Harem for a living

Chapter 118

After returning from Taimiao, Chen Manrou hurried back to Zhongcui Palace, prepared hot soup and Mrs. Tang for Duyue early, and when Chen Manrou got into bed, there was already a warm Mrs. Tang on her belly and under her feet.

He took two sips of the hot soup and felt the warmth in his palms, so he freed his hand to cover Xiao Si's cheeks, warming his cheeks, then reached out to touch the swaddling clothes, the outer clothes were still warm Yes, Chen Manrou was relieved now, and stretched out her hand to pinch Xiao Si's nose to wake her up.

Although Nanny Chen said before that Xiaosi is more likely to catch cold when he is asleep, but in that case, it is better to put Xiaosi to sleep first.Fortunately, Xiaosi was young enough to be hugged by the nanny, and she could be wrapped in more layers, otherwise, she might catch a cold.

Poor Eldest Prince, it's freezing today, and I don't know how many bowls of ginger soup I'll have to drink later.The weather this year is also a bit unfortunate. It snowed heavily two days ago, and the sun is out today, making it a bit colder than before.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager Ci Ning and Empress Dowager Ci An have already started to meet the court wives." Jin Huan came in from the outside, first went to the side of the charcoal basin to heat up his body, and then came over and said with a smile: "The servant saw that the old lady has entered the palace. , I guess it will come in a while."

The smile on Chen Manrou's face became more real, and she ordered people to prepare hot tea and snacks. You know, on the first day of the new year, the imperial court ordered women to get up in the middle of the night and wait at the gate of the palace for a long time. Then you can come in.

Then he had to go to the Empress Dowager Ci Ning Ci An to pay her respects. Whether she could have a sip of hot tea was a big problem, and then she would go to the Empress. The Empress would keep her own family members and send out the rest.

It will take at least another hour to reach Chen Manrou.

After a long time, after making sure that both her body and Xiao Si's body had warmed up, Chen Manrou lifted the big quilt, put on only a thick cotton coat and sat on the couch, Zheng Xiang, who was sleeping in Xiao Si, was woken up, very upset, and turned sideways She turned her head and didn't look at Chen Manrou.

Chen Manrou scratched his cheek with a smile: "Oh, mother's baby, Xiaosi, lost his temper? Oh, baby Xiaosi doesn't want to talk to mother, what should I do? Otherwise, why don't you give Xiaosi something delicious?"

Xiao Si turned his head, looked at Chen Manrou with his black eyes, patted Chen Manrou's arm with his small hands and yelled, squeezed sunflower seeds beside him for pleasure, turned his head and smiled and said, "The fourth prince is really smart and clever. I can understand your mother's words."

Chen Manrou was smiling happily. When she heard this, her face darkened. After thinking for a while, she ordered: "Go outside and give an order, and don't spread the word that Xiao Si is smart and smart in the future. Just say..."

After a pause, he continued to add: "It's just that the fourth prince doesn't look as smart as the second prince."

Wei Le was a little surprised: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is smart, so the Emperor would like it more?"

"You just do what I say. From now on, don't let me hear anyone say that the fourth prince is smart." Chen Manrou waved her hand and ordered, and heard Li Xia announce outside, saying that Qi Mei asked to see her, for Le quickly stopped talking.

Chen Manrou frowned, and asked someone to bring Qi Meiren in.Seeing that Qi Meiren had changed into a dark blue dress, Chen Manrou shook her head and said, "Why are you wearing such a dress? You look too old-fashioned."

"Are you really old-fashioned? I thought it was pretty good-looking before." Qi Meiren said with a little disappointment, and then smiled shyly: "It's better for the imperial concubine to have a good eye. I just made a coat two days ago. I haven't figured out how to embroider, so the imperial concubine can give some advice to my concubine?"

"Whenever you are free, just bring it here." Chen Manrou said casually, reached out and poked Xiao Si's cheek, and Xiao Si gave Chen Manrou a big smile without hesitation, and Chen Manrou's brows and eyes softened a bit.

Qi Meiren looked at the mother and son on the beauty's couch, her eyes flashed with envy, she hesitated for a long time before she said: "Ma'am, it's time for Ma Jieyu to give birth too?"

"Well, it's about half a month, but what's the matter?" Chen Manrou looked sideways at Qi Meiren and asked, Qi Meiren pulled a handkerchief, frowned and said: "Concubine Yang has no children yet, if Ma Jieyu The first child is a son..."

"You, you are just worrying about it. Whether Ma Jieyu has a son or not has something to do with us?" Chen Manrou curled her lips. She still remembered what happened when she was pregnant with Xiaosi, so Ma Jieyu was able to stay, isn't it? Look at her belly?

Whether it is a boy or a girl, Ma Jieyu will never let her raise this child by herself.Concubine Shu has a child, and Concubine Hui is still young. The most likely possibility is to put it under the name of Concubine De. may be a little bigger.

Qi Meiren heard Chen Manrou's displeasure, and smiled embarrassingly: "Isn't this worried? Concubine Yang Guifei relied on her seniority to get old, and she always put pressure on you, Madam. If she has a child..."

"Qi Meiren! Don't say something that shouldn't be said. If you continue to speak like this without passing through your head, the Zhongcui Palace in this palace will not be able to accommodate you, a great Buddha." Chen Manrou sternly shouted, she regretted it a little now .

At first, seeing that Qi Mei was a little smart, but not too smart, and could be handled by him, he wooed her and planned to find a helper.Unexpectedly, this Qi Meiren's brain would get hot sometimes, and what she said would lose her previous cleverness, leaving only stupidity.

Qi Meiren was taken aback, and hurriedly got up to make amends. Chen Manrou rubbed her forehead, feeling very depressed. Give up this pawn, but you can't find such a good one. Don't give up. I'm worried that she said the wrong thing that day. It's really tasteless to bring disaster on yourself.

"According to the usual practice, there will be another promotion in the palace at the end of next year. If you don't care about your mouth, this palace will have a way to stop you from talking nonsense." At the end of the second year when Xiunu enters the palace, there will be several Let me change my position. Chen Manrou herself was appointed Concubine Hui at that time.

Qi Mei also knew this rule, her face turned pale, and she hastened to say that she must be sensible next time she speaks.

"You might as well make more handkerchief purses if you have time." Chen Manrou saw that she seemed to be frightened, and sighed, "The Empress hates people who gossip, and the Empress is going to remake the princess for a few days. Yi, if you have nothing to do, just stay in your own palace."

Qi Meiren's face showed joy, she nodded repeatedly and said: "I understand, thank you for your advice."

Just as she was talking, she heard voices coming from outside the door, and then she happily entered the door: "Madam, the old lady has already come, and now I am almost at the gate of Zhongcui Palace."

"Really?" Chen Manrou was overjoyed, she got up quickly, and was about to go outside to greet her, but she stopped immediately and came out to greet her. The old lady must be going to salute outside, so it's better to wait inside to save trouble .

Qi Meiren also had a happy expression on her face, she stood behind Chen Manrou and looked out with her neck hooked.Chen Manrou ignored her and asked Bei Ting to quickly bring Mrs. Tang over.As soon as Mrs. Chen entered, Chen Manrou immediately supported Mrs. Chen who was about to bow and kneel: "Grandmother, get up quickly, there are no outsiders here."

Mrs. Chen couldn't hold back Chen Manrou, so she stood up, smiled and pulled Chen Manrou's hand to see: "Let me see, have you lost weight recently? It's okay not to eat every day. You are still young and don't know how to take care of yourself. You will be hungry for a couple of days." It may seem like a trivial matter, but it has buried the root of the trouble."

"Grandmother, you must have read it wrong. I've gained a lot of weight now. If you don't believe me, take a look." As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves for Madam Chen to see. Head: "It's better to be fatter, and the body will be healthy if you are fatter. Where's the fourth prince? Are you still asleep?"

Chen Manrou pointed behind her, and Nanny Chen hurriedly embraced the fourth prince to salute.After Mrs. Chen pinched Xiaosi again, Qi Mei stepped forward quickly: "How is the old lady? I see that the old lady is more healthy than before, and her spirit is getting better."

Mrs. Chen squinted her eyes for a while, then got up and saluted Qi Meiren: "I have met Qi Meiren."

"It's absolutely impossible, old lady, you killed me." Qi Mei was taken aback, and quickly reached out to help old lady Chen, and personally helped old lady to sit on it, and then took advantage of the opportunity to sit down on the other side: "How is Mrs. Chen in the past? Is Mrs. Chen also okay?"

Mrs. Chen asked and answered, and after a while with Qi Meiren, Qi Meiren finally asked: "My father and my mother..."

"Don't worry, Qi Mei. Mr. Qi got an excellent grade in the assessment in June this year. Maybe he will be promoted in the next year. Madam Qi has always been fine. She visited her home a few years ago and said that she took her eldest grandson and sent her to the Chen Mansion. red eggs."

Mrs. Chen didn't make any detours, and said directly, and pulled out a jade pendant from her sleeve: "Madam Qi personally asked for this from the temple, and after it was opened, I asked my old body to bring it in for Qi Meiren, so that it can protect Qi Meiren's body." What about Ankang?"

Qi Meiren's eyes turned red, she took the jade pendant from Mrs. Chen, got up and bowed to Mrs. Chen: "Thank you, Mrs. Don't worry, my concubine will take good care of your mother in the future."

"I dare not." Mrs. Chen quickly waved her hand, and Chen Manrou glared at Qi Meiren again, and Qi Meiren suddenly realized that she quickly covered her mouth, and Chen Manrou waved her hand helplessly: "Okay, okay, it's getting late, you hurry back Bar."

"The concubine will resign." Qi Meiren hurriedly saluted and left the door as if she was being pardoned.

Mrs. Chen was also speechless, pointing to the door: "Is she always like this?"

"No, I just saw that she is easy to do this in front of me. She usually pays her respects to the empress, but she knows how to keep her mouth shut and never talks much." Chen Manrou shook her head after thinking for a while and said, although she reprimanded Qi Meiren, but Think about it carefully, Qi Meiren really never messed with her outside.

"In this harem, no matter who it is, don't trust too much." Mrs. Chen took Chen Manrou's hand and said, "Maybe Qi Meiren did it for you to see. You have to save your hand, and don't trust Qi Meiren too much." .”

Chen Manrou naturally nodded. After talking with Mrs. Chen for a while and asking about her family's health, Chen Manrou asked in a low voice, "Grandmother, that Zhang Jinghui?"

Mrs. Chen looked around and saw that there were people guarding the door, and only Duoyue and Jinhuan were left in the room, so she approached Chen Manrou and said softly, "Your grandfather had someone check Zhang Jinghui and found that he was Qingxi." During the years, the Juren had offended the powerful and powerful, so he was not able to be a candidate for office."

Chen Manrou blinked: "But someone saved him?"

If he offends the powerful and has no one to protect him, it is absolutely impossible for him to open a school in the capital and have peaches and plums all over the world by the way.The only ones who can prevent the candidate from getting an official are the officials in the capital. Even the big officials in the frontier may not be able to stretch their hands so long.

(End of this chapter)