Harem for a living

Chapter 144

"Eldest princess, why didn't you bring a few people with you?" Chen Manrou saw the eldest princess sitting in the pavilion, so she supported Lidong's hand and entered the pavilion. When the eldest princess saw that it was Chen Manrou, a trace of uneasiness flashed across her face: "Chen Mufei , why are you here?"

"I saw the sun was out today, so I came out for a walk." Chen Manrou sat down next to the princess with a smile, reached out and touched the princess's hand: "Why is it so cold? Where are the maids around you? The princess came out , They didn't even say to prepare a cloak and a hand stove for you! It is an unforgivable crime to neglect the master so much, come here!"

"Concubine Chen, don't blame them, I didn't want them to follow me." The eldest princess hurriedly stopped Chen Manrou: "I wanted to be alone, so I drove them away."

"Princess, my daughter's family is weak. If you want to stay alone, you can stay in a warm room." Chen Manrou sighed, ordered to wrap the curtains around the pavilion, and set up a charcoal basin in the pavilion. Then he turned his head and continued: "It's freezing cold, if you sit for a while, you may catch the cold, and you will suffer in the future."

The princess's eyes turned red, and Chen Manrou hurriedly took out the handkerchief, a little at a loss: "What's the matter? The princess thinks I've said too much? Then let me apologize to the princess, okay? Don't cry, it's cold outside, you This cry, the wind blows, and my face will be tense in a while."

"Concubine Chen, don't you blame my queen mother?" The eldest princess asked Chen Manrou's hand, Chen Manrou was stunned, and then thought that the eldest princess probably remembered what Concubine Shu said before, and patted her on the back of her hand with a smile: "You You silly boy, do you think what Concubine Shu said is true?"

The eldest princess's eyes widened in an instant: "A person who is about to die speaks well, so there's no need for her to tell lies, right?"

"Princess, let me ask you, when were you born? When was the eldest prince born?" Chen Manrou rubbed the hand of the eldest princess, warming her up, before switching to the other hand. The eldest princess thought about it Xiangcai said, "I was born in Jiafeng in 38, and my younger brother was born in 39."

"At the beginning of Jiafeng's 40th year, your grandfather passed away, right?" Chen Manrou sighed and said, "Later, your father kept his filial piety for three years. During this period, it is naturally impossible for a prince or daughter to be born. There is no eldest son in the mansion, so why should concubine Shu and the others have children?"

"Ordinary big families are very strict with rules. Before the eldest son is born, no eldest son is allowed. What's more, your father was a prince at the time. He always pays attention to rules. How could he allow the eldest son to appear? "

"Think about it again, after I entered the palace, did I help the empress harm others, or help the empress win favor?" Chen Manrou continued, the eldest princess frowned and thought for a while, then shook her head.Chen Manrou nodded: "That's right, I have never done anything for the empress, so what can the empress use me for?"

"Your mother, she is a very virtuous queen. She helped the emperor have children and helped the emperor take care of the harem. The eldest princess she taught was virtuous and wise. The eldest prince is both civil and military, extremely filial and kind, possessing both ability and political integrity. She manages the harem well-regulated, calm and respectful, never troubles the emperor, and never troubles the emperor with the affairs of the harem. She is a generation of virtuous queens. "

Seeing that Chen Manrou's expression did not seem to be fake, the eldest princess was slightly relieved.She didn't think her mother had done anything wrong, but she was worried that Chen Manrou would develop hatred towards the queen because of Concubine Shu's words.

Although she is immature in handling things and doesn't have that much experience, it doesn't mean she is a fool.The queen's death, it can be said that the most influential result is her, the eldest princess.

These days, she thought over and over again what the queen said before she died, and finally figured out the queen's intentions.The queen interrupted the entrustment of her to Concubine Chen, but if Concubine Shu said that day, if Concubine Chen took it to heart...

That's why the eldest princess didn't know what to do. She knew that she should obey her mother's words, but she felt a little uncomfortable with Chen Manrou.He was worried that Chen Manrou would replace his mother's position in the future, and he was afraid that Concubine Shu's words would make Chen Manrou have opinions on the queen.

In addition, her mother had just passed away, and she herself was not willing to develop a relationship with another woman immediately, and this woman might become her father's successor in the future.

"You, remember, your mother is a very, very good person." Chen Manrou stretched out her hand to touch the arm of the eldest princess and said with a smile. The eldest princess nodded and leaned against Chen Manrou, occasionally saying that the queen was still alive. Funny things that happened when.

Following Chen Manrou's persuasion, the eldest princess gradually let go of her guard.He also made a secret decision in his heart, as long as Concubine Chen Gui didn't erase the traces left by his mother, he could also get close to her.

The two were talking seriously, and no one noticed that a piece of bright yellow clothes flashed past behind the rockery not far away.

"It's almost the Chinese New Year, and there is no one in charge in this palace." The Empress Dowager Ci'an said with a tired look on her face. Concubine Yang was in charge before, but now that Concubine Yang is dead, she has a higher status. There is only Chen Manrou, Concubine Chen, and concubine Zhang Wanting.

The scene that he saw in the imperial garden appeared in front of the emperor, and he paused and said: "You can't bypass Concubine Chen, after all, Concubine Chen is higher than Concubine De. If you bypass Concubine Chen this time, I'm afraid it will end badly in the future. "

Ci'an nodded knowingly, she knew more about the harem than her own son.Once a person has tasted the taste of power, it will be difficult to let go in the future.Concubine De had been in charge of some of them before, so that the superiors could check and balance, so that they would not lose their power.

But this time, if Concubine De is in charge, then Concubine De will be in control, and if there is another change in the future, I am afraid that the harem will already be controlled by Concubine De.There is a huge difference between assisting and in charge.

"It's not as if the mother will temporarily take care of it for a while, and let Concubine Wei, Concubine Fu and others assist. After Concubine Chen gives birth to a child, the palace power will be handed over to Concubine Chen." The emperor said with a sip of tea.Ci'an's eyes flashed with joy, but he still hesitated for a moment: "The phoenix seal..."

"Let's put the phoenix seal at Concubine Chen Guifei's place to save trouble." The emperor interjected, the Empress Dowager Ci'an lowered her eyes, her long nails brushed over the lid of the teacup, she paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's fine too." , but the emperor still needs to be established as soon as possible, although Concubine Chen's status is not low, but she is only a noble concubine, it's okay to take care of her for a short time, but after a long time, it's not in compliance with the rules."

The emperor nodded and said: "I have made my own decision in my heart, and the queen mother doesn't have to worry about it."

The mother and son talked affectionately for a while before the emperor got up and went to Qianqing Palace.When passing by Yongshou Palace, the emperor stopped and stood outside the door to look in, but it was only a few months, without the owner inside, the palace became lifeless.

I was still too inexperienced, and I underestimated the viciousness of women too much.

Thinking of the eldest prince and the unborn child, the emperor felt a pain in his heart, and couldn't bear to look at the flowers and trees in Yongshou Palace.Turning around and striding towards the Qianqing Palace, he cleaned up the poisonous snakes in the harem. He hasn't had time to deal with the ones outside the palace. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and he doesn't want to keep this group of people until next year.

Although there is no Empress Dowager Ci Ning and Empress Dowager Ci Ning, when the imperial court orders women to enter the palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they still have to go to the Ci Ning Palace, Ci An Palace, and then to the Yongshou Palace. Knock at the door.

Originally, these people still had to go to Zhongcui Palace, after all, the Phoenix Seal is now in Chen Manrou's hands.But the emperor had already ordered that no one should disturb Concubine Chen's pregnancy, so Chen Manrou had a rare leisure time. She only received Mrs. Chen and her sister-in-law and younger siblings for the whole morning.

"Does Your Highness miss Second Aunt?" Xiao Si lived in the Chen family for a while, and was considered close to everyone in the Chen family. Hearing the second aunt's question, she cuddled up to Chen Manrou and nodded obediently: "I think so, little one." Si still misses my great-grandfather, the eldest uncle, the second uncle, the eldest cousin, and the little cousin and little cousin."

Looking at Dong Chunni who was sitting next to her, she added: "I've already thought about my aunt."

"Your Highness Fourth is really cute." Chen Huaijue's wife, Tang Feiyan, just gave birth to a child last year, and she is still in a state of overwhelming maternal love. When she sees Xiaosi, she likes to tease her.Unlike Dong Chunni, the eldest sister-in-law of the Chen family, this Tang Feiyan is straightforward and reasonable, and does not compete with Dong Chunni for power at home, and only takes care of her husband and son in peace and order to serve the elderly.However, she speaks briskly, which is quite popular with Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Chen.

However, the sister-in-law of the Chen family is not jealous, and the relationship between the two sisters-in-law is quite good.

"Your Highness, go out with your aunt? Didn't you say that your mother and concubine built a small vegetable garden for you? My aunt hasn't seen it yet." Dong Chunni knew that the old lady probably had something to say to Chen Manrou in private, so she He bent over and hugged Xiao Si, coaxing him with a smile.

Little Four nodded, very cheerfully: "Well, there are a lot of vegetables in my small vegetable garden, and my mother and concubine still use this to cook for me. However, the eldest aunt came late, and my mother and concubine just picked me up a few days ago. The spinach was pulled out."

After winter, Chen Manrou asked someone to build a small greenhouse for Xiao Si's vegetable garden, and planted a batch of new vegetables inside, two or three of each kind, which was enough for Xiao Si to toss about.After it was planted, it was cooked for him alone. The little guy didn't hide his secrets, and sometimes he specially kept them for his father.

"Your father will probably come back next year." Mrs. Chen took Chen Manrou's hand and said, "This later..."

"Grandmother, our family can't bring up this post." Chen Manrou hurriedly said: "Let father and mother not interfere, as well as elder brother and younger brother, absolutely must not take the initiative to bring up this matter. If someone else mentions it, they must suppress it." .”

"I know this, I just want to ask, does the emperor plan to draft?" Mrs. Chen asked, the matter of keeping filial piety depends on the situation.If an official has an affair, let alone the emperor?The emperor is now in his 30s, but his heirs are relatively rare. If there is no one in charge of the harem, it will be unreasonable after a long time.Therefore, there must be someone who will submit a booklet for the emperor to draft as soon as possible.

"I don't know either, but, judging by what the emperor means, he will definitely not be drafted next year, at least he will pass the hot filial piety next year." Chen Manrou rubbed her brows, probably because the death of the empress had a greater impact on the emperor. For a while, the emperor never even spent the night in the harem.

On weekdays, it is just to sit with a few concubines who have children, see the children, and ask about the situation.

For a while, the emperor will never forget the queen.

"Well, since we won't mention it this year, then we don't need to prepare." Mrs. Chen's complexion relaxed a little, and she reached out to touch Chen Manrou's belly: "Is this baby a boy or a girl? Looking at the pointed belly, It must be a boy, right?"

"I don't know, the imperial doctor never reveals such things." Chen Manrou shook her head, thought for a while and smiled: "I would rather this is a girl, and I want to have a boy. It will be a long time in the future, not bad for a while."

The old lady thought for a while, then nodded and smiled, "You're right, but it doesn't matter if it's a boy, at least the emperor will think about the two little princes, and won't treat you too badly. The palace costs a lot. You take it, if you don't have any, send someone to send a message back. Your second brother brought back from the West the colorless glass that a few people researched. Although the formula was sold to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we can still have a shop. The profit is not small, and you don't have to worry about the family."

The old lady Chen gave Chen Manrou another roll, and Chen Manrou sniffed and rubbed her head on the old lady Chen's shoulder: "Don't worry, grandma, I won't have sex with you, but I can't honor my grandparents at their knees. , please take care of yourself, grandparents, you have to watch Xiaosi get married."

(End of this chapter)