid doing here at this hour?
"Did he say something?"

Su De said: "The fifth prince said nothing happened."

Xiao Mingrui and Murong Wei arrived in Cunxin Courtyard, the fifth prince was sitting and drinking tea in the main hall, seeing Xiao Mingrui and Murong Wei coming together, he said with a smile: "Second brother, little second sister-in-law, I'm here for dinner today."

Xiao Mingrui said helplessly: "It's almost evening, you came here to eat instead?"

Murong Wei smiled and said: "That's a good thing, I wonder what Fifth Brother wants to eat?"

The fifth prince smiled all over his face: "Second brother, look, sister-in-law understands me. I don't have anything special to eat. I heard concubine Huimu said that second sister-in-law's cooking skills are good, so why not rush here?"

Murong Wei couldn't help laughing, Xiao Mingchen didn't look like a prince, he still looked like a child who didn't grow up.

Murong Wei knew that he would come out, so it was impossible that he came here to eat because he had nothing to do, and he must have come to Xiao Mingrui for something, so she said: "In this case, I'll let someone prepare some home-cooked food this time, and it's good for a change."

"Okay, brother, just wait and eat."

Xiao Mingrui nodded: "Princess, let's prepare first."

Murong Wei knew that they had something to talk about, so she bowed and stepped back with a smile.

Back at Tianxiangyuan, Murong Wei looked at the small kitchen. The small kitchen was said to be small, but in fact it was not small. There were some ingredients, and many cooks were busy preparing for dinner.

Looking at the fresh live fish, Murong Wei thought for a while and wanted the cook to make boiled fish, and now that it was already meal time, she asked her to cook a few appetizers and add a few more dishes.

Seeing that it was almost done, she went back to her room and changed her clothes, Xiangtao took off her clothes and replied: "Princess, the account books are still being sorted out, and the slaves are almost done."

Murong Wei nodded: "Tomorrow I will be busy looking at the account book too."

She planned to sort out the accounts of the house in secret, so that she could be clearer.

The business of this Huangzhuang shop is managed by Xiao Mingrui's front yard, she can't get involved, she still has to figure out Murong Wei's own dowry.

Besides, once the accounts are clarified, the personnel affairs in the mansion must also be clarified, and they should check secretly to see if there are any people in their yard who have been placed by others.

It's not something that will happen in a short while, and Murong Wei only intends to do it step by step.

She planned to ask Nanny Zheng to keep a close eye on the affairs of the mansion to see if there were any misbehaving people.

"How is Aunt Zhang?"

Xiangtao said narrowly: "Isn't that dizzy? She lay down after returning home, but she drank the medicine prescribed by the doctor. She stayed in the room and didn't come out. Shui Ling was beaten badly. Resting in a room, Aunt Zhang invited a doctor to apply medicine for her."

Murong Wei's expression was calm, and she asked after a long time: "Who invited the doctor this afternoon? When did the doctor come?"

Xiangtao froze for a moment, but didn't expect this question.

At that time she was settling accounts in the house, and she only found out about it after hearing what Xiangyu said.

Some people in the yard were left behind from the past, and they came to her side to fawn on her, and specially told her about Aunt Zhang.

"Slaves check it out."

Xiangtao hurried out.

Murong Wei looked outside and it was getting late, and ordered Lu Shao, who had already finished her work, to ask: "You send people to the Cunxinyuan to ask the prince and the fifth prince, are they coming for dinner?"

Lu Shao agreed, and quickly sent someone to ask about it.

When I came back, I was bumping into Xiangtao.

Xiang Tao hurried into the room, and said in Murong Wei's ear quickly and urgently: "I asked, it was a little maid who was watching the fun at the time, I asked her where she found the doctor, she said it was half I met Doctor Zhang on the way."

Murong Wei snorted.

What a coincidence to meet on the way.

Her dark eyes rolled around, "Does Doctor Zhang have any relationship with Aunt Zhang?"

Zhang Yuqian's appearance today made her sure that this doctor should belong to her, at least, someone she bought and could trust.

Zhang Yuqian didn't want to walk for half an hour every day to see how the doctor looked at her, and this goal was achieved.

It's just that she didn't expect Murong Wei to come up with such a trick, so she decided to let her rest.

Xiangtao shook her head, she was a little ashamed: "I really don't know about this, so I will inquire carefully later, and find out all the personnel and affairs in the mansion."

Murong Wei thought for a while, and said: "You should work with Mother Zheng on this matter, and you must clarify the affairs of the mansion to me."

She's not interested in being blind.

Since Zhang Yuqian is the person left behind by the Zhu family, how is it possible that she has no connections?
But today she came like this, she exposed a manpower.

If Zhang Yuqian was obedient, she would not treat her badly, and if she dared to rely on someone to fight against her, she would not soften her heart.

When the time comes, let her taste the power.

Just as he was thinking, brothers Xiao Mingrui and Xiao Mingchen came over.

Xiao Mingrui looked at the yard with a smile: "That's right, the second brother has put in a lot of thought. The weather is nice today, and it's boring to eat in the house. Why don't you eat in the yard."

Xiao Mingrui thought about it, so he sat down at the stone table under the grape arbor.

A servant girl had already laid out bamboo mats and served refreshments.

Murong Wei came out to welcome her, and seeing that it was getting dark, she asked someone to light the lamp.

The horns and beauty palace lanterns are hung all around, the lights are dense, the evening breeze is gentle, and the temperature is pleasant. Drinking some wine at this time can't be more comfortable.

"My concubine has only prepared some home-cooked food, so the prince and the fifth younger brother should not dislike it." She smiled and poured a cup for Xiao Mingrui. You're welcome, let's sit down and eat together."

Xiao Mingrui pulled her to sit down: "They are all from my own family, so there is no need to be polite to this kid, let someone serve the food."

Murong Wei just sat down and ordered Lu Shao to prepare the dishes.

First, there are some appetizers, such as bad duck letter, sauced beef, etc., and then stir-fry, fish-flavored pork shreds, braised lion head, fried shrimp, minced meat eggplant, fried yam, spicy chicken, honey shrimp balls What.There is also a pot of boiled fish.

Xiao Mingchen took a look and laughed: "My sister-in-law said it was a home-cooked dish, but I didn't expect it to be true. It looks pretty good."

After all, you are welcome, and you will get up to eat.

"Well, it tastes good. I think it's quite refreshing. Anyway, it's much more delicious than the one in the palace."

Xiao Mingchen seemed to like spicy food, and eating boiled fish was very satisfying, while drinking some flower carvings with Xiao Mingrui.

Seeing that they were eating happily, Murong Wei also ate slowly.

There is a maid serving dishes on one side, and when she sees any dish, someone will pick it up.

Eating and drinking, this meal was eaten until it was completely dark.

Murong Wei smiled and said, "Take a break first, I'll ask someone to prepare candied apples and some fruits."

Xiao Mingchen covered his stomach and said: "This time, I'm really full. I'll come here often for dinner, sister-in-law, so you can't dislike me."

Xiao Mingrui glared at him: "I can't stop you from eating!"

The two brothers took a break and talked, and the dishes were cleaned up, and the shredded apples were placed. The sweet and sour taste was very appetizing.

Xiao Mingchen ate a lot more, and finally took a silver skewer and slowly ate the fruit.

"In the future, if I don't live in the palace, I will often have the opportunity to come to the second brother's house to eat and drink."

Murong Wei heard something: "Fifth brother is going to divide the government?"

Xiao Mingrui nodded: "Although the decree hasn't been issued yet, news has been released. The fourth brother and fifth brother will be enshrined together. The House of Internal Affairs will also choose a site to build a house."

"I must live close to the second brother." Xiao Mingrui leaned on the stone chair and said dissatisfiedly: "I have to seal it with the fourth brother, and I don't know what he sealed, what I can seal."

Xiao Mingrui thought for a while and said, "If it's correct, it should be King Qin of Xi'an Prefecture in Shaanxi and King Jin of Taiyuan Prefecture in Shanxi."

"Then who am I, King Qin or King Jin?"

"It depends on what the emperor wants." Xiao Mingrui said.

Xiao Mingchen thought for a while: "Although we can't become a vassal now, if the locality is sealed off, I think we should be able to have a good relationship with the locality. Taiyuan Mansion is from the Taiyuan Wang family, and their family has quite a lot of influence in the local area. "

After hearing this, Murong Wei understood what Xiao Mingchen meant.

If he became King of Jin, he would have an intersection with the Wang family of Taiyuan. Like their Murong family in Qinghe, they are also the undisputed big family.

Xiao Mingchen wanted to win over people from the Taiyuan Wang family.

After all, the influence of these aristocratic families is not small, it would be better if they could win over.

Xiao Mingrui said indifferently: "Could it be that elder brother doesn't understand this matter? Didn't Wang Yuan, the son of the Wang family in Taiyuan, win the Erjia biography, and entered the Imperial Academy to edit. I heard that elder brother has been wooing him a lot recently."

"Things can be done especially."

Murong Wei didn't have much interest in listening to them talking about the government, so she thought about the Taiyuan Wang family.

Their family also has family members spread all over the government and the public, and they are as powerful as the Murong family.

It's just that from the impression she had seen the emperor, he was the kind of arbitrary person who would never allow others to fight for his rights.

In a word, if I give it to you, you can take it, but if I don’t give it to you, you can’t grab it.

How could such a young and powerful emperor choose Taiyuan Mansion for his son's fief.

Previously, the hometown of their four great aristocratic families did not see any prince conferring there.

Murong Wei thought for a while, then suddenly said: "My lord, what's the solution?"

Xiao Mingrui was startled, and seemed to understand what she meant.

Xiao Mingchen was not stupid, he figured it out soon.

Of course they knew that their father didn't like forming cliques for personal gain, and making friends with courtiers was too obvious...

Although it is of course better to be named King of Jin, it cannot be a vassal, nor can it be said that it has much influence.

But with so many lands that can be sealed, why did the father raise Taiyuan Mansion in Shanxi alone? Is he also testing something?
Like the previous brothers, none of them can seal those fortresses.

If he jumps up and down on this matter, will the father be very afraid and lose his mind?

The faces of the two brothers changed a few times, and after a long time, Xiao Mingrui sighed silently: "If you fight, you don't fight, if you don't fight, you fight. The lady is right, let us brothers not get involved in this matter, be filial to the emperor, and do good work. "

As for how to cultivate power in private, he naturally has plans in mind.

It is more useful for some capable ministers to win over one courtier than a bunch of courtiers.

Xiao Mingchen's eyes lit up, and he looked at Murong Wei with admiration: "Second brother told me that my sister-in-law is a smart person. I didn't believe it before, but now I believe it."

Murong Wei smiled and said, "I'm just a little smart. I don't understand government affairs. That's your man's business."

She doesn't want to be a strong woman, here she just needs a husband and a child.

Of course, it is also necessary to manage your own power and protect yourself.

She doesn't need to stand out in front of men, to show her intelligence in everything.

Originally, these spirits probably just didn't think of it for a while, but she just said a word, and they figured it out.

Murong Wei got up and said, "You guys talk first, I'll go and see the kitchen, do you want to prepare some more desserts?"

Xiao Mingchen said with a smile: "Why don't sister-in-law prepare some for me to take home to eat."

Murong Wei agreed and left with a smile.

At this moment, there was no one around, and only Su De, who had been serving Xiao Mingrui all year round, was still nearby. He was Xiao Mingrui's confidant, so there was no need to hide things from him, as many things were handled by him.

Xiao Mingchen suppressed the smile on his face, and silently ate a piece of pineapple, "Second sister-in-law is really a smart person. Second brother, you are not in a bad position."

Xiao Mingrui had a faint smile on his face, "The most correct decision in my life was to marry her."

Xiao Mingchen couldn't bear to see his elder brother's contented face, "Okay, second brother, don't irritate younger brother, look how pitiful I am as a lonely family. I don't even have a cook."

As he spoke, he bit the fruit in his mouth mournfully, as if to vent his anger.

Xiao Mingrui couldn't help laughing, and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Okay, second brother will help you choose a good wife."

When Murong Wei prepared some desserts and asked them to bring them in food boxes, Xiao Mingchen was already ready to return to the palace.

"It's getting late, and the key to the palace gate is about to be released. I'll go back now, and I'll come to my brother's place to grab some food another day. Sister-in-law will prepare more delicious food next time." Xiao Mingchen said with a smile.

Murong Wei handed the food box to the little eunuch next to him: "Okay, next time before you come here, send someone in advance to say that I will prepare a dish that you have never eaten before, and I guarantee you will like it."

Xiao Mingchen asked curiously: "What dish I have never eaten before, and still so mysterious?"

Murong Wei blinked: "Your second brother hasn't eaten it yet, this must be kept secret."

Xiao Mingrui saw off the curious fifth younger brother, and when they returned to the room, Murong Wei had just come out of the shower and changed into pajamas, while Lu'er was wiping her hair with a western towel and applying sweet-scented osmanthus scented hair oil.

Murong Wei was reading with a book in her hand, and the dense ram horn three-legged palace lantern emitted a hazy light. The brick-red light hit her more charming cheeks after bathing, giving her the feeling that she is as beautiful as a flower separated from the clouds.

Pale and rosy cheeks, jet-black eyelashes and small fans are densely arranged.

Seeing that it was him who came, Lu'er was about to salute, but was stopped by his eyes, and waved back.

Murong Wei was reading the book, she didn't seem to notice Lu'er's departure, when she felt a pair of big hands supporting her, she was startled, looked up and saw that it was Xiao Mingrui.

"Husband..." Murong Wei breathed a sigh of relief, "Why did you suddenly come out and scare me?"

Xiao Mingrui suddenly picked her up, and the book in Murong Wei's hand fell to the ground.

"Husband..." She was stunned for a moment, and said angrily, "You are scary again."

Xiao Mingrui laughed lightly and teased her: "Aren't you very courageous, why are you scared?"

Murong Wei still doesn't know what he wants to do.

They were newlyweds, and he thought those things were normal.

Murong Wei is still young, she doesn't want to get pregnant so early.

Although she has always been in good health and well-developed, it is better not to get pregnant just because of prudence.

So she has always calculated her safe period and dangerous period, just for the convenience of contraception.

And she is still preparing a contraceptive sachet for use.

Xiao Mingrui caressed her soft hair, feeling the faint fragrance, and suddenly said: "Wei'er, give me a baby."

He needs a son, the eldest son.

Murong Wei was startled, her body froze.

Sensing her reaction, Xiao Mingrui couldn't help but his heart sank. He lifted her chin, and his eyes glanced sharply: "Why, you don't want to?"

Murong Wei lowered her eyes, knowing that no man would want to accept his wife not giving birth to him.

"I'm still young... The doctor said that pregnancy at my age is very dangerous. If I give birth accidentally, I won't be able to pass... I'm afraid..."

Her watery eyes suddenly filled with water mist, and she looked at him in panic.

Xiao Mingrui was stunned, "Hey, don't be afraid, I have everything. You... are a little younger."

With her, he often forgot her actual age.

She feels very mature, and he sometimes overlooks this.

But although the little woman in front of her looks mature, she is actually a little girl.

It's not that there are no children at this age, but women have dystocia...

Thinking of losing her, Xiao Mingrui's heart constricted for a while, and the suffocating feeling made him unable to breathe.

He couldn't imagine losing her.

Murong Wei said sullenly: "I'm afraid I'll have a difficult delivery...Brother Rui, I can't bear it, I can't bear to leave you..."

"I also miss you..."

Just thinking that she might leave him was too much for him to bear, let alone face it with his own eyes.

Although he needed an heir very much, he couldn't afford to lose her.

It was always dangerous for a woman to have children, but he wanted them too, their children.

That is the flesh and blood of the two of them.

Xiao Mingrui thought for a moment, then said: "Then wait until you are older. Then, these days, have you already..."

Murong Wei shook her head: "I came here at the beginning of the month, and it's more dangerous in the second half of the month, when it's easy to conceive."

Xiao Mingrui didn't know about this, and asked in surprise, "How do you know?"

She blushed and said, "Every woman is different. It is always easy to conceive in the days before ten days before menstruation. I also read it in medical books."

Xiao Mingrui was stunned for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Is there nothing wrong now?"

She answered.

Secretly, she also heaved a sigh of relief, fortunately she managed to cover up the incident.

Since he agreed, she didn't have to hide it anymore.

Xiao Mingrui laughed, and the corners of his mouth were slightly evil: "In this way, I won't waste time as a husband."

On the second day, Murong Wei couldn't get up early in the morning with back pain, but the man in front of her got up early in the morning and went to court.

(End of this chapter)