Long Harem Road

Chapter 56

Time flies, time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it will be another year of midsummer, and it will be hot in June, but outside the gate of Shenwu is full of colorful flowers and people's voices.

The country is prosperous, the people are safe, and the country is strong. This year's draft is more grand and spectacular than the first in the Yuan and Qing Dynasties. This year's show includes not only the daughters of officials, but also beauties selected by the people. The number and quality of the show are much higher than the previous one. .

Baozhu took the information of this year's show girls compiled by Liu Quan, with a dignified expression, and a slight wry smile. The overall strength of this year's outstanding show girls is much stronger than that of the previous one. If he hadn't entered the palace three years earlier, the position of the concubine is really not good. It must be my turn.

Looking at the thick pile of beautiful women's materials in front of me, each has its own merits, fat and thin, a flash of nostalgia flashes in Baozhu's eyes, time flies, the selection of the palace is still vivid in my memory, and I have entered the palace for three years in a blink of an eye. The fourth prince is almost two years old.

Last September, at the birthday banquet of the four princes, the emperor officially named Zhao Mao on the royal jade butterfly, '环', the jade held by the emperor, used to cover the princes' jade.

Because of the profound meaning of the word '鲁', during the first year banquet, Concubine Wei looked at her with poisonous eyes, why the fourth prince is so favored, but her third prince can't see the emperor for ten and a half months.

The third prince bestowed the name Zhao Qi, 'Qi', beautiful jade, with extraordinary meanings, just thinking of the 'grievances' the third prince suffered in daily life, Concubine Wei felt unbalanced.

To say that the fourth prince Zhao Hao's first birthday banquet was indeed attracting attention, the empress spared no effort to prepare meticulously, maybe it was intentional or unintentional to make things difficult for Concubine Wei, the banquet was obviously higher than that of Concubine Wei's third prince.

The emperor was busy with the affairs of the previous court, so naturally he would not pay too much attention to such small details. Baozhu knew the queen's sinister intentions well, but he could only be secretly annoyed.

After all, the one-year-old banquet process has been confirmed by the emperor, and the empress is also a full-fledged mother-in-law. Baozhu can only be vigilant in secret, and is a little more cautious about Wei Guifei, and strengthens the importance of Changle Palace.

For more than a year, the two of them have maintained a superficial harmony, and their energies have almost been concentrated on their respective princes. The queen's indistinct provocation may cause Concubine Wei's dissatisfaction. The emperor's accumulated preference over the years, Concubine Wei may explode up.

In the past two years, the emperor has shown unabashed love for the concubine De. The concubines in the harem and the ministers of the former court can all see clearly, knowing that the concubine De is in the heart of the emperor. What I didn't dare to think about, but Concubine De had everything that one could expect.

Naturally, there will be no one who will do things that don't have a good eye to trouble her. Baozhu has lived comfortably in the past two years, and the harem is also calm. Perhaps she has fully realized it. orderly.

A year ago, the emperor revoked the concubine Xian's right to assist in palace affairs, and the empress regained power. On the surface, Baozhu felt relaxed, but secretly she never let down her vigilance, and has been quietly developing her own small power.

From entering the palace to the present, the achievements accumulated in three years should not be underestimated, but she did it very secretly, never using them to harm others, just collecting information.

The relationship between Baozhu and the emperor was less passionate and more casual and tacit. Baozhu knew that it was impossible to maintain a sense of freshness all the time, so she focused on creating a comfortable "home" that the emperor would nostalgia for.

I hope that the emperor can think of Qingfeng Palace when he is irritable and tired, and can return to this safe haven. As an 'old man in the harem', she has gradually lost her immaturity and become more mature and considerate. Her goal is the emperor. The perfect Xieyu flower in my mind.

The emperor stayed in Qingfeng Palace five or six times a month, and came here every now and then to have meals and visit the fourth prince. Baozhu was the most enviable and hated concubine in the palace.

The queen is very concerned about this year's draft. The emperor now only has the same affection for her as when she was young, but the respect she deserves is a little bit less. She has gradually let go and managed the harem for him with all her heart.

However, De Concubine's favor has always been a thorn in her heart. If it wasn't for her momentary inattention, how could a little Jieyu have reached such a status in just three years and have a healthy prince?
Besides, Concubine De is different from Concubine Wei and Concubine Xian who are old and weak. She is young and pampered, and in good health. If she becomes pregnant again, even if she can adopt other princes, it may be difficult to suppress Concubine De.

It can be said that the person the Empress hates the most now is not Concubine Wei and Concubine Xian who she feared the most when she was young, but Concubine De who is now in full swing. She cannot let Concubine De be favored any longer, and there is no one in the palace Can compete with it.

Therefore, the queen focused on this year's draft. Her goal was to select a few more beautiful girls from the top-notch family background for the emperor, so as to check and balance the concubine De, so that she could reap the benefits again.

After a year and a half of hard work, the emperor has gained a lot. Ten months ago, Li Jieyu, who was carefully protected by the empress dowager, gave birth at full term, and the empress dowager personally went to sit in the battle.

After a night of tossing, Li Jieyu successfully gave birth to a little princess. Although both mother and daughter were safe, the queen dowager and empress, who had been looking forward to the prince with all their heart, returned disappointed.

Probably because all the princes were born one after another, the emperor was very happy with the three newly born princesses. The next day, not only did he go to visit early, the rewards were quite generous, and the full moon banquet was very large. Li Xiurong, who was promoted to the third rank, Li Jieyu, personally Raise the little princess.

Li Xiurong was very grateful. She knew very well that if she gave birth to a prince, she would probably have died of dystocia. It would be the best ending to be with her now. As for the Li family, when they forced their aunt to death, she would treat the Li family with respect. Only hatred remained.

When Baozhu got the news, she was also jealous of Li Xiurong's amazing luck, but she didn't know what role the emperor played in it. Baozhu knew that when she was four or five months pregnant, the imperial physician with superb medical skills would definitely be able to find out. the sex of the fetus.

The emperor should have known that she was a princess, but if Li Xiurong was pregnant with a prince, how would the emperor deal with it? Unfortunately, there is no if in this world, so naturally there is no way of knowing.

Taking advantage of the Li family's relaxation of vigilance against Li Jieyu during her pregnancy, the emperor's plan for many years was gradually launched, and a group of recent imperial examination students were quickly promoted to check and balance the Li family's power. pivotal role.

Brother Ji Ji Xi, as a man of influence who came out of Evergreen Academy, has also risen with the tide, but in his thirties, he has been further promoted to be the fourth-rank Minister of Shangshu.

Ma Leling and Ma Jieyu, who had lost their child once, were not defeated, and soon rose up again, regrouped and joined the army fighting for favor. Obviously, she was clever, and not only became pregnant again with the Dragon Heir, but also successfully conceived two months ago. gave birth to the fifth prince.

At the full moon banquet, she was promoted again to be the second-rank concubine, perhaps to distinguish the concubine Ma who was still in the quiet palace, the emperor bestowed the title 'Le', and there was a fifth prince and a concubine Le in the palace.

Zhang Hanying and Zhang Zhaoyi finally got pregnant years ago, but the 'fortune' was not good, and without knowing it, after several hours of kneeling on the New Year's Eve, stimulated by the ice and snow, not long after returning to the temple, she suffered from abdominal pain and lost her baby.

The emperor felt guilty, as the children came and went, Zhang Hanying was promoted two ranks in a row, and was promoted to be a first-rank concubine Shu. So far, the emperor's four first-rank concubines are full.

Yang Yiliu, Yang Cairen, who lives in the side hall of Roufu Palace, is now more than five months pregnant and has been successfully promoted to Yang Meiren. Speaking of which, this Yang Meiren is very lucky.

After Li Xiurong gave birth to the third princess, the empress, who was extremely disappointed but unwilling, once again focused on herself. However, a few months later, the emperor stayed in Kunning Palace quite a few times, but the empress was disappointed again.

Coincidentally at this time, Yang Cairen, who had no foundation, found out that she was pregnant for more than a month. Yang Cairen was also a smart person. Secretly took refuge in the queen.

The disheartened queen is determined to get a prince, but Yang Cai's family background is mediocre, his father is only a sixth-rank long history, and he is not favored, even if he gives birth to a prince, he is not qualified to raise him, so Taking advantage of the trend, he agreed.

The empress is out of the ordinary, naturally extraordinary, Yang Cairen was promoted to Yang Meiren, the fetus is healthy and safe at five months, her belly is already high, but she is still humble and unknown, even the emperor probably forgot that there is such a pregnant woman concubine.

Every time she pays her respects, Baozhu can clearly feel the faint sadness that she occasionally exudes when she touches her stomach. If it is not forced, I believe that there is no mother who is willing to give up her child who is connected by blood.

Just entered June, the sky was already hot, with waves of heat sweeping in, the sun seemed to be a big furnace, and the whole capital city was scorching hot.

"All the younger sisters also got the news that the queen mother and the palace are busy with the palace selection, so I will skip the greetings during this period." The queen said, sweeping the first greetings.

"It's the empress!" The women present looked gloomy, and newcomers entered the palace to compete for favor. The concubines who had children were fine, but the concubines who had no children and were too old were hopeless.

"Okay, Beauty Yang stays here, everyone else should leave." The queen is most concerned about Beauty Yang's stomach, and she doesn't want to see other concubines make trouble, so she immediately chased her away after finishing her business.

"Concubine and concubine leave!", everyone retreated one by one, Concubine Wei walked over the orb, expressionless.

"Sister, let's go together." Baozhu smiled at Concubine Shu behind her. Over the past year, she has had more and more frequent contacts with Zhang Hanying, admiring her openness and magnanimity, and the two have grown closer.

Concubine Zhang Shu returned a smile. Since she lost her child half a year ago, Concubine Zhang Shu has been silent a lot. Although the emperor still favors her, her smile has gradually decreased and she has become thinner. Only when she sees the fourth prince, does she speak from the heart smile.

"Sister, this is my sister's new Cuju, bring it to the Fourth Prince to play with." Concubine Zhang Shu took a newly sewn Cuju from the hand of the maid behind her, and handed it to Baozhu.

"Sister, don't worry. This skinny monkey can't stop all day long. Qingfeng Palace is about to be turned upside down." Speaking of the baby, although Baozhu was blaming her, the pampering in her eyes was obvious.

Mingming was very well-behaved when he was first born, he didn't cry or make trouble, who knows that the older he gets, the more mischievous he is, and he doesn't have a moment of leisure. During the Chinese New Year, he met Ji's mother, and after talking about it, he realized that the fourth prince Zhao Hao was the same as his little uncle Ji Xu when he was young. Be naughty and active.

"Children are naturally lively and active, and the fourth prince is cute." Concubine Zhang Shu smiled, her expression darkened, and she touched her belly with her hands unnaturally. Baozhu knew that she was thinking of that unfavorable child again.

"Look at me, sister, hurry back, it's too hot today, the fourth prince must miss my sister." Concubine Zhang Shu continued with a self-deprecating smile as she thought of her situation.

"My younger sister will go to Qingfeng Palace more often when she has free time. Mao'er finally misses why Concubine Zhang doesn't go to see him." Thinking of her son, Baozhu said helplessly.

"The fourth prince misses the sweet-scented osmanthus cake that I brought him, ha ha." Concubine Zhang Shu smiled, and the haze in her heart dissipated.

The two beckoned, Baozhu sat on the chariot, waved the brocade handkerchief to relieve the stuffy heat in the air, and left in the opposite direction.

(End of this chapter)