Harem for a living

Chapter 43

Chen Manrou has never liked Concubine Cheng very much. She said something wrong, and Chen Manrou was not interested in giving her back, so Concubine Cheng did not speak, and Concubine Chen did not speak, but the little maid who Concubine Cheng stretched out her hand seemed a little anxious. Pay attention, she poked Chengfei quietly again.

Although Concubine Cheng was very annoyed, she was probably reminded by the court lady earlier, so she didn't put on airs at the moment, turned her head and said embarrassedly: "I have a straight temper, please don't mind Concubine Chen."

Chen Manrou sneered: "I have known your temper for a long time, and you don't have to act like this. Don't worry, I didn't hear what you said just now. What are you doing here today?"

"Look at what you said, I can't come to you if I have nothing to do?" Concubine Cheng was a little embarrassed, and Chen Manrou glanced at her: "We Ming people don't talk dark words, you always follow Concubine Yang on weekdays, and you have always been a concubine." You look down on me and Sister Concubine Liu, so you must go to the Three Treasure Hall for nothing."

"Is it that obvious?" Concubine Cheng was surprised. Chen Manrou didn't bother to answer this mentally handicapped question.Concubine Cheng didn't expect Chen Manrou to answer, she rubbed the handkerchief twice, resentment flashed across her face, and she changed the subject: "You're right, I really need you for something."

Chen Manrou didn't speak, but guessed in her heart who the maid behind Chengfei was.Anyone is possible, except Concubine Yang.

"Ma Jieyu has been very attentive to Concubine Yang during this time. Concubine Chen is a smart person. Could it be that she can't guess Ma Jieyu's intentions?" Concubine Cheng said in a low voice, and Chen Manrou glanced at her and said with a smile: "I I really can't guess, I'm stupid, I'm not as smart as Concubine Cheng, I don't even see Ma Jieyu's intentions for the concubine, how could I guess her intentions? Concubine Cheng, please don't flatter me too much. "

Concubine Cheng somewhat hated iron for being weak: "Don't even think about it, Ma Jieyu can't raise her own child at all, and the imperial concubine just lost a child, these two, maybe they can get together son?"

Chen Manrou asked in surprise: "Isn't this matter decided by the emperor?"

"Although the emperor made the decision in the end, the imperial concubine is so favored. If she said a few words to the emperor, wouldn't things go according to the imperial concubine's wishes?" Concubine Cheng looked at Chen Manrou expectantly: "You Think about it, now the imperial concubine is already a noble concubine, if there is another child under her knee..."

Chen Manrou thought to herself, that's just right, if Concubine Yang Guifei has a prince, she will definitely think that since she is so favored, her son should also be the most favored, and then she will match up with the queen. Sit back and reap the benefits of the fisherman.

"Concubine Cheng, this matter depends on the decision of the emperor and the empress. You and I just need to keep our part." Chen Manrou interrupted Concubine Cheng, secretly feeling sorry for Concubine Cheng.

It turned out that this concubine Cheng was not smart, but at any rate she was an ally of Concubine Yang, and Concubine Yang was escorting her.But now, this Concubine Cheng was instigated by someone, and she had a life-separation with Concubine Yang. She was counted as Concubine Yang, and even her only backer would be offended. She was really asking for a dead end.

Well, if I remember correctly, I also have some credit for this?Thinking of this, Chen Manrou rubbed her chin. Sure enough, such a thing as an alliance cannot exist for a long time in the harem. There are only common interests and no permanent friends.

Seeing that Chen Manrou didn't plan to discuss with her, Concubine Cheng was a little angry. She was not someone who could suppress her temper. After looking at Chen Manrou's face for a long time, she was already choked with anger. The sleeves stood up: "Okay, I'm too busy, you just wait for the imperial concubine to cover the sky with one hand and beat you to the cold palace!"

"Concubine Cheng, be careful!" Chen Manrou's face tensed, and she shouted in a deep voice, and then Jinhuan and Xiangyue, who were guarding the door, quickly entered the door, went straight to Chen Manrou, checked Chen Manrou with her eyes, and then stood behind Chen Manrou. The posture is to guard against what the concubine Cheng will do.Concubine Cheng was startled, her face turned pale for a moment, then she turned from embarrassment to anger, turned around and left.

Jin Huan and Dui Yue stared at Concubine Cheng leaving angrily, and quickly bowed to look at Chen Manrou: "Ma'am, did she do anything to you?"

"No, although she has a violent temper, she doesn't dare to do anything in the harem at will." Chen Manrou waved her hand, threw the embroidery shed in her hand on the kang table, and sneered: "It's true that everyone else is a fool. This time, no I know who is going to make trouble again."

Blinking at Yue and Jinhuan, both of them didn't quite understand, and then Jinhuan asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, why did Madam Cheng come to our Zhongcui Palace?"

"What are you doing? You came here looking for a gun." Chen Manrou said, and asked Jinhuan to call Xiao Dingzi, and told him to pay attention to Concubine Chen's whereabouts.

In the evening, Chen Manrou announced Xiao Dingzi to come back, and began to ask him about the result of his investigation.

"You said, they went to Changchun Palace in the afternoon?" Chen Manrou asked in surprise. Changchun Palace is Concubine Liu's residence. Originally, she thought that Concubine Cheng was going to Concubine De's Yonghe Palace. After all, Concubine De is a second grade Concubine, if Concubine De wanted Ma Jieyu's child, it would definitely be easier than Concubine Liu.

"Yes, master, the little one also found out about one thing." Xiao Dingzi secretly looked at Chen Manrou, and seeing that she had a peaceful expression on her face, he said in a low voice: "The little one went to find out about the concubine Defei and give it to Ci'an." Please go, Queen Mother."

Going to pay respects to the Empress Dowager Ci'an at this moment must be a conspiracy.Could it be that she also wanted the child in Ma Jieyu's womb?Not so, Concubine De is only this year, so she must be able to give birth by herself.

"Have you found out about Defei's Yonghe Palace?" Chen Manrou asked after thinking for a while, and Xiao Dingzi thought hard for a long time before hesitatingly said: "A few days ago, the British princess once entered the palace."

"Understood, thank you for your hard work, you did a great job." Chen Manrou smiled appreciatively, and gave Xiao Dingzi a piece of silver to Yueyue.

The Duke and Duchess of the United Kingdom entered the palace, so what the Concubine De asked for should be a matter for the Duke of England.She believed that her grandmother would definitely be able to handle things outside the palace well, and even if she couldn't handle them well, she would definitely send a letter into the palace.

Thinking of this, he covered his mouth with his hand and yawned: "Yue, remember to call me early tomorrow morning, I'm going to bed." He walked out of the room and rested on the beauty's couch.Her family's mother is rather weird and doesn't like people watching by the bed, so she can only watch the night outside.

Early the next morning, Chen Manrou excitedly rushed to Yongshou Palace to watch a play. Han Wanyi, Hu Zhaoyi and the others came very early. After coming to greet Chen Manrou, Hu Zhaoyi smiled and said: "I see the concubine Chen's performance in the past few days." The complexion is getting better and better, is there any good way to maintain it?"

"Is there?" Chen Manrou touched her face, and then suddenly realized: "Oh, this, I think that the exercise during this period of time is effective, and it looks healthy, and the color of the skin is naturally better. "

Concubine De smiled and said: "Concubine Chen is really different from us. Every lady pays attention to quietness. There is a saying in women's precepts. Chastity is quiet and leisurely, and she is ashamed of her own behavior: it is a woman's virtue. We have been watching the preceptors since we were young. Big ones, these are naturally engraved in the bones. It's just that Concubine Chen grew up in Zhending Mansion, so it's inevitable..."

"Sister De Concubine, does this mean that the women who grew up in Zhending Mansion are not ladies of the family? Are they uneducated?" Chen Manrou raised her eyebrows and asked: "But I heard that in the palace drafts, women's virtues must be judged first, and women's virtues should be judged second. Do women talk about women's work?"

Glancing up at the queen, Chen Manrou said with a grin: "Could it be that Sister Defei thinks there was a mistake in the draft?"

Seeing Concubine De's face turned pale, Chen Manrou continued: "Besides, if I remember correctly, the whole sentence should be 'leisure and chaste, chaste and tidy, shameful in conduct, lawful in movement and stillness, which is called a woman's virtue', right? Leisurely and chaste means that if you are clean, you will not be turbid, if you are idle, you will not be dry, if you are chaste, you will not be evil, and if you are quiet, you will not be arrogant. It does not mean that people are still, right? Movement and stillness have laws, which means that actions and behaviors have laws. There is still a big difference between a person standing still like a plant, right?"

"Sister De Concubine really doesn't have a long memory. She knows that Concubine Chen has always been sharp-tongued, and she keeps going up and down again and again to find her uncomfortable." Concubine Shu laughed at the side, and Chen Manrou shook her head: "Shu Sister Concubine, this is not sharp-tongued. It is obviously that Sister Defei is dissatisfied with the results of the draft. I just explained a few words to Sister Defei. , From time to time, I will say that I am not tired of others, it is a woman's words, I have done a good job, empress, are you right?"

The queen glanced down at Chen Manrou, turned her head and said to Concubine Shu: "Concubine Chen is really good, she didn't say any bad words. Concubine De, I see that you are still not familiar with the female precepts, so I will copy them ten times later. .”

"Yes, my concubine obeys." Concubine De got up, saluted the queen, and sat back in her seat in a proper manner.This was the first time she was punished after entering the palace, and this time the punishment was like a basin of cold water, which finally cleared her mind a little.

Originally, her Zhang family and the Chen family did not deal with it. She and Chen Manrou attacked together. She was named a concubine, and she was one position higher than Chen Manrou. Thinking of Chen Manrou's neither arrogant nor rash temperament during the draft, she was a little annoyed If you don't even pay attention to your own solicitation, then just use it as a stepping stone.That's why she always wanted to step on Chen Manrou. The smooth sailing since entering the palace made her lose her composure.

In the future, it will never be like this.

"The imperial concubine is here." There was an announcement from outside the door, the queen paused holding the teacup, and Chen Manrou glanced at Ma Jieyu. Ma Jieyu hadn't spoken for a long time before, but now she had a smile on her face .

"Everyone is here, so I will make an announcement." After greeting each other, the queen said, "Since Ma Jieyu is pregnant, it is not suitable to live in Xianfu Palace. After discussion, let Ma Jieyu move to the palace."

(End of this chapter)