Empress Jinghua: The eunuch is nine thousand years old

Chapter 53
In a corner of the south hall of the imperial palace, in the small courtyard with three entrances and three exits, Xia Shengqing was writing down something on the wide table in the study.

Xia Shengqing has lived in this small courtyard since the Sage Emperor Jiangnan Zhishuiming gave it to him. Although it is not as magnificent and luxurious as the palace in the East and West Halls, it is better than the sparrow, which is small and complete, and he lives alone. is big enough.

On the desk was a topographic map showing the whole view of the palace. Xia Shengqing used red ink to draw red circles in several places, recorded the time and time, and compared them carefully. Think about it.

Ming Shengdi was a suspicious person, every day he went to which palace and how many hours he went, he made a good plan in his mind, he would never leave Qianqing Palace for more than three hours.If Xia Shengqing wanted to find the jade seal of King Jinlai from the previous life for Yue Jing'an, she had to sneak into Emperor Ming Shengdi's imperial study.It's just that no one knows where Ming Shengdi hid the jade seal of the previous dynasty. If Xia Shengqing acted rashly, he would definitely startle the snake.

At this moment, Xia Shengqing was thinking about the most suitable time, which would not arouse the suspicion of Ming Shengdi, but also had enough time to evade the guards and the imperial army, sneak into the imperial study and come out safely.

There was a knock on the door of the room, Xia Shengqing looked up and asked vigilantly, "Who is it?"

The voice outside the door paused, and then replied: "It's a slave...Fu Ling."

Xia Shengqing let go of her heart, but still neatly stacked and hid the blueprints on the desk, then walked to the door and put Fuling into the room.

"What are you doing here?" Xia Shengqing looked out of the door, making sure that there was no one else following Fuling, then closed the study door, and said calmly, "Didn't Mother ask you to stay with Concubine Yue as an errand? It must be a bad idea for people to see people from Concubine Yue's palace come here, and if there is anything to do in the future, she will let you know, so there is no need to come to my place."

"Ninth Prince..." Fu Ling looked up at Xia Shengqing. That jade-like face and starry eyes were what she wanted so much in her heart. If she could get close to him one day, it would be such a joyful thing.

Xia Shengqing frowned, and said in a deep voice: "Fuling, how many times have I told you that you must not be careless in the Dalai Palace. If someone listens to it, we will not be able to hide our identities. Whether in front of people or behind people , call me Manager Xia, do you understand?"

Fu Ling bit her lips and nodded lightly, moved closer to Xia Chengqing's side, and said slowly: "Your Majesty has already ordered my servants to come out of the Imperial Concubine Yue's palace, and from now on, my servants will follow Jiu... to Mr. Xia's side."

When she said this, Xia Shengqing naturally understood Yue Jing'an's intentions. She was afraid that she would reveal her hole cards and tell Xia Zijin that she would find out, so she hurriedly sent someone to monitor her.

"I don't need anyone to follow, you just go back to Concubine Yue and stare at her."

How could Fu Ling be willing to go back again? Lifting the palace skirt, she knelt down and said softly, "Mr. Xia, don't let Fu Ling go back. Fu Ling is under the order of the empress. If she leaves without permission, the empress will definitely blame her!"

As she spoke, she lowered her eyes, looking very embarrassed and helpless.

Xia Shengqing couldn't hold her back, and it was hard to blame her, so she could only accept it temporarily, and then find a chance to send Fuling away.

It's just that he hasn't imagined what kind of stormy waves Fuling's existence will cause between him and Xia Zijin in the near future!
After the third day of the Lunar New Year, the lively atmosphere in the palace gradually subsided, and the three-day morning court was going on as usual, but everyone saw Ming Shengdi's rosy complexion in a very good mood, and they all thought it was Concubine Lian Yue Jing'an. Thanks to the small banquet in the harem, Emperor Ming has recruited Yue Jing'an to sleep in the Qianqing Palace every day, and her favor seems to be even better than that of the noble concubine Yue.

It was night, and Xia Zijin was in the Mosheng Garden. She listened quietly to the palace maid kneeling at her hands and finished her work. She rubbed the embroidered pattern on the handkerchief with her fingertips, and said slowly: "Since Concubine Lian ordered you Come to talk to this princess about this, so the empress means to use herself as a bait to drag Concubine Yue into the trap?"

Xia Zijin recalled what Concubine Lian's maid had said to her just now.Yue Jing'an is currently under great favor, if it is said that Yue Guifei or the concubines in the palace are dissatisfied and resentful towards Yue Jing'an because of this, it is inevitable, but Yue Guifei is a thoughtful person, she has been immersed in this harem for a long time, and How could he easily deal with Yue Jing'an?

"Concubine Lian told the princess that it doesn't matter if Concubine Yue is dealing with Her Majesty, what matters is how to convince the Emperor that Concubine Yue is dealing with Her Majesty." The palace maid lowered her eyes and said.

"The princess only needs to add a helping hand at the right time to stir up public opinion in the palace, making everyone think that the noble concubine Yue is narrow-minded and cannot tolerate the empress serving the emperor."

Xia Zijin nodded knowingly. Yue Jing'an is also a big-hearted person this month. Others want to hide from Concubine Yue to seek favor, but she wants to make Concubine Yue hate her with great fanfare. Don't dare to act rashly like this.

"Okay, this princess knows, you just go back and tell Concubine Lian, and tell Concubine Lian for this princess, and it will be done properly." Xia Zijin folded her hands in her warm sleeves and said calmly to the maid on the ground.

The palace lady stood up and retreated, but bumped into Xiaokui who was entering at the door, and almost knocked over the tray that Xiaokui was holding in her hand.

"Take it easy!" Xiaokui straightened the tray in her hand, muttered a little dissatisfied, the maid bowed and trotted out of the room.

"Princess, that person is from our yard just now? Xiaokui seems to have never seen it before." Xiaokui put the tray in her hand on the table, brought out the pastry inside and the hot barley tea in the glazed pot, and set up the cup He poured a cup of barley tea and handed it to Xia Zijin.

Xia Zijin took the tea, and could feel the scalding temperature through the cup. She took a sip lightly, and the faint sweetness of the cooked wheat mixed with the slight astringency of the tea soup, all of which penetrated into her taste buds.

"It's from Concubine Lian's Palace." Xia Zijin said, "Now that the Princess and Concubine Lian are joining forces, we will have to have more contacts in the future. You must also keep your eyes open in this Mosheng Garden. If there are people from other palaces The spies or the tails behind the people sent by Concubine Lian will be dismissed for this princess, if people know the relationship between this princess and Concubine Lian, it will be bad."

Xiaokui nodded, and pinched Xia Zijin's shoulders. The strength in her hand was neither light nor heavy. It was just right, and Xia Zijin squinted her eyes in comfort.

After all, it is not easy to bring down Concubine Yue, but fortunately, she still has a long life, so she will take her time.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Ming Shengdi took the empress and concubines to the Huguo Temple outside the palace to offer incense to pray for peace and prosperity in the coming year.High-ranking concubines such as Yue Guifei, Lianfei, Defei, and Xianfei all had their own sedan chairs, while the lower-ranking concubines had to share a sedan chair.

The emperor and his concubines went to Huguo Temple to offer incense, while the princesses and princes in the palace stayed in the palace.In the imperial garden, the princesses in the palace brought their servants to pick fresh flowers in the garden to make flower cakes for the grand feast of princesses fighting for cakes on the Lantern Festival night.

Xia Zijin, Xiaokui and other court ladies in the Mosheng Garden buried their heads in the jasmine bushes, carefully pinched the tender and white little flowers from the stems and leaves, and gently put them into the rattan basket on their wrists among.

"Be careful with this princess! Pick the best and most fragrant flowers. If this princess sees someone lazy, I will serve you with a whip!" Xia Zijin and the people in Mo Shengyuan were picking jasmine, but they couldn't hear it. There was an arrogant and domineering scolding sound in the distance.

Xia Zijin slightly hooked the corner of his mouth, who is this familiar voice if not Xia Ziqi?She was worrying about how to use Xia Ziqi, Xia Ziqi sent him to her door by herself, it was a blessing in heaven.

"Fourth sister."

Xia Zijin got up, handed the flower basket in her hand to Xiaokui, walked a few steps leisurely, and said hello to Xia Ziqi.

Xia Ziqi turned her head, looked at Xia Zijin who was smiling calmly, then involuntarily snorted softly, raised her head and said proudly: "It's really unlucky, you can meet sister Zijin wherever you go, this Jasmine Garden has already been seen by the princess. Come on, why are you going to participate in a grand banquet with a lowly body? Pack up your things and go back to your Mosheng Garden."

Xia Zijin was not annoyed when she heard such insults from her, and looked at Xia Ziqi with a smile, and said innocently: "Zijin couldn't understand a word of what the fourth sister said. We are both the daughters of the father, why the four My sister can go to the Boyi banquet, but Zijin can't?"

Xia Ziqi didn't know whether she really didn't understand or pretended not to understand, so she folded her arms and said, "Appearing with you at the banquet is a disgrace to this princess, how can you be a humble person who came out of a dusty place? Dare to compare with this princess?"

"Fourth sister..." Xia Zijin lowered her eyes, as if she was really hurt by Xia Ziqi's words, bit her lips and muttered: "Zijin is also the younger sister of the fourth sister after all, how can the fourth sister treat Zi like this?" Jin, is it because the imperial concubine is favored by the emperor in front of the father that the fourth elder sister looks down on the younger sister so much."

Xia Ziqi didn't hear the true meaning of Xia Zijin's words, and thought she was really subdued and sad, and she became even more proud in her heart, humming softly and raising her chin and staring at Xia Zijin.

"That's natural. My concubine mother is the most proud person in front of my father. As the daughter of a favorite concubine, this princess has a noble status. How can you compare?"

Xia Zijin sighed faintly, staring at Xia Ziqi's complacent expression and said slowly: "Fourth sister, I'm afraid she got complacent too early, and now the concubine Lian is the most popular, and the emperor has favored her one after another. Five days for Concubine Lian, I am afraid that this kind of favor, Concubine Yue has never had it before, right?"

Xia Zijin's slightly gloating tone made Xia Ziqi very unhappy, she sneered, rolled her eyes at Xia Zijin and said: "The aunt who came out of the Buddhist hall just relied on my father for a few days of freshness. Compared with concubine mother, she is still far behind!"

(End of this chapter)