The little girl of the landlord's house

Chapter 147

In Fengyi Palace, Empress Xu still had a bit of sadness on her face. As soon as she heard that He Zhaoyi was pregnant again, she called the second prince to her.Before that, she never felt that the second prince's future crown prince would be threatened in any way, but since the move to the south, all this seemed to have changed.The daughter of the He family entered the palace and doted on the harem, but because she rewarded two maids to Prince Rui, she kept the emperor from setting foot in Fengyi Palace for more than a month.

Empress Xu couldn't help feeling a little more sad. Could the 20-year relationship between her and the emperor be inferior to that of a merchant's daughter who has only been here for a few months?
Empress Xu looked at her aging face in the bronze mirror, and sighed faintly. At this moment, the curtain flashed, and a boy of twelve or thirteen years old came in from the outside. When he saw Empress Xu, he just made a respectful gesture. Yi, shouted "mother queen".

When Empress Xu heard the noise, she put away her daze for a moment, changed her face, and waved to him with a smile: "The emperor is here. Did the emperor attend your father's banquet today?"

Although Empress Xu concealed it quickly, the second prince still saw a bit of reluctance in her smile, and walked towards Empress Xu, while saying: "My son is gone, the emperor has raised a lot of military pay, and sent Tartar It's just around the corner." The second prince was young, and when he said these words, he still had a bit of force.

Empress Xu just hugged him in her arms, stroked him tenderly, stretched out her hand to straighten his hair and said: "You will learn more from your uncle in the future, you know?"

"Mother, my son knows." The second prince said, seeing that Empress Xu's face was a little more sad, so he couldn't help asking: "What's wrong with the mother today? Doesn't seem happy? Today is the On the first day of the new year, I heard from the old mother that if you are not happy on the first day of the new year, you will suffer for a whole year."

Empress Xu didn't know that today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, otherwise He Zhaoyi wouldn't have singled out the fact that she was found pregnant today, which really made her worry a lot.

"The queen mother is not unhappy. Don't talk nonsense, the emperor. The queen mother just misses you." Empress Xu just shirked casually, and then said: "The queen mother invited your sixth uncle over, and you can stay with him for a while. Shan, let him go back!"

Hearing the words, the second prince only asked: "Shouldn't Uncle Liu Huang go back to his house to accompany Aunt Liu Huang? Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year."

Empress Xu remembered that Xie Yujiao didn't come back this year, probably because she was afraid of seeing her, and she felt more and more uncomfortable. She only thought about it before she said: "Your aunt Liuhuang is not in the capital, and your uncle Liuhuang will go back alone. .”

Just as he was talking, he heard the little eunuch passing a message outside: "My Majesty, the prince is here."

After hearing this, Empress Xu encouraged her to cheer up and brought the second prince to the palace.

Zhou Tianhao bowed to her, Empress Xu accepted half of the bow, and asked the second prince to bow to him and said: "Go and see your sixth emperor uncle."

The second prince stepped forward obediently, made a long bow to Zhou Tianhao, and said in his mouth: "My nephew greets the uncle."

Zhou Tianhao used to be a child himself, so he didn't care much about the emperor's sons, but even so, he also knew that these two princes would definitely be crowned princes in the future.It goes without saying that the biological mother is the queen, although there is an older brother, the biological mother is of low status, and it is said that her brain is not very flexible. Besides the few princes, the emperor does not seem to particularly like it.

"Nephew, you're welcome. Sit down." Zhou Tianhao had a drink at the banquet today. He is usually too strong to drink, and since Xie Yujiao became pregnant, he strictly abides by this rule, so he drank a little today. When he got up, he frowned slightly, for a moment he couldn't remember why Empress Xu invited him over.

Seeing Zhou Tianhao frown, the second prince recalled that he drank a few glasses at the banquet just now, so he said, "Uncle Huang must have been drunk." After the second prince finished speaking, he just pointed to a court lady and said, "Go and make a drink. Here comes a cup of strong tea!"

Empress Xu invited Zhou Tianhao here, but she didn't expect him to be uncomfortable. Seeing him now, she felt a little more embarrassed. Fortunately, the second prince was sensible, so she comforted her a little bit, and said, "Prince, you Go and make tea for your emperor uncle in person, the queen mother still has a few words to say to your emperor uncle."

Seeing that Empress Xu finally couldn't help but speak, Zhou Tianhao only loosened his brows slightly, and waited for the second prince to leave, before asking: "If you have anything to say, sister-in-law, please speak directly."

A bit of embarrassment flashed across Empress Xu's face. After thinking for a while, she gritted her teeth and said, "Now your nephew is grown up, but the emperor has not registered a crown prince yet. I have heard people say that 'a country without a heir is unstable'. I don’t know if it’s serious or not, I’m just worried.”

As soon as Empress Xu said this, Zhou Tianhao immediately understood.Now that He Zhaoyi is pregnant, Empress Xu is already worried, and she wants the emperor to establish a crown prince as soon as possible, so she can feel at ease.

Zhou Tianhao lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then remembered what happened to the two maids last time. If Xie Yujiao hadn't observed her words and was as careful as dust, if something really happened, the relationship between him and Jiaojiao might be ruined. once.So after several times hearing that the two court ladies were really killed, Zhou Tianhao still had a bit of disdain for Empress Xu in his heart.

"Now there is only half of Dayong left. When the emperor moved south that day, he swore a poisonous oath that he must return to the capital. My younger brother thinks that the most important thing now is not to establish a reserve, but how to drive the tartars out of Dayong. Yong go." Actually, for Zhou Tianhao, it has nothing to do with him whether he becomes a prince or not, anyway, he doesn't want to be the emperor, but if it's so easy to satisfy Empress Xu, when Xie Yujiao asks, he will She wouldn't deliberately conceal it, but it made her feel a little awkward, so she deliberately stood by and watched at this time.

Empress Xu's face suddenly changed when she heard the words. She knew that the emperor listened to Zhou Tianhao's words the most. As long as Zhou Tianhao said a word, the matter of establishing a reserve would be pretty close.But now Zhou Tianhao has no intention of favoring him at all, what should he do?

Empress Xu was about to say a few more words when the second prince had already brewed strong tea.The second prince personally served the tea to Zhou Tianhao, and Zhou Tianhao took a sip. The authentic Dahongpao was just as hot as he liked.After drinking a cup of tea, he got up and said: "If the sister-in-law has nothing else to do, then the minister will go back to the mansion first."

Empress Xu originally planned to keep Zhou Tianhao down for dinner, but after hearing what she said just now, she lost all mood, and just said: "Then the prince is on a good journey, Huanger, and you will see off your Sixth Uncle."

The second prince sent Zhou Tianhao out, and when he came back, he asked Empress Xu, "Mother, didn't you want to keep the uncle for dinner? Why did you ask me to send him away?"

Empress Xu was completely hopeless at this time, she just twisted the veil and said coldly: "I'm afraid your uncle doesn't want to stay."

Zhou Tianhao went out of the palace gate, and saw that the sky was slightly dark, it was already the last moment, he had finished his big business of returning to Beijing this time, at this moment, he felt a lot easier, and when he reached the gate of the palace, the coachman didn't have to go back to the palace , went directly to the other courtyard in Tangshan.

In Tangshan Bieyuan, Xie Yujiao and Mrs. Xu were learning how to do needlework. Mrs. Xu looked at the pouch that Xie Yujiao made, and said with a smile: "Just this thing, are you willing to let the prince take it out? Don't be afraid of him." Being laughed at?"

Xie Yujiao lowered her head and smirked, holding her purse and said: "If he wants to marry a good sewing machine, why bother to find me! So even if someone wants to make fun of him, just make fun of him, what does it have to do with me?"

After hearing this, Mrs. Xu was speechless for a while, so she smiled and poked Xie Yujiao's forehead with her finger, and said with a smile: "You girl, you really have to study hard, but you don't know how to make clothes, and men wear them There are so many things, you should at least learn one or two things, so that the prince can carry it with him and think of you all the time."

Xie Yujiao felt that what Xu said was also reasonable. Now that she was raising a baby here, she did have a lot of leisure time, but she could really learn how to sew.

"I also want to learn, but Liu's mother said that you can't keep your head down, it's not good for the child, and it's not good for the child. But it’s not easy either.”

Seeing that everyone cared so much about Xie Yujiao, Mrs. Xu felt more relieved, and felt that she was a blessed person, so she didn't need to worry about her anymore.

"Now you want to live here, I will follow you, but when you are about to give birth, you will live in Xie's house, so that I can take care of you personally, and I can rest assured, how about it?"

When Mrs. Xu thought that there were no other masters in the palace except Xie Yujiao and Zhou Tianhao, although the servants who responded were useful, she was still worried, so she just spoke first.

Xie Yujiao only lowered her eyebrows and thought for a moment, and she also knew that confinement is very important to the mothers, and it would be difficult to deal with some confinement diseases, so she just nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Xie Yujiao agreed, Mrs. Xu became more and more happy, and said with a smile: "That would be the best. When I go back, I will clean up the Xili room. Then you can just live there, and I will be on the east side." , keep taking good care of you!"

Xie Yujiao was willing in her heart, but she was afraid that Zhou Tianhao would suffer again. After all, the main room was Xu's room, and it would be inconvenient for Zhou Tianhao to come in and out all day. Xie Yujiao thought about it and said, "Mother, don't bother." Well, I just live in the embroidery building, it's quiet like this."

Xu frowned and thought about it, finally figured out why she came here, smiled and nodded in agreement.

When Zhou Tianhao hurried back to Tangshan, Xie Yujiao and Mrs. Xu had already finished their dinner and were chatting around the stove.Mrs. Xu told Xie Yujiao what happened at home these days in detail. Although Mrs. Xu could not be regarded as shrewd and capable, she was at least generous and kind. Besides, she lost her husband in middle age. If she wants to come out to support the family, the village chiefs respect her a lot.

Xie Yujiao was relieved to see that nothing major had happened in the past few months. Later, when she had time, she asked Liu Fugen to take a look at the family's account books.

"I'll go back tomorrow. During the New Year's Day, there will inevitably be human relations. I left everything behind." Xu looked at the weather outside, and it was still snowing, so he didn't know if the road would be easy tomorrow. After leaving, I felt a little worried in my heart, and said again: "I saw that this place is quite remote, why did I just turn the corner early in the morning, and someone came up to ask me, I was worried, and I was afraid that I would meet someone Where are the bad guys!"

Hearing this, Xie Yujiao just smiled and said, "Actually, it's not far from here. The villages inside and outside are only two or three miles away. It's just that there are fewer people. The prince is afraid that it's not safe here, so he will have guards here this week. Normally I would It’s rare to see, anyway, I know there are these people.”

Mrs. Xu frowned and asked: "Where are they going to live in the wind and snow? They have to watch outside, wouldn't they freeze to death?"

Xie Yujiao was also worried about this problem before, and secretly asked the maids to go out to deliver wine and food, but later found that those people didn't eat at all, and in the end it was cheaper than wild dogs, so forget it.About every place has its own rules, so she just let them go.

"I don't know about this either. In short, it was arranged by the prince, and they all listen to the prince, so I won't ask."

Seeing what Xie Yujiao said, Mrs. Xu also nodded her head and said, instead of asking more questions, she just smiled and said: "I used to see that the prince didn't have a straight face, and I was afraid that he didn't know how to love others, but now it's me. I'm worried, it seems that once a man becomes a family, his personality will change immediately."

While the two were talking, a little maid came in through the curtain and only replied, "Go back to madam, the prince is back."

The little maid had just finished speaking, when the curtain flashed, Zhou Tianhao came in with a short body, breathing out a cold breath.When he just entered the door, he heard the servant say that Mrs. Xu was here. When he saw Mrs. Xu, he didn't care that his face was a little stiff from the weather all the way. He just smiled and cupped his hands at Mrs. Xu: "My lord mother-in-law."

Xu also hasn't seen Zhou Tianhao for a few days. She remembers Zhou Tianhao always smiling. Although he is tall and big, he still looks like a child in his bones.At this time, although he showed a slight smile, the serious look in his eyes still made Xu slightly stunned, she just got up hurriedly, and said with a smile: "Come in and sit down, the road is not good due to the heavy snowstorm outside. Go, why bother to come back." Xu's words brought a bit of heartache, thinking that at the beginning she watched Zhou Tianhao recuperate day by day, but now that she is recovering, she has to work so hard. After all, she is her own son-in-law, so she can't bear it. !

At this time, Xie Yujiao had already helped him untie the cloak, and the servant girl came over with hot tea. Xie Yujiao personally brought it to him, and when she looked up, she saw that there were still many snowflakes on his hair, so she stood on tiptoe and wiped it with a handkerchief, smiling He said: "Drink a cup of hot tea quickly, I will let the servant girl prepare supper."

After Zhou Tianhao drank the hot tea, the expression on his face softened a little, and he started talking with Mrs. Xu.

"Mother wants to come here, just send someone to deliver a letter, and I will send someone to pick you up."

"How dare you be so busy! Besides, I came here whenever I wanted to. I didn't think too much about it. I just wanted to see Jiaojiao."

Zhou Tianhao knew that Mrs. Xu always cared about Xie Yujiao, and now seeing her living in such a place, he must be very distressed, so he first apologized: "It is my fault that Jiaojiao lives with me in this kind of place."

After Xie Yujiao heard this, she only pursed her lips and smiled, and Xu said, "This place is also good, with green mountains and green waters, where you can raise people. Besides, it's better for the husband and wife to live in the same place, so the relationship is also good."

Xie Yujiao followed suit and nodded, and when filling tea for Zhou Tianhao, she smelled of alcohol and asked in a low voice, "Did you drink today?"

"I just drank a little. I haven't drank it for a long time. I'm still a little overwhelmed. I took a nap in the carriage, and I'm much better now." Hearing this, Xie Yujiao ordered the servant girl to cook sober soup, and it was getting late soon. , Xu went back to the room first.

Not long after, the supper was brought over. It was hot ten-meter porridge, some cold side dishes, and golden-fried spring rolls.Zhou Tianhao was sitting at the table eating supper, Xie Yujiao took the needle and thread and began to sew again, and only when it was almost finished, she happily brought the purse to Zhou Tianhao's eyes and said: "I made the purse, do you like it?" nice?"

To be honest, this pouch looks like a graffiti to others, but it is Xie Yujiao's debut work!So Zhou Tianhao said without hesitation: "Whoever made the purse is so beautiful, give me a dozen!"

Xie Yujiao couldn't help laughing when she saw his out-of-shape appearance: "My mother just said that you are more and more like a man now that you are married, why did you reveal your secrets so quickly?"

At this time, Zhou Tianhao drank the hot Zhou and felt comfortable all over, so he hugged Xie Yujiao, lowered his head and rubbed against her ear, licking her cochlea and said: "Of course I look like a man." , I was originally a man, and I still want to be a man among men..."

Having said that, her voice was so hoarse that she couldn't speak, Xie Yujiao only felt that there was something behind her that was resting on her, which made her uncomfortable. As soon as she lightened her body, Zhou Tianhao hugged her.

After calling for water twice at night, Xie Yujiao fell asleep leaning on Zhou Tianhao's chest.

However, Zhou Tianhao left Fengyi Palace yesterday without revealing anything. Unexpectedly, that night, the emperor probably saw the He family's 40 taels of silver and He Zhaoyi's pregnancy, and ordered He Zhaoyi to be concubine.

As soon as the news came out, Empress Xu was so worried that she didn't sleep well all night. In the early morning of the next day, she sent someone out of the palace early to bring Mrs. An Guogong into the palace.

The relationship between Empress Xu and Zhou Tianhao could have been considered a deep uncle and sister-in-law.Who knew that Zhou Tianhao would be offended in the end because of his marriage.Now Prince Gong is still in the peace talks in the north, King Kang is ignoring the government, only Prince Rui is in Jinling City, and the emperor relies on him the most.But now even he is unwilling to say this for the second prince, who is she asking for?

Mrs. An Guogong also hurried to the palace when she heard the Queen's decree. She also heard about He Zhaoyi's pregnancy yesterday. , you are still Dayong's queen!"

Empress Xu didn't have much energy at this time, and her high-ranking and incomparable aura suddenly disappeared, she only sighed and said: "Since His Majesty arrived there, his heart has changed. We have been together for so many years. Husband and wife, he has never treated you so coldly." After Empress Xu finished speaking, she only raised her head to look at Mrs. An Guogong, and continued: "Yesterday I mentioned to Prince Rui about the canonization of the crown prince, but he...he didn't allow."

It was An Guogong's idea to ask Empress Xu to discuss with Zhou Tianhao the appointment of the crown prince. As the grandfather of the second prince, he naturally did not have the position to propose the establishment of the crown prince, and besides Zhou Tianhao, there was no one in the court who could The minister who made the emperor make up his mind thought of such a detour and asked Empress Xu and Zhou Tianhao to mention it.Who knew that Zhou Tianhao didn't express his opinion at all yesterday, which made Empress Xu feel like an ant on a hot pot even more.

The emperor just took a large sum of money from the big bosses of Jinling City yesterday, and it is time to reward them with kindness, and there are still many people waiting in line to send their daughters in. It was too early, but because of this, An Guogong's family and Empress Xu were as anxious as ants on a hot pot.

Mrs. An Guo also had a sad expression when she heard the words. After thinking for a moment, she raised her head and said, "It's probably about the two maids last time. He is still angry, but this is a woman's back house. What happened, if the concubine calms down, maybe he can also let it go?"

Mrs. An Guogong's wife has been rolling around in the inner room for many years, and she knows very well that the wind blowing beside her pillow is so strong, she thought about it and said: "Your Majesty, why don't you lower your posture and use the name of visiting to restore old friendship with Princess Rui. If Your Majesty finds out, you will definitely I will also praise you for your generosity, benevolence and sense, and Prince Rui loves the concubine so much, maybe this matter can be done?"

"Mother means to ask me to confess my mistake to a junior? Besides, that matter is not the fault of only one person in the palace!" Empress Xu became excited when she heard Mrs. An Guogong's words. She was admonishing the two court ladies It was true that she had some selfish intentions at the time, but she did not expect that Zhou Tianhao would not give her any face at all, and blatantly returned him.

For this matter, in addition to receiving the cold reception from the emperor, even the many concubines in the palace joked in private. This mouthful was hard to swallow, and now she has to apologize?How is this possible?
Empress Xu was about to speak, but Mrs. An Guogong spoke first: "If you don't say this, then the second prince is still a prince? You also changed after your majesty came down, and the change is not limited to your majesty, the whole court No matter how convenient it is, if we can't stabilize the position of the second prince at this time, we don't know what the future will be like for our entire An Guo Gongfu!"

These words were like a sharp sword, directly piercing Empress Xu's heart, she lowered her eyes, and bit her lips hard when she thought of He Zhaoyi who was conferred the title of concubine last night.

(End of this chapter)