Harem for a living

Chapter 179

"What, Qiu Lie?" Chen Manrou was surprised, and she was stunned for a long time before she realized: "Why does the emperor think of Qiu Lie now?" In the past, the emperor had never mentioned this matter before, she entered the palace For so many years, there has never been a single autumn hunt.

However, when the first emperor was still there, there were several autumn hunts.

"Originally at this moment of the year, autumn hunting is going to be held every year, but I have a lot of things to do in the past few years, so I will do it." The emperor said slowly, pouring himself a cup of tea. What he didn't say is that Chen Manrou has Looking listless, holding the autumn hunt also took her to relax.There is also the matter of Concubine Xian, which can be regarded as a compensation for Chen Manrou.

Naturally, Chen Manrou didn't know the emperor's plan. She was stunned for a while, and then she looked at the emperor flatteringly: "Your majesty, do you want to take my concubine?" Those eyes blinked and blinked, trying very hard to convey the longing and expectation in her eyes to the emperor. Pass it on.

"You are the lord of the harem..." The emperor liked Chen Manrou's little expression very much in his heart, and even showed hesitation on his face.Chen Manrou immediately became anxious: "Your Majesty, I can leave everything to Concubine Shu and the others. Take my concubine. I will go hunting with you."

"You know how to ride a horse?" The emperor raised his eyebrows and asked, Chen Manrou quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, the riding skills are not bad, my father taught me how to ride, and I will definitely not delay the emperor's succession legs."

"Do you know how to archery?" The emperor asked again, and Chen Manrou nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, this is taught by my elder brother. I used to go hunting with my elder brother and the others. Although it was only one or two rabbits, but It’s definitely rewarding.”

The emperor rubbed his chin and didn't speak, Chen Manrou didn't dare to urge him, but just looked at the emperor helplessly.Secretly decided in her heart, this opportunity must be seized, this time is an opportunity sent by the heavens, a few days ago she was thinking of getting out of this aggrieved palace to take a look outside, and now the emperor offered If she doesn't seize this opportunity, she can kill herself.

"Okay, then I will take you with me. We will set off at the beginning of October. We will be in the suburbs of Beijing. You will arrange the palace affairs and decide who to bring along. The eldest princess is not young, so I will take you there this time too. Hong Hao, they are also in school, don’t they start riding and archery lessons now? Let them go and have a look, don’t ask for something to hunt this year, just feel the atmosphere of the paddock.”

The emperor touched the rim of the teacup and said: "Just look at the arrangement, I believe you."

"Yes, don't worry, the emperor, the concubine will definitely arrange things early." Chen Manrou smiled brightly, and the emperor felt a little better, smiling while listening to Chen Manrou chattering about what clothes and things to bring.

On the second day, when he was paying his respects, Chen Manrou announced the matter happily: "The emperor ordered me to explain the matter at hand as soon as possible. I thought about it. Concubine Li and Concubine Jin and Concubine Hua Although it's a bit late to enter the palace, but he is still a quiet person, so I want to leave the matter to the three of you, what do you think?"

Concubine Hua hurriedly laughed and said, "My concubine is flattered to think of my concubine. It's just that I haven't taken care of housework when I'm at home, so I'm afraid I won't be able to do it. I admire my concubine even more, and I want to serve the queen all the time."

This means that he wants to follow to the paddock.

The four concubines were struggling a bit. Concubine Xian wanted to get some palace power from Concubine Shu and the others, especially since she entered the palace earlier than Concubine Shu. Concubine Shu had already been in charge of the palace for a long time. It's her job, but she has just been released, which is really annoying.However, she wanted to restore her impression in the emperor's mind, so she struggled even harder.

Concubine Shu and the others, on the one hand, were reluctant to give up the power they had, and on the other hand, they were also reluctant to give up this opportunity.You know, if you go out with the emperor this time, you don't have to compete with so many women, and if you have a little bit of a fight, you might be able to conceive a little prince.The biggest support of the women in the harem is the prince.

Concubine Fu was also a little anxious, for the same reason as Concubine Shu and the others, it was hard to give up on both sides.

"Concubine Hua has a heart." Chen Manrou admired the faces of these people, and after seeing enough, she said slowly: "It's just that this palace is not easy to make a decision, so why not, let's see what the empress dowager said first .”

She doesn't mind embarrassing the Empress Dowager for a while, but Concubine Xian doesn't have any advantages now.One side is palace power, the other side is grace, which side will the Empress Dowager choose?

Chen Manrou happily took everyone to greet the Empress Dowager Ci'an, and after talking about the matter, as expected, the Empress Dowager Ci'an frowned and hesitated, and after thinking for a while, she asked, "Are you going too?"

"Yes, empress dowager, there is concubine Shuhui and concubine Hui, and your old man in charge of things in this palace, so I don't have to worry about it at all." Chen Manrou said with a smile: "What's more, the second prince and the others are still young, and my concubine also has to worry about it." Don’t worry, I just want to go and take care of it myself.”

Empress Dowager Ci'an's heart moved slightly, she raised her eyelids and glanced at Chen Manrou again, lowered her eyes and thought about it, drank two more sips of tea, and then said slowly: "Then who have you chosen to take there?"

"The concubine didn't think about it, so I asked the empress dowager to give me some advice." Chen Manrou maintained a smile and said, the empress dowager Ci'an touched the nail cover on her finger, her eyes swept over the concubines present, the concubine De had already made a decision Yes, she is really old, she must win this opportunity this time.

If you can conceive, it is a blessing from God.If she can't conceive, then she will arrange someone to serve the emperor when she comes back, and in the future, she will raise a little prince.If he was raised from an early age, the little prince would definitely get closer to his adoptive mother.

So at this moment, Concubine De raised her head slightly, looked at Chen Manrou, and made the intention of following.

Concubine Shu wanted to take advantage of Chen Manrou's absence to plant her nails in the palace, and then stand more firmly in the harem. Anyway, she was young, so she didn't have to worry too much about the children.Even the empress, didn't she have been in the palace for two years before giving birth to the fourth prince?
After making a decision, Concubine Shu lowered her head slightly, not expressing her intentions to stay.

Ci'an looked it over, shook his head and said: "Since the emperor told you about this matter, then you can decide on your own, and send this list to Ai's family later. In addition, whoever you plan to hand over the palace affairs will also be listed one by one. Let me make it clear that although the Ai family can sit in town for you, they don't want to deal with everything, so it's best for you to make arrangements."

"Yes, the concubine knows, I will tidy up when I turn back, and have someone come over and tell the empress dowager." Chen Manrou replied with a smile, her eyes swept across the concubine Xian who was twisting her handkerchief in a hurry.

The Empress Dowager Ci'an waved her hand: "Okay, it's getting late, and the Ai family won't delay your handling of palace affairs. You all go back. If Concubine Xian is fine, stay and talk to the old woman of the Ai family."

Concubine Xian smiled and got up to answer, Chen Manrou also stood up, glanced at Concubine Xian and said: "Then Concubine Xian will stay and serve the Empress Dowager, if you do well, I will reward you."

Concubine Xian's face turned red suddenly, she bit her lower lip, and responded with a salute: "I understand, please rest assured, empress."

Chen Manrou didn't speak, and walked out of the hall without looking sideways.As for the face of the Empress Dowager Ci'an, well, we're going to go out soon, who cares if the old lady is happy?

Back at Yongshou Palace, Chen Manrou called Lichun and the others: "After I follow the emperor to the paddock, Yongshou Palace will be handed over to you. Lichun and Lixia are still guarding Yongshou Palace. No one can put a nail in. Pay attention to the things outside, if anyone takes the opportunity to put people in, remember it first, and tell me when I come back. Lidong will help Liqiu and bury our people deeper. It's not a big deal, so don't come out."

Originally inquiring about information and arranging staff were on the same line, but Chen Manrou was afraid that when inquiring about information, all the staff would be involved, so they were separated for the past two years. Li Qiu had informants and was only responsible for passing on information.And Lidong's hands are the real nails. If Chen Manrou wants to do something, she must use these hands.

However, Chen Manrou would not move easily.Living in the harem, certain bottom lines cannot be moved. If you move a little bit, you may not be able to control it in the future.As the saying goes, if you want others to not know, unless you do nothing yourself.

Chen Manrou realizes that she is not a person who is close to a demon, nor is she a person who can grasp everything in her hands.Therefore, she never felt that if she did something, no one would find out.Furthermore, Chen Manrou's bottom line is not to take the initiative to hurt others, especially not to touch the emperor's heirs.

And the incident with Concubine Xian also fully demonstrated the emperor's control over the harem.Just asking, doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all.On the contrary, don't ask, that's because everything is under the emperor's control.

The incident with the three sons-in-law was a wake-up call for the emperor.Therefore, after passing away successively, the emperor paid more attention to the harem.

Chen Manrou was able to guess this because the emperor would occasionally reveal a few words.Once, Chen Manrou woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly wanted a bowl of iced porridge. The next day, the emperor sent someone to bring a piece of tulle. After making the window screen, it was more breathable and cooler, and the night was not so hot.

The emperor can know about such small things, so there is no need to talk about other big things.If the emperor doesn't say anything, it can only be said that the emperor doesn't want to take care of it, not that the emperor doesn't know.

So Chen Manrou never let her people do anything, and her people were never afraid of the emperor knowing.Even if the emperor knew about it, he would probably only praise her for her ability to manage the harem well, right?

"Chuyun and Chuxia followed the palace to besiege the city this time." Chen Manrou glanced at the last two people, and said with a smile: "Later, you go and pack your clothes, the climate over the paddock should be worse than that in the palace It’s cold, bring more thick clothes.”

After finishing the order, someone called Xiao Wu's nanny and nurturing nanny. The two nanny were very sincere, so Chen Manrou was also very relieved: "During this time, no matter who calls you, don't worry about it. , just follow Princess Wu at every step. Remember, no matter what time you two, one of you must be by Xiao Wu’s side. Twelve hours a day, it’s best to stare at her with good eyeballs. Looking at Xiao Wu. She can clearly see what she eats for three meals a day, how many times she wakes up at night, and how many times she drinks boiled water."

As he spoke, he looked at the two nuns: "As for you, you have to check all the clothes the princess wears and the food you eat, no matter who sent it, even if it was sent in the name of the palace , That must also be checked. Before going to bed at night, you should go through the princess's bedding carefully. No, take the princess back to Yongshou Palace immediately."

After a pause, Chen Manrou said again, "Xiao Wu is the first princess, and now the eldest princess is going to the paddock, so Xiao Wu is the most honored in the harem. If those concubines want to make things difficult for Xiao Wu, you don't have to be afraid, just go Tell the empress dowager. Although the empress dowager doesn't want to see me, she still values ​​the emperor's heirs very much. Especially the daughter-in-law, the empress dowager will not be confused."

The expressions on the faces of several people in the room didn't even change, as if they didn't hear Chen Manrou's disrespect towards the queen mother.Seeing this situation, Chen Manrou nodded slightly satisfied.

She can ignore the chaos in the harem, but her Yongshou Palace must be taken care of first.

(End of this chapter)