Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 53
She looked carefully again, but was still puzzled: "Excuse my concubine, you are stupid, I really can't see what it is." Mrs. Liu Guo didn't explain much, she turned around and asked the maid: "Who presented it? "

The maid tremblingly said: "Back to your mother, it was presented by Lu He, the maid next to Wang Meiren. She said that their master was already watching at the gate of Shufu Palace, and told her to go over quickly, for fear that the news would leak and be... Evidence destroyed."

Only then did Ouyang Ruo ask: "It's about Concubine Xu?" As she spoke, she raised her eyebrows lightly, with an expression of unwillingness to interfere.

Mrs. Liu Guo saw that Ouyang Ruo was still not sure about the situation, so she had to say: "Sister Ouyang doesn't know that it has something to do with it, so I have to trouble my sister to ask the Queen Empress Feng to drive to Shufu Palace. I'm afraid it won't work, I'll go first, but I'm only in charge of the harem on my behalf, and the empress is still in charge."

As she said that, she turned back to the inner hall and hurriedly changed her clothes.Ouyang Ruo hurriedly said goodbye and went out. Wan Hui was outside, took a look at Ouyang Ruo, helped her up, and gently squeezed her palm.Ouyang Ruo knew that the matter was half done.So he took his shoulders and rushed to the middle palace.Arriving at the queen's central palace, the queen's empress was leaning on the bed, letting a few young maids press her neck.The smell of medicine in the hall is very strong.

Ouyang Ruo didn't dare to hide anything, and told the Queen what she had seen and heard word by word, and said: "Now Mrs. Liu Guo is going to Shufu Palace, and I asked my concubine to come and invite the Queen's Fengjia, and move her to preside over it."

The queen was startled and angry when she heard this, she got up quickly and said, "Hurry up and change my clothes!" Palace rushed.

Ouyang Ruo followed closely behind.

When we arrived at the gate of Shufu Palace, we heard Mrs. Liu Guo's slightly angry voice: "Sister Concubine Xu, it's fine if you were ignorant in the Hou Mansion in the past. After all, we have been sisters for so many years, and I don't want to embarrass you as a sister. It's up to you. But now in the palace, everyone is the lord of the palace, and everything must be done according to the rules. Now someone reports that you secretly set up witchcraft in this palace. Although my sister doesn't believe it, I still want to search Do a search. If it is fake, Beauty Wang will be punished here; if it is true, Concubine Xu should know what happened to her."

Ouyang Ruo followed the queen in.The queen kept walking, and the palace people around her fell to the ground and bowed down like a wind blowing grass. The face of Concubine Xu in the palace was like snow. When she saw the queen, she was shocked and had to bow down.

Perhaps the queen walked in a hurry, almost staggering.She sat straight on the main seat, calmed down and said: "Everyone get up."

Then he said to Mrs. Liu Guo: "Show me the things here." Mrs. Liu Guo hurriedly asked the maid to present them.

When the queen saw it, she took a few breaths, and couldn't help but rubbed her forehead: "Forget it, I've lost my morals, and the harem is unclean, and there are such monsters. The first one, the empress should be punished." She collected herself , suddenly patted the table: "Search for Ben Gong!" After speaking, he gave Xu a hard look.

Concubine Xu went limp and fell to the ground.Ouyang Ruo and Mrs. Liu Guo looked at each other, and they both knew that this matter must be inevitable.Confident Wang Meiren stepped forward and said respectfully to the Queen: "My concubine sees that this is a big trouble, so she dare not hide it, so report it to Mrs. Liu and the Queen."

The queen's complexion was not good, and she snorted coldly from her nostrils: "I know that Wang Meiren is smart, and when this matter is over, I will give you a great credit."

Seeing the queen's expression, Wang Meiren was startled and overwhelmed.The people in the room stood quietly with their heads bowed, the whole hall was silent, and the heavy air pressure was like a stone pressing on people's hearts.After a while, the nuns who went to search the house found some messy things, among them was an exquisite puppet with the birth date written on it, which looked like a male doll.

The queen saw it, closed her eyes, waved her hand weakly and said: "Take it down and seal it. No one is allowed to move." She glanced at Concubine Xu and sneered, "Concubine Xu, what do you have to say now. Now whoever comes here can't protect you."

Mrs. Liu Guo was unusually silent on the side.

Suddenly, Mrs. Xu sneered: "I, Xu Ningshuang, dare to be brave. Is it a death sentence? Today I will die for you. Don't you just count on this day?" She propped herself up and ran into the inner hall go.

The queen remained calm, but Mrs. Liu Guo was shocked, and hurriedly asked the mother to go in and stop her.

Xu was held down by the nuns in the middle of her run. She couldn't bear it any longer, and screamed, "You black-hearted women, don't you just want to watch me die? I'll die for you!" Already...”

She cursed one after another, her voice harsh, Ouyang Ruo looked at her expressionlessly as her loose hair spread all over her head and face, like a lunatic.

The queen stood up, and the nurse next to her hurried over to help her.She walked up to Concubine Xu, looked at her for a while, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped her with a "slap".The slap was loud and crisp, and Xu's face was turned to one side, and everyone in the hall was shocked.

"This slap is a lesson for the emperor. Ask yourself, how has the emperor spoiled you since the day you entered the mansion? Every time you disrespect this empress, the emperor always comes to persuade me, saying that you have a strong temper, but your conduct is not bad. You also have to be patient. You didn't know you were pregnant, you ran to the emperor to make a fuss, and in the end you lost the child yourself. Who do you blame? Don't look at the emperor's cold face on weekdays, but in your heart I feel guilty for you, otherwise, with his temperament, he would have kicked you out of the mansion a long time ago! But this time you made this filthy thing, not only dirty the harem, but even the face of the emperor! This matter has been reported to the civil and military officials, what do you ask the emperor to do?"

Every word the queen said made Xu's complexion as snowy and trembling all over, and finally she couldn't help but burst into tears.The hall was full of her crying of regret and hatred, which made people feel chills.

"I just want a child. For so many years... There is no news for so many years. The imperial doctor said that I can't have another child, woo... I just don't believe it..."

Ouyang Ruo sighed inwardly, stepped forward and knelt down and said softly: "Concubine dares to ask the empress to appease her anger, it's not worth getting hurt. Concubine Xu must have been bewitched by others to do such stupid things."

Mrs. Liu Guo also knelt down and said: "Speaking of which, the concubine is also guilty. The queen has been ill for the past few days. It is because the concubine has neglected his duties that villains are causing trouble. The concubine should also be punished." head down.

The queen sighed more and more: "Get up. Madam Liu Guo and Wang Meiren went with the palace to report to the emperor. You guys should take care of concubine Xu and not allow her to seek death. The rest of you should leave and go back to the palace. Don't talk about it any more."

Everyone quickly took the order.

Ouyang Ruo was truly relieved when he returned to Huayan Palace.Wan Hui said cautiously: "In my mother's opinion, how will this matter end now?"

Ouyang Ruo sighed: "How can it end, Mrs. Xu will not die, and she will probably be driven to the cold palace. We didn't get the slightest benefit from this matter."

Wan Hui frowned and said, "Then why are we doing this?"

Ouyang Ruo closed his eyes, and said wearily: "Why? Auntie, don't you understand? It's just for self-protection. This time, Mrs. Liu Guo can't take charge of the harem on her behalf, and the queen is in charge. And we temporarily You don't have to be Madam Liu Guo's cannon. Otherwise, with Madam Liu Guo's scheming, I will become her pawn if I don't advise her. In short, I can't escape from her side. Fortunately, there is Wang Meiren who can be this one this time Early bird."

Only then did Wanhui wake up.

Ouyang Ruo was silent for a while and then said: "It's just that this time Mrs. Xu was hurt badly by me, Auntie, I found that I'm really a hard-hearted person." After she finished speaking, her clear eyes were covered with shadows, beautiful There was a hint of self-mockery on his face.

Wan Hui was silent for a while before comforting her: "Your Majesty, don't blame yourself, this matter will be dug up by the Empress of the other palace if it takes longer. It will be like this at that time."

Ouyang Ruo sighed softly, turned her head to look at the night outside the window, and quarreled for a while, but unexpectedly it was dark, and even forgot to eat dinner.

Wan Hui retreated quietly, and whispered to the maid to pass on the meals.Ouyang Ruo spread out her slender hands, with a bitter smile on her face, how many sins will this soft and white hands commit in the future.

It was night, when Chu Huotian came over, it was already very late, and the whole Huayan Palace was quiet.Ouyang Ruo was sleeping soundly, and heard Wan Hui say that the emperor was coming, got up hurriedly, and walked to the door of the room, suddenly Chu Huotian lifted the curtain and came in, followed by a gust of cold wind, which made Ouyang Ruo shrink back.

Ouyang Ruo saw that his face was ashen, and he was wearing a cloud blue robe casually, and he undressed himself as soon as he entered the room.Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried forward to undress him.

Wan Hui also quickly brought hot water and handkerchiefs.

"Is the emperor hungry? Would you like some concubine to ask someone to bring some hot snacks?" Ouyang Ruo said boldly.

"No need. Just order some soup." Chu Huotian finally spoke.Ouyang Ruo relaxed slightly, and asked Wan Hui to bring some bird's nest.

Chu Huotian unbuttoned his clothes, his expression was still unkind, he looked up and saw Ouyang Ruo in a nightgown, with disheveled hair on his temples, carefully standing aside, knowing that he had frightened her, he sighed and said, "Don't stand still, come here Sit down. It's cold, don't catch a cold."

Ouyang Ruo sat down beside him, and said softly: "The emperor's heart is not smooth, and the ministers are panicked."

Chu Huotian snorted: "The court in front has just been settled, and the harem is on fire again! An ignorant and mediocre woman will always play tricks. It's all my fault for pampering her too much before. Now that she has made such a fuss, it's still a shame. I don’t know how it will end.”

Ouyang Ruo gently kneaded his shoulders, and said softly: "Actually, I don't blame Sister Concubine Xu, she is just too impatient."

"It's Concubine Xu, she won't be anymore tomorrow morning. I ordered her to go to Yongxiang to reflect on it! If you don't understand it, don't come out in this life." Chu Huotian's voice was as cold as ice, and Ouyang Ruo felt a chill in his heart .

"Your majesty, don't be angry. It's not okay to be angry. It's getting late, and the emperor should have a good rest." She pulled Chu Huotian to the bedside.

Chu Huotian frowned and said: "No need, it's almost dawn. I was so angry that I didn't close my eyes all night in the bedroom, so I wanted to come to you. Go to sleep first, and I will watch you sleep."

Ouyang Ruo suddenly burst out laughing with a "puchi", her complexion was still flushed from sleep, and her temple hair was slightly disheveled, which was even more charming.Chu Huotian saw her smiling brightly like a cloud, and most of the gloom in his heart dissipated, and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Ouyang Ruo finally stopped laughing, and leaned against his chest: "The emperor hurried over in the middle of the night, just to watch the ministers and concubines sleep with their eyes open?"

Chu Huotian couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "Yes, I'm all confused. It's better to lie down and refresh yourself." After speaking, he and Ouyang Ruo took off their outer shirts and lay down on the bed.

There is a pleasant orchid fragrance on the bed, which smells very refreshing.Chu Huotian stretched comfortably, and felt drowsy when he smelled the fragrance.Seeing his relaxed face, Ouyang Ruo knew that he was extremely tired, so she stopped disturbing him.As soon as Chu Huotian woke up to dawn, he didn't get up in a hurry until the early morning.He slept soundly at night, and he didn't feel tired.

Ouyang Ruo hurriedly adjusted his court clothes and hat.Chu Huotian still squeezed her hand, smiled and went to the morning court.

Ouyang Ruogong sent him away before getting up.Wan Hui came in and said with concern: "Your Majesty, I'd better sleep a little longer, it's still early."

Ouyang Ruo sighed: "It seems that the situation is much more serious than we thought. I didn't expect that thing to be so taboo in Chu Palace."

Wan Hui smiled disapprovingly: "Who told Concubine Xu to be so careless..." Ouyang Ruo said nothing, and asked Wan Hui to comb her hair and change clothes, and went to Wan Zhaoyi's place first, and together with her, went to the empress's place to pay her respects.

Wan Zhaoyi was very happy to see her, opened her eyes wide and whispered: "Yesterday, I heard that something happened to Mrs. Xu. I wanted to go and see, but the servants in the palace were not allowed to go."

Ouyang Ruo smiled, and helped her into the sedan chair. The two shared the same sedan chair. Ouyang Ruo said softly: "It's better not to look at that thing, Wan Zhaoyi, so as not to be bumped into."

The two chatted all the way, and soon arrived at the Zhonggong.The queen looked tired, with two eye-catching dark circles on her pink face, she just waved her hand slightly when she saw everyone coming to greet her.Everyone in the entire central palace hall was silent, and the atmosphere was heavy.

The queen saw that all the concubines had arrived, so she straightened her body and said, "According to the emperor's decree, Concubine Xu of Shufu Palace will be demoted to Yongxiang from now on. Promoted to nobleman. Mrs. Liu Guo failed to supervise the harem, and fined her salary for half a year. Do you all understand?"

All the concubines quickly knelt down to accept the decree.

The queen said again: "From now on, although the empress is not feeling well, the laws of the harem are not strict, which is detrimental to the dignity of the royal family. From now on, all affairs must be reviewed by the empress before handling. You also need to take good care of your own palace. If something happens, it will be dealt with strictly in the future!"

All the concubines quickly said yes.Ouyang Ruo took a peek and saw Mrs. Liu Guo's complexion was snow-white, but she couldn't see any joy or anger.The empress gave another reprimand and said: "The harem is not clean now, I will go to the Taimiao to ask the ancestors for their sins, so there is no need to come here to pay your respects if you have nothing to do these days."

Everyone retreated.Ouyang Ruo and Wan Zhaoyi walked together.Wan Zhaoyi sighed: "Poor Mrs. Liu Guo was implicated for no reason."

Ouyang Ruo smiled inwardly, and said casually: "Yes. If this incident hadn't happened, the harem would still be very peaceful. By the way, what did Sister Lin think about what my younger sister and Sister Lin said?"

Wan Zhaoyi smiled and said, "It's not difficult, just ask the inner government to come. Since she begged my sister in the past, and she is not easy to accept, I will accept it."

Only then did Ouyang Ruo feel relieved: "She is also to blame for her injuries. She must have committed a lot of crimes to end up like this."

The two sighed for a while before parting ways.

Ouyang Ruo went back to Huayan Palace, and said to Wan Hui: "That girl Xiaoye can be sent to Wan Zhaoyi." Wan Hui breathed a sigh of relief: "Bless the Lord Buddha, it is finally settled. She said and led Xiaoye here, so So ordered.

Xiaoye hurriedly knelt down to thank her, and retreated gratefully.

Seeing her leave, Wan Hui stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to put her with Wan Zhaoyi? Tell her to watch?" Ouyang Ruo nodded, "Wan Zhaoyi is simple-minded and pregnant, so I'm sure how many people will look at her with jealousy. It's on."

"Isn't your empress afraid?" Wan Hui hesitated.

Ouyang Ruo smiled: "What are you afraid of? That Xiaoye doesn't know a single big character, so no matter how much you ask, it's just the same. The whistleblower letter to Wang Meiren was not written by her, and the handwriting doesn't match. I'm not afraid of her either." Come bite me back."

Wan Hui was relieved.At this time, Dexuan came in, Wan Hui saw his expression, knew that he had something to report, so she withdrew.

Ouyang Ruo took a sip of tea and said, "Did you get in touch with Eunuch Wu when you left the palace?" De Xuan nodded, lowered his head and said, "But Eunuch Wu said that there is no whereabouts of Di Ji."

Ouyang Ruo's beautiful eyes were gloomy, and she waved her hand: "Understood. What else did you hear?"

Dexuan thought for a while before saying: "Recently, the emperor sealed several princes of the late emperor, and the eldest prince was sent to Qin as an envoy. Some people said that the emperor's move was to put the eldest prince in Qin as a hostage. The second prince was released from the palace and made a king of Feng with a lot of salary, so he was just an idle prince. The other princes were also made kings and sent to the territories."

Ouyang Ruo knocked on the table with delicate hands, listened and did it.Naturally, she was not worried about Chu Huotian's methods. If he didn't talk about the court affairs, she naturally didn't dare to ask more.But it's always good to know.

After Dexuan finished speaking, he seemed to have something to say and was hesitating.Ouyang Ruo smiled and said, "Tell me, you came here to tell me about the outside world."

Dexuan straightened his expression and said: "My servant heard from Eunuch Wu that the remnant of the rebel army in Huadi is now chasing and killing a man named Zhan Fei, and he said that he betrayed the rebel army, and that's why leader Zhang died in Chu Jingzhong. "

Ouyang Ruo couldn't help but let out an ah, straightened up and hurriedly asked, "Then what else did Eunuch Wu say?"

Dexuan said with a solemn expression: "Eunuch Wu said that he only heard about this, and asked the empress if she can contact the Yijun to see if she can find the little emperor?"

"No!" Ouyang Ruo said decisively. "The rebels are not allowed to provoke him in the slightest. They just want to find Daxia Zhan as soon as possible, and help him if he can."

"He is kind to us, we can't just ignore it." Ouyang Ruo said again.This made De Xuan retreat.

Ouyang Ruo sighed softly, looked at the snow-capped scenery outside, and then withdrew his mind.

(End of this chapter)