The Legend of the Loved One

Chapter 59

After several consecutive snowfalls, the New Year's Eve is coming as promised.

Since the previous emperor passed away years ago, there was no banquet in the palace, so this New Year's Eve dinner was the first official dinner for the new emperor's family.

It was the first time for the new emperor to cook a family banquet. The chefs of the supervisor did not dare to neglect. They inquired about the preferences of each master half a month in advance, and finalized the dishes. Palace, the royal New Year's Eve dinner officially began.

The concubines were very self-aware and resigned, so all the people present in the palace were members of Song Chen's own family.And this New Year's Eve dinner was also the first New Year's Eve dinner that Song Chen's mother and son had together after [-] years of separation, so the atmosphere was very warm, and with the presence of children, there was constant laughter in the hall.

Xu Jinhe also put on a warm smile, but when she saw Song Qi and Chu Xue's obviously swollen abdomens sitting beside Li Jiaoyun, she was furious with hatred in her heart.Originally she had the most children in her hands, but now she only has two, Li Jiaoyun has two, and Chu Xue's is about to be born soon, and according to Song Chen's love for Chu Xue, she will definitely have a second one. The second, the third... In comparison, I seem to have no absolute advantage to speak of.

However, it is not impossible to check and balance Chu Xue.

Xu Jinhe glanced at Nuo Da's palace pretendingly, and said with a smile: "Seeing that Concubine Yi's sister will be born in summer, next year's festival, our palace should be more lively."

Chu Xue bowed her head and smiled respectfully, but she vaguely felt that there was something in Xu Jinhe's words.

Sure enough, she heard her say: "However, when the weather is warmer, the emperor should also consider the matter of drafting. Now Nuo Da's harem only has Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi, and it is really deserted."

Chu Xue paused while holding the chopsticks, and subconsciously glanced at Song Chen.

It is true that for an emperor of his age, the harem only has one empress and two concubines, which is indeed a bit deserted, and among these three palaces, he only spends the night in his own palace. The purpose of Xu Jinhe's proposal could not be clearer, just to use newcomers Take away your favor.

It's just that I don't know what he thinks.

Li Jiaoyun also silently looked up at Song Chen.

Song Chen didn't reply immediately, Xu Jinhe thought that he was moved, so he further advised, "Recently, I have heard that there are many noble women of the right age in Beijing, and many of them are of outstanding appearance. You handle it."

After Xu Jinhe finished his thoughts, Song Chen put down the wine glass in his hand and said, "This matter is not urgent for now. Recently, the important affairs of the former court are cumbersome, and I have no time for him. In the future, let's discuss it in a long-term way!"

A simple sentence broke Xu Jinhe's thoughts.

Generally speaking, which wife would like her husband to marry a concubine?But Xu Jinhe is now forced to do nothing.The last time Song Chen wanted to entrust Chu Xue to the Jin Dynasty, he was stopped by the Ministry of Rites on the grounds that he had nothing to do, but in a few months, once Chu Xue gave birth to a child, especially if he gave birth to a prince, there is no guarantee that Song Chen would not bring up the old story again. .

At that time, once Chu Xue is promoted to a noble concubine, with a prince in her hand, relying on Song Chen's love for her, it is by no means impossible to overwhelm her.

Besides, I heard a few days ago that the Chu family has become friends with the Qin family. After knowing the Yue family's Yingyue murder, she understood the grievances between her elder brother Xu Jilin and the Chu family. With the powerful Chu and Qin families, their mother's family is about to face enemies...

Therefore, she will never allow Chu Xue to become strong.

Even if there are ten more concubines, as long as she can share Chu Xue's favor, she will do it without hesitation.

But now Song Chen refused, but she didn't want to give up, and turned her attention to the queen mother.

The queen mother saw the meaning of asking for help in her eyes, smiled slightly, and rounded up the situation: "The emperor regards the country as the most important thing, which is the blessing of the world; the queen thinks about the royal heirs, and it is really virtuous and rare. According to Ai's family, the people are more important than the emperor. Let’s follow the emperor’s wishes first, and wait until the political affairs become easier, so it’s not too late to discuss.”

Both the queen mother and the emperor spoke like this, so Xu Jinhe had no choice but to quiet down.

Chu Xue felt at ease, she knew that he was thinking of herself.

After three rounds of banquets, the night was getting dark, and the Empress Dowager returned to Funing Palace first.Although the elders left, the younger generation had more fun. The boys got permission from their father and went out to set off firecrackers as usual. Although Song Ning was one year older, he was still afraid of the sound of firecrackers and hid in his mother's arms as usual.

Due to the death of the first emperor, there was no plan to set off fireworks in the palace this year. It was cold outside, and the whole family was talking in the hot palace.The little girl was bored in her mother's arms, so she wandered around in front of Chu Xue. Chu Xue was sitting on a chair, her bulging abdomen was bulging like a ball through her clothes. Xiao Songning noticed it, and ran over in a daze Ask her, "Auntie, why are you so loud here?"

Chu Xue couldn't help laughing, and explained to her with a smile, "Because there is a baby in my aunt's belly, and the bigger the baby is, the more bulging my aunt's belly will be."

The little girl nodded and asked again, "When will the little baby come out?"

Chu Xue thought for a while, "In summer, when rice dumplings can be eaten, the baby will be able to come out."

The little girl imagined for a while, and suddenly clapped her hands happily, "Great! In summer, I won't be the youngest, I want to be his older sister, and I will play with him too!"

The whole family laughed, and Chu Xue was also laughing, just looking at the cheering little man in front of her, the childhood scene came to mind again.

At that time, my mother was also pregnant, and she was older than Song Ning now. She knew that there was a baby in her mother's belly, but she just looked around curiously all day long, wondering when he would come out and when she would be a big sister.The mother said that the baby will come out after the Mid-Autumn Festival. She is full of expectations, and she is waiting for the Mid-Autumn Festival with her fingers, waiting for the day when she will become an older sister...

But that day never came.

There was mist in her eyes. She picked up a cup of warm tea and was drinking it when Xu Jinhe asked Song Ning, "Ning Ning, tell the queen mother, do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?"

The little man thought about it for a while, and replied: "I want a younger sister. My younger sister can play with me. My younger sister won't set off firecrackers. I will tie her hair."

The little man was straightforward, but her mother, Li Jiaoyun, looked at Chu Xue with an apologetic face, "The kid just said it casually, sister, don't take it to heart."

Ordinary people know that a harem mother is more expensive than a child, and most people want to have a son.

But Chu Xue smiled and said, "I want a daughter too. She is as cute as Ningning, so cute. If she is naughty like a boy, I will have a headache and I'm afraid I won't be able to control it."

Li Jiaoyun nodded with a smile and didn't say anything else, but Xu Jinhe asked, "Did the imperial doctor diagnose male and female?"

She shook her head, "The imperial doctor said that what happened in the womb is not completely sure, but...it seems more like a daughter's pulse."

"Then it seems that my sister is going to get her wish." Xu Jinhe smiled, and there was a faint sense of relief in the smile.

Seeing the change in her expression, Chu Xue just smiled and said nothing.

Song Chen said, "Both men and women are fine. Both are my children. The safety of mother and child is the most important thing."

As if being brought up again, Xu Jinhe's brows twitched slightly.

Li Jiaoyun joked: "If it's really a princess, the emperor will have another little padded jacket."

"Yeah." Song Chen nodded, got up to look for his current little padded jacket, "Ning Ning, father will take you out to watch brother set off the cannon."

The little man threw himself into his arms immediately, and the father and daughter put on their cloaks and walked out of the palace gate.

After laughing and laughing for about two hours, the dinner in Yuhe Palace ended, and everyone went back to their respective palaces. Before going to Fengyi Palace, Song Chen went to Funing Palace first, planning to talk with his mother for a while.

Hearing the bursts of firecrackers outside the palace, the mother and son were each feeling emotional. They had just drank a few sips of tea when they saw the female officer Ning Yuan stepping in, with an unnatural expression on her face.

"What's the matter?" asked the Queen Mother.

Ning Yuan looked at the two masters separately, lowered her head and said softly: "The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the people of Yongle Palace came to report that that... died."

The queen mother's eyes narrowed, she put down the teacup, and said: "Understood." Turning her head to look at Song Chen, she thought for a while, and ordered: "Tomorrow is the new year. As the old saying goes, you can't celebrate the new year with funerals. Find some people , take advantage of the present and bury it!"

"Yes." Ning Yuan bowed her head in response, but did not leave immediately, and said again: "I dare not hide it, but I heard from the palace people that that one, until his death, was crying for injustice, saying yes, never poisoning the Queen Mother... ...Do you see this matter, is there anything strange?"

"She was wronged?" The queen mother sneered, "Even if she wasn't the one who did it this time, how many souls of wronged people died in her hands before? It is kind of Aijia to keep her until now, so what wrongdoing can she have? For grievances, just wait under the Nine Springs and complain to the late emperor!"

Seeing the empress dowager was already brought up with sad things again, Song Chen said: "Do as the empress dowager wants."

"Yes." Ning Yuan bowed and stepped back.

When the palace returned to cleanliness, Song Chen thought about Ning Yuan's words, and he was a little puzzled. A person's words are good when he is about to die. Maybe Yongle Palace was really framed this time?
He looked at the queen mother, wanting to ask for a solution. The queen mother looked out of the window and said indifferently: "It's not Yongle Palace, maybe it's Concubine Duan. Her son King Ning can arrange someone to provoke the prince to rebel. Concubine Duan may not be able to think of such a frame-up. Means. But no matter who it is, how much better can it be than death when it comes to this point?"

Yes, the husband is dead, the son is imprisoned, and oneself is imprisoned. Is this feeling better than death?

Song Chen was silent. Today's New Year's Eve, he didn't want to recall that period of time.

The Empress Dowager also understood what he was thinking, so she changed the subject and said: "During the banquet just now, I really need to think about what the Empress mentioned. From ancient times to the present, there are not many emperors who have only two or three people in their harem. You have long since stopped spending the night with the Empress and Concubine Rong, now that Concubine Yi is pregnant, do you really not want to be a newcomer?"

Song Chen smiled, "Just now what my son said was the truth. Now that my son has just ascended the throne, there are many things to find out and take over. I really have no time for him. As for what is new or not, my son has never been very interested. Besides... Concubine Yi is pregnant now, let's wait until she gives birth to the child safely."

Speaking of this, the queen mother stopped persuading her, nodded, and took his words: "Concubine Yi is the first child, so it is inevitable that she will be more delicate. In any case, if she is to be born properly, the Ai family will watch for you."

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Song Chen smiled.

There was a distant cannon sound outside the window, and the mother and son looked up at the distant night sky.

(End of this chapter)