Traveling through the harem: the favorite concubine

Chapter 83

Walking from the inn where Chen Wenhan and Huang Zongbao were temporarily staying to the place Huang Zongbao said was actually not close, one was in the east and the other was in the west, almost half of the capital was crossed.

Huang Zongbao was in high spirits, the two of them left the inn only after breakfast, so it's good to take a walk now.

I don't know if the capital city is filled with examinees just around the corner, or the streets are bustling with people coming and going, and Huang Zongbao has always been a person who likes to join in the fun, and this scene is just in line with his heart.

But Chen Wenhan felt a little annoyed, and couldn't help urging Huang Zongbao to lead the way quickly. Huang Zongbao only thought that he was anxious to find his little sister, so he stopped looking around and led the way wholeheartedly.

The two of them walked a long way with the book boy, sweating profusely and out of breath, before arriving at the registration place of the Ministry of Internal Affairs mentioned by Huang Zongbao.But it was in a small place next to the palace, a table was set up at the door, and two young eunuchs were sitting there.

"Why are there people queuing up everywhere!"

Huang Zongbao glanced at the long queue and couldn't help frowning.

And Chen Wenhan was already extremely impatient in his heart, but he just wanted to finish his work early so that he could go back when everyone was here, so he walked silently to the long queue.

When Huang Zongbao saw him, he didn't make another sound. He also stood aside with Chen Wenhan, but he was quite bored and talked to a middle-aged man and woman standing in front of him.

The middle-aged couple looked at Huang Zongbao's rich clothes, but they took the initiative to answer Huang Zongbao's words.

"My daughter was sent to the palace when she was seven years old. I saw her in the first few years, but in the past few years, she never saw anyone back and forth, and she couldn't enter the palace to find someone!"

The middle-aged man sighed.But the middle-aged woman on the other end said coldly, "Isn't your daughter just because of her wealth, how can she control the life of the family?"

Huang Zongbao knew there was an inside story when he heard the words, and couldn't help getting excited, and asked: "How can you say that, auntie!"

Chen Wenhan looked at Huang Zongbao's gossip like an ignorant woman and child in the market from the side, and looked down on him in his heart, but he didn't show anything on his face, just stood quietly and listened.

"You said, there is really no way out for this family, and we wouldn't even think about selling our daughter into the palace to become a palace maid, right? That dead girl doesn't understand our hard work as parents at all, and she hates us for this. Family life Difficult, there are a bunch of children to raise, they are also her younger siblings! Let her take the monthly money to help the family, and the family is unwilling, and deliberately avoids us!"

"Speak less!"

The middle-aged man felt a little embarrassed and scolded in a low voice.But the middle-aged woman gave the middle-aged man a hard look, and said, "Your daughter can do such things as disobedient to her parents, what's wrong with my mother telling her a few words!"

After all, he looked at Huang Zongbao as if he had found a bosom friend, and complained again: "Young master, you said, we as parents worked hard to raise her, and she treats her parents like this. There is no such reason!"

"Ha ha……"

Huang Zongbao just laughed dryly and didn't speak, but the face hidden behind the fan showed regret, why did he find such an old lady to talk to him when he was fine.

When he was about to avoid the conversation with the couple, Chen Wenhan who was standing beside him suddenly spoke up and said seriously: "Children should be filial to their parents. Auntie, your daughter is really wrong to do this." !"

Huang Zongbao frowned, pulled Chen Wenhan's clothes, and said, "Wenhan, the sun is shining brightly here, let's go to the side and let Liangshu and the others guard this side."

"it is good!"

Chen Wenhan had no objection to this proposal, and followed Huang Zongbao to the shadow under the eaves on the side.

Unexpectedly, just after standing still, Huang Zongbao frowned and reminded: "Wen Han, don't let that couple be fooled!"

"Cheated?"

Chen Wenhan looked at Huang Zongbao puzzled.

Huang Zongbao said in a low voice: "This couple, look at that aunt who kept saying that her family was struggling to sell her daughter and asked her for monthly money, but you pinched the clothes she was wearing, and there was no patch on her head. A golden hairpin, it doesn't look like it is covered with gold, but it is [-]% pure gold, so it can be seen that the family's financial difficulties are simply used to bluff people."

"Tell me, ordinary people, if they can't afford to feed their children, how can they have the heart to sell their children, and sell them to the place in the palace that eats people and doesn't spit out their bones."

Huang Zongbao was talking on the other side, but seeing that Chen Wenhan's face was not good, he couldn't help but knocked his head, and quickly said: "Wenhan, don't get me wrong, I didn't mean your family, I know, your family must have no I sent your little sister to the palace after finding a solution. I just remind you that the couple is not a good person, and you see that the aunt kept telling her husband about your daughter, your daughter is probably a stepmother!"

"It's okay, thank you brother Zong Bao for reminding me, otherwise I would really believe it!"

Chen Wenhan forced a smile, his face didn't seem to care at all.

"Yeah, just don't blame me for being outspoken!"

Huang Zongbao smiled cheerfully, "However, that auntie is the stepmother who would have the heart to sell her stepdaughter, isn't it her own child who doesn't feel distressed! Otherwise, whoever's mother-in-law can live on will think of selling her daughter!
The sun was scorching, and although Huang Zongbao and Chen Wenhan were standing in the cool corner of the wall, they still felt a little dry, so they didn't talk anymore. After a while, they saw Huang Zongbao's book boy running over to call them , The line is almost up to them!

Chen Wenhan and Huang Zongbao also exhaled, straightened their clothes and walked forward.

When they got to the line, they realized that it was the turn of the middle-aged couple who had spoken to them before.

The eunuch sitting behind the table asked routinely in a cold tone: "What's your daughter's name, and where is she on duty?"

"My little girl's surname is Li. She changed her name to Shaoyao after entering the palace. She was originally in charge of cleaning the East Palace. But I haven't seen her for a few years. I don't know where she was assigned?"

"What is your name?"

There was a trace of strangeness in the eunuch's tone, and he repeated the question.

"After entering the palace, it was renamed Shaoyao."

The middle-aged woman was a little panicked when she heard the words, and said another sentence quickly.

"wait!"

The two young eunuchs whispered a few words, but they took out a booklet from the back, opened it, and asked softly: "Is this the information registered when I entered the palace? Look at your daughter's birthday." The horoscope and the year and month of entering the palace match up."

"Where do women know how to read!"

The middle-aged woman sneered, but she glanced at her husband-in-law in panic. In the past years, she only asked a few questions routinely, and it would be fine after registering her name. Why did she ask so carefully this year.

"Then I'll tell you."

The eunuch didn't show any impatience, and checked the information with the couple.

The couple felt that it was correct, but they nodded hesitantly, not daring to hide it.

When the two young eunuchs saw the couple nodding their heads, they showed a courteous smile on their faces, and said again and again: "It turns out that the two are Aunt Shao Yao's parents, and your two elders didn't tell us when they came here. You two have waited so long."

After all, he brought tea up for the two of them to drink.

"Uh……"

Shao Yao's parents were a little stunned by the 180-degree change in the attitude of the two eunuchs.

They took the tea with some hesitation, although their mouths were dry, they took a sip cautiously, and then asked: "This father-in-law, my Shaoyao..."

"The second old lady is very polite, just call me Xiao Shunzi!" The little eunuch smiled eagerly, and said again: "The second old lady doesn't know, Aunt Shaoyao is no longer a little maid after she is with your master!"

"Which noble lord are you following?"

Shaoyao's stepmother put down the tea bowl, but couldn't wait to ask.

"In this palace, who can truly be called the noble lord, except for the noble concubine Zhao in Zhaoyang Palace!"

The little eunuch's face was mysterious, but his mouth couldn't help revealing to Shao Yao's parents: "Aunt Shao Yao accompanied the imperial concubine to the east alley to take care of the current emperor, and now she is the most important person around the imperial concubine. Your second elder Blessed too!"

Huang Zongbao, who was standing at the back, listened to the words in front, with a subtle smile on his face, covered his face with a fan, leaned close to Chen Wenhan and said softly: "Tsk tsk, Wenhan, you see, this is a man who has achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven!"

Chen Wenhan frowned, but said in a soft voice: "Brother Zong Bao has said too much, she is just a court lady who has some dignity by the concubine's side!"

"You don't understand now!"

Huang Zongbao shook his head, and said: "Don't underestimate the people close to your lord in the palace, look at those two little eunuchs, even if you and I can win the first prize in the future, they may not be able to give us the first prize. Such a good face, but it's just the parents of the concubine's maid who made them so attentive!"

"There are many ways in the palace. My uncle is probably a high-ranking official, but if you meet a dignified eunuch and maid in the palace, you have to meet them with a smile on your face, and sometimes you have to give money. Those Human energy, can't be underestimated!"

"What's the reason?"

Chen Wenhan was aroused by Huang Zongbao's words, so he asked.

"Think about it carefully, who is the person who can determine our future and destiny!"

"I am the emperor in the palace."

As soon as Chen Wenhan finished speaking, Huang Zongbao took the folding fan and patted it in his hand, and said, "That's right! Think about it, the emperor can decide our future and destiny, and the people around the emperor can be offended by us." Is it? Let’s not talk about the noble concubine served by the husband and wife’s daughter. Now she eats and lives with the emperor. That's easy. Even the respectable eunuchs and maids around the emperor are the same. If they can let us know about the master's words, or help the master talk and do some actions in front of the master, the influence will be extraordinary. so big!"

Speaking of this, Huang Zongbao suddenly seemed to think of something, and joked: "Brother Wenhan, isn't your sister in the palace? If there is an opportunity for the daughter of the previous couple, she will also serve by the nobleman's side. In the future, it will be very important to your career. Very helpful!"

Huang Zongbao just said it casually, but Chen Wenhan's heart was moved when he heard it.

The front end groaned and finally sent the couple away, and it was Chen Wenhan's turn.

And the two eunuchs also returned to their usual cold faces.Huang Zongbao was not afraid of being cold-faced, and gestured to his book boy, who cleverly handed over a pouch, seeing the two eunuchs accepting it, his face softened, but Huang Zongbao smiled and said: "You two fathers-in-law, please Help my friend find out where her little sister is on duty now?"

"Okay, what's the name of your friend's younger sister, who entered the palace that year?"

Huang Zongbao quickly looked at Chen Wenhan.Chen Wenhan hesitated and said, "Before entering the palace, my family called me Chen Liuya. This name sounds indecent. I'm afraid it was changed after entering the palace. It has been nearly ten years since I entered the palace. The specific year... "

Chen Wenhan's face was a bit perplexed, he really couldn't remember the year.

"It's almost ten years, but I can probably know when I entered."

Every three years, the palace will select a group of young maids, so there is an approximate time to calculate the specific time of entering the palace.

For the sake of money, the eunuch dealt with it seriously, but he didn't have the patience to treat Shao Yao's parents, he just said: "Every time a maid is selected, many people are sent from all over the country. I don’t know when I’m going to look through the booklet, but you wrote down your sister’s general situation, and I’ll help you look it up when you’re free.”

After all, he wanted to greet the next person to come up.

Chen Wenhan was completely ignored, with a bit of embarrassment on his face, while Huang Zongbao had already scolded the dog in his heart, but he regretted that the purse he gave just now was too big.However, he still smiled and asked the book boy to hand over another purse, and said: "Then please look it up carefully, father-in-law. If we find it later, we will thank the two father-in-laws again."

Seeing Huang Zongbao's generous hand, the two eunuchs no longer had the nerve to show cold faces, and smiled and handed over pens and paper for Chen Wenhan to fill in.

After Huang Zongbao and Chen Wenhan came out, they looked at the sun and sighed. Huang Zongbao stretched exaggeratedly, turned to look at Chen Wenhan, but saw him frowning, as if he was very unhappy.

He couldn't help but patted Chen Wenhan's shoulder, and comforted him: "Don't worry, I'll accompany you to find my little sister when the maid comes out to meet her family!"

"Brother Zong Bao is spending money!"

Chen Wenhan barely bent his mouth, but said so.

Huang Zongbao laughed twice when he heard the words, and said very cheerfully: "What do I care about with this little money, the most important thing is to find your little sister. It's still early, I invite you to taste the snacks in the capital, and then take you Take a good tour!"

"No, Brother Zong Bao, go on your own, I'm going back to study!"

Chen Wenhan raised his hand towards Huang Zongbao, then bid farewell and left.

"Hey..." Huang Zongbao couldn't stop him, he could only watch Chen Wenhan leave, he sighed helplessly, and muttered, "Brother Wenhan is good at everything, but he is too serious and boring! "

After all, she took her own book boy and took big steps towards the bustling place.

Zhao Qingze went to the morning court, but he didn't stop much, so he directly planned to go back to the apse.

Unexpectedly, after only two steps, Deng Xian whispered to him: "Your Majesty, the concubine Xian is asking to see you outside."

"Concubine Xian..."

Zhao Qingze felt a little impatient in his heart, why did it reappear after a few days of silence.

Looking at Zhao Qingze's expression, Deng Xian knew what Zhao Qingze meant, so he carefully said: "Concubine Xian wanted to see the noble concubine at first, but the concubine was resting, and the people below did not dare to disturb her, so the concubine Xian wanted to see the concubine." emperor."

"Okay, bring it here!"

Zhao Qingze rubbed his forehead wearily with his hand and said, but he planned to stand here on the way to the apse to meet him.

"Yes."

Deng Xian promised to greet the little eunuch behind, and after a while, the little eunuch led Concubine Xian in.

Concubine Xian was followed by quite a few court ladies and eunuchs, all holding trays full of palace satin.

When he walked in front of Zhao Qingze, he saluted respectfully. Zhao Qingze just looked at those things after waiving the salute, and said, "What is Xianfei going to do?"

With a gentle smile on Concubine Xian's face, she said softly: "Your Majesty, today Jiangnan paid tribute to more than a hundred pieces of new silk, so I first sent it to the imperial concubine to choose from."

Zhao Qingze took a look at Concubine Xian, and only said one sentence: "You really have a heart!"

When Concubine Xian was about to make a statement, Zhao Qingze said again: "In the future, if there is anything from the House of Internal Affairs that will be sent to the harem, there is no need to bring it to Zhaoyang Palace. Noble concubine will lack these things."

Concubine Xian's smile was a little stiff, not missing something, did the emperor have already reserved for the concubine, or had prepared a better one with the concubine... Also, although the emperor asked her to take care of the internal affairs of the harem, she said After all, there is no real power at all, and some important places are not the emperor's people.She quietly took a deep breath, suppressed the emotions in her heart, and said softly for a long time: "It's because the concubine is thinking about it, and the imperial concubine does not lack these things."

She paused, but she hesitated and said again: "Your Majesty, it seems that the imperial physician was passed on in the Zhaoyang Palace last night, and it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

"Concubine Xian, are you free to manage the harem for me? Let you come and inquire about Zhaoyang Palace!"

Zhao Qingze looked at Concubine Xian sharply, and said in a cold voice.

Concubine Xian took a deep breath, but she didn't panic. When she came earlier, she had already thought of an excuse: "The concubine just happened to know about it, and didn't intend to inquire about it. Yesterday, the concubine was not feeling well, and I only found out when I asked the palace servants to ask for the imperial physician. of."

Could it be that I don't know, the entire Imperial Hospital has been moved to the Zhaoyang Hall.Concubine Xian felt jealous and uncomfortable.

"I don't care whether you do it intentionally or not, just keep your own role. If you don't want to manage the harem for me, most people want to manage it for me."

After Zhao Qingze said this, he walked past Concubine Xian indifferently.

(End of this chapter)