Harem for a living

Chapter 87

"The son has met the empress, please greet the empress." Wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, Feng Mingzhao casually saluted the Empress Dowager Ci Ning who was sitting on the soft couch. Ci Ning raised her eyes slightly, looked at the emperor and said : "The emperor came to my Compassionate Peace Palace, but what's the matter?"

"Look at what my sister said, is there nothing important, so the emperor can't come to the Palace of Compassion?" There was a voice at the door, and following the emperor's footsteps, he entered the Palace of Compassion. The Empress Dowager Ci Ning looked up and smiled. She shook her head: "I haven't seen you for a few days, sister Ci'an is getting more and more beautiful."

"Sister, don't coax me, Ai's family is all 50-year-old old women, and I don't care if they are beautiful or not." Ci'an said, and had already entered the hall, and did not greet Ci Ning, just caring about herself He walked to the other side of the soft couch and sat down, separated from Ci Ning by a small coffee table.

Empress Dowager Ci Ning sneered: "Aijia doesn't mean that the emperor can't come if he's fine, but Aijia is more curious. In the past few days, there are a lot of things going on in the harem. The emperor doesn't say to find out who is behind the scenes, so come to Aijia What is going on here?"

She wasn't worried at all that the emperor would find evidence, well, even if the emperor could infer the whole process, he couldn't produce any real evidence.The little eunuch tied several cats to his body one by one, and tied his mouth with cloth strips, only then did he hide the truth from the surrounding guards.

Then, hiding and waiting for the queen to come over, he threw a few cats out, and immediately bit his tongue and killed himself. The emperor could only find out the identity of the little eunuch.

"The son came to see the queen mother for this matter." The emperor did not look at the mocking smile on the face of the Empress Dowager Ci Ning, and said to himself: "The harem has been very restless these days, and the concubine Hu gave birth prematurely. This matter, compared to the queen's pregnancy, can only be regarded as a trivial matter."

Empress Dowager Ci Ning wanted to speak, but the emperor didn't give her this chance, and continued: "The empress is pregnant with a legitimate son, the mother of the country lost her legitimate son, and the queen mother also said that this is a big deal, I let the people of the Qin Tianjian forget it, the people of the Qin Tianjian It is said that the ancestral temple has been in disrepair recently, and the ancestors are dissatisfied, and they need someone to pray for blessings and ask the ancestors to bless them."

"Your Majesty, in the opinion of the Ai family, these people in the Qin Tianjian should be beaten to death. The Ai family has never heard of anyone whose ancestors did not protect their children, but instead let their sons die." Empress Dowager Ci Ning Said with a cold face, Ci'an smiled and said: "Sister, you heard it wrong. The emperor means that the ancestors are dissatisfied with our negligence, and want to find someone to chant the scriptures and accompany the ancestors. My sister thought, the last time the emperor was alive I value my sister, so I will let my sister do it for you, right?"

"The Ai family thinks that the first emperor valued Concubine Shu's sister the most." Ci Ning deliberately used the title before she was conferred the title of Empress Dowager, and looked at Ci'an with a smile on her face: "Otherwise, the throne will also be given to the emperor. Besides, Ai's family is the mother-in-law, so the emperor asked Ai's family to recite scriptures, isn't he afraid of being criticized by the world?"

Now it seems that Ci Ning and Ci An can get along peacefully, but one has gone to chant scriptures and the other is still enjoying blessings in the harem, everyone must think that the Empress Dowager Ci Ning was driven out by Ci An's mother and son.

At that time, maybe everyone in the world will sympathize with Ci Ning.

"The empress mother is very considerate. I originally thought about letting the two empress mothers be companions. However, the empress is still unconscious and unable to manage the harem. Concubine De is young and concubine Liu is not qualified enough. The harem is a big mess. Something needs to be looked after.”

The emperor's expression was very calm, during the conversation with Ci Ning, his expression didn't even change a bit.Ci Ning snorted coldly: "Then the Ai family can't manage the harem? Anyway, the Ai family is also the late emperor's queen!"

The aunt is in charge of the harem, this is the right way.

Resentment flashed in the Empress Dowager Ci'an's eyes, but she didn't speak. The emperor nodded, "I originally thought so too, but Concubine Hu gave birth prematurely, and both mother and child are ill. Now Concubine Hu lives with the third prince in Ciyin. Lou, must be taken care of by someone, so I can only wrong you, queen mother."

Concubine Hu is still in confinement, so she definitely can't move to the palace at this moment. With Concubine Hu's status, it is also possible to raise a prince.Besides, earlier, when the emperor and the empress sent Concubine Hu to Ci'an Palace, Ci Ning did not object, now there is no excuse for Concubine Hu to leave Ci'an Palace.

"Mother, I have ordered people to take care of it. Mother, I will go to the Taimiao to live for a while." I didn't dare to put him in the imperial tomb because there is an army in the imperial tomb, and he has several brothers who are not very willing to live. , he was unwilling to give Ci Ning even the slightest chance.Therefore, you must not let people stay too far away.

The Taimiao is very good, not very far from the imperial palace, and it is placed under her eyelids. It is impossible for her to win over the guards of the capital city or the guards of the imperial city.Those people in Taimiao are all very loyal to themselves.

"Mother, please leave as soon as possible." The emperor didn't give Ci Ning time to make excuses, and after speaking, he got up and made a gesture of invitation: "It will be an auspicious time in a while, and you need to be sincere to pray for your ancestors. Qin Tianjian calculated it The best time to enter the Taimiao is one hour later, and the empress needs to recite scriptures in the Taimiao for a year, so please rest assured that the empress is here in the harem."

"Yes, sister, don't worry. Although the Ai family is not as clever as my sister, she is not stupid. When my sister comes back, I will definitely see a peaceful harem." Empress Dowager Ci'an also said at the same time, and suddenly thought When I got up, I suddenly clapped my hands and said: "Oh, look at Aijia's memory, he is really old, and he can't accept his old age. There is one more thing that Aijia needs to discuss with his sister."

At this moment, Ci Ning's face was already ashen. Since everyone was about to tear their skins apart, she didn't intend to pretend anymore. Just as she was about to speak, Ci'an said first: "Sister is going to the Taimiao to pray. Taking care of the Ninth Prince, the Ai family thought, the Ninth Prince is already eight years old and has started school now, so he needs to live in a separate palace, sister, which palace is better for the Ninth Prince to live in?"

"Mother, I heard some time ago that the mistress of Mrs. Li's family was sent to Zhuangzi and locked up because of a madness. I don't know if anyone is taking care of her right now. Tell me, this nice person, How did you suddenly go crazy?"

Feng Mingzhao's eyes were cold. Ci Ning, who originally wanted to make a big fuss and was absolutely unwilling to go to the Taimiao Temple, suddenly fought a cold war. At this moment, she suddenly realized that she had acted too hastily, but unless it was her own Nothing is wrong, otherwise, the bitch mother and son would always find an excuse to get rid of themselves.

Now getting rid of a son-in-law is enough.Isn't it just going to Taimiao for a year?After returning, he can still kill the eldest son!

Thinking about it, the ferocity on Empress Dowager Ci Ning's face disappeared, and she smiled with the corners of her mouth: "Throughout the ages, there are not a few people who make their first wives go crazy because they dote on their concubines and destroy their wives. That Mrs. Li's wife, Maybe that's the case. Your majesty, you have to keep your eyes open, you can't reuse such an official."

As he spoke, he reached out and knocked on the table, and said with his head sideways: "Since the Ninth Prince is going to move out, let's move to the Wenhua Palace. He is the emperor's brother, not the emperor's son. I can’t go, Wenhua Palace is very close to the outside of the palace, just right.”

In fact, the Wenhua Hall is not only relatively close to the outside of the palace, but also relatively close to the Taimiao.In this way, the Ninth Prince can not only be under her nose, but also find a way to get out of the palace, which is not bad.

The emperor didn't object, he just nodded his head to express his agreement, then he called people in and sent Empress Dowager Ci Ning to the Taimiao.Because the Taimiao has ancestral tablets and so on, and Ci Ning is there to pray for blessings, so the servants can't bring too many.

Empress Dowager Ci Ning thought about it for a long time before taking the four palace maids and two nuns away.

"Mother, the people from the Palace of Compassion and Ning will be handed over to you. Those who can be sent to the Department of Punishment will be sent to the Department of Punishment. If they cannot be sent to the Department of Punishment, just let me know." There are some things that cannot be known to others, so they cannot be sent to the Punishment Division.

The Empress Dowager Ci'an nodded: "The Ai family knows, what my son wants to do, just do it. The Ai family was confused before. Now, the Ai family will definitely clean up the harem. When the queen gets better, Aijia will let her manage the harem again."

The implication is that there will be no competition for palace power. The emperor smiled and said a few more words before leading the people out of the Palace of Compassion and Ning.

It is already November now, the weather is a bit cold, after being blown by the wind outside for a while, the emperor suddenly asked, "Where is Concubine Hui at this moment?"

"Returning to the emperor, Concubine Hui went to greet the empress yesterday, and the empress said that Concubine Hui is heavy, so don't toss back and forth in this cold weather, so she didn't ask for concubine Hui's greetings. Right now, Concubine Hui is probably in Zhongcui Palace."

Liu Cheng hurried forward and said, the emperor ordered in a deep voice: "Go to Zhongcui Palace."

After the Queen's accident, he has been busy appeasing the Queen, investigating Ci Ning's minions, and trying to get Ci Ning away. It's been the third day, and he hasn't seen Concubine Hui yet. She was also frightened that day. Now I don't know how my body is.

Already lost a son-in-law, the third prince is still a sick cat, Concubine Hui's belly must not be a problem anymore.

When I arrived at Zhongcui Palace, I saw that it was quiet inside, and there was not even a maid and eunuch walking around in the yard. The emperor was immediately startled, but then he thought that no one was going to announce the imperial doctor, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. matter.Thinking about it, he raised his foot to walk into the room.

"Your Majesty, you still have a child in your belly." The emperor just approached the door when he heard an anxious voice coming from inside.Then came the voice of his concubine Hui: "Of course I know I'm still pregnant, but it's just a matter of copying scriptures for a while, so it's not a big deal. Besides, the empress is such a good person, and now she has suffered such a serious crime. As a concubine, it is my duty to pray for the empress."

"But the child in your belly..." The anxious voice said again, and Chen Manrou interrupted her indifferently: "Isn't it okay to say it? Besides, that is his brother, so it can be regarded as his brother who has no fate. Pray for blessings. You really don’t have to worry, it’s only for a while, if I’m really not feeling well, I’ll get up. If you have time, why don’t you go and make some food for Bengong.”

Then I heard the maid sigh: "Okay, okay, I will cook you food. Have fun, stop the cup, you two should watch carefully, and if you find that the empress's face is not right, immediately help her up, know ?"

The two maids who had been named responded, and then the emperor heard footsteps, and quickly took a step back. As soon as he stood up, he heard an exclamation: "Oh, I have seen the emperor, please greet the emperor!"

Feng Mingzhao glanced at the maid, and nodded casually: "Come on, your mother is resting right now?"

"No!" Before the little maid could speak, Chen Manrou's voice sounded at the door. The emperor raised his eyes and saw that Chen Manrou looked pretty good, so he smiled and walked over to support Chen Manrou who was saluting: "Okay, there is still a lot of food in your belly." Son, don't be so polite."

As he said that, he pulled Chen Manrou into the room, and he saw scriptures, pens, inks, papers and inkstones spread out on the table at a glance. The emperor walked over to pick them up for a look, and then put them down with a calm expression.She turned her head and signaled Chen Manrou to sit beside her: "Where are the people in your palace? Why didn't I see any of them when I came in?"

"The concubine asked them all to read the scriptures." Chen Manrou smiled and said with bent eyes: "Director Ming is literate, so let him lead the recitation. Now the concubine doesn't need to serve here, so I don't let too many people around. The emperor , Concubine, let someone bring you a bowl of hot soup? The weather is very cold at the moment, the emperor must not get sick."

(End of this chapter)