princess

Chapter 3

When Xiao Yuanmin and the others came in, all the concubines who were sitting and talking with the empress dowager stood up, and Concubine Lin stood on one side first.

As soon as the two of them knelt down, they heard the empress dowager say, "Get up, come to grandma." The empress dowager liked children, and Xiao Yuzuo was not only her grandson, but also cute and well-behaved. It is also unadulterated.

The two of them didn't really get up, they only stood up after saluting properly, Xiao Yuanmin smiled and said, "Grandmother is sympathetic, but younger brother and I also want to be filial to Grandmother."

"I know you two are filial." The empress dowager smiled even deeper and waved her hand, "Come here quickly, the empress dowager ordered someone to make bean cakes."

Xiao Yuzuo tilted his head to look at the Empress Dowager, then looked at Xiao Yuanmin, and then threw his small fists into the Empress Dowager's arms. Although there was a thick mat specially ordered by the Empress Dowager on the ground, the maids and maids were still nervous He kept staring at Xiao Yuzuo, for fear that he might accidentally fall.

Xiao Yuanmin followed and sat next to the Empress Dowager.

Only then did Concubine Lin stand up and salute the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager naturally knew that Concubine Lin came in with the Crown Prince and Princess. He said, "Get up."

Only then did Concubine Lin dare to stand up, "My dear grandson, do you miss Grandma Huang?"

Xiao Yuzuo is now at the funniest age, he can't walk steadily but he likes to walk around, and he can't speak clearly, so the empress dowager and the emperor like to tease him very much.

"Think..." Xiao Yuzuo grinned, rubbing his saliva-stained mouth against the Empress Dowager's face, "Dear Grandmother."

"Good grandson." The Empress Dowager didn't dislike her either. After Xiao Yuzuo kissed her, she stuffed the bean cake she was holding into the Empress Dowager's mouth.

"Eat, Grandma Huang, eat, it's delicious."

"well."

Concubine Zhu is the Empress Dowager's niece, and she is not as cautious around the Empress Dowager as others, so she joked at this time, "His Royal Highness and the Empress Dowager are close friends, and even want to share a piece of cake with the Empress Dowager."

The empress dowager was satisfied when she heard this, and after taking a small bite with a smile, she kissed Xiao Yuzuo's cheek vigorously.

"Before the concubine entered the palace, I met many children at her mother's house. Even if they were older than the prince, they were not as sensible as the prince." Concubine Zhu had just entered the palace for two years, and she was by the empress dowager's side every day. Serving, because of the Empress Dowager's relationship, Emperor Xuanhe also gave her a bit of dignity. She is also a clever person, knowing that the Empress Dowager misses her natal family the most, so she casually mentions a word or two from time to time, which makes the Empress Dowager like her even more.

Xiao Yuanmin listened to those concubines flattering the Empress Dowager, following the Empress Dowager's wishes, took out the handkerchief, carefully helped his younger brother wipe his hands, and did not interrupt.

Concubine Lin's eyes flickered slightly. Ever since the empress passed away, concubine Zhu has been quite proud of her relationship with the empress dowager. Even some of them who are concubines have given way to her, let alone others, no one has Dare to fight for her limelight.

It's just that she forgot that Emperor Xuanhe's surname is Xiao, and the Empress Dowager is not the biological mother of Emperor Xuanhe.

"The concubine embroidered a handkerchief and gave it to the empress dowager and the eldest princess." Concubine Zhu pursed her lips and smiled, "The concubine is clumsy, I hope the empress dowager and the eldest princess don't dislike it."

"Hey, you also embroidered something." The empress dowager pretended not to know, and smiled, "Take it over and have a look, the Ai family doesn't allow bad things to be used by good granddaughters."

"The queen mother really loves the eldest princess the most." Concubine Zhu got up and walked to the empress dowager, holding a handkerchief embroidered with rich and noble peonies in both hands. The peony is delicate and beautiful, and it is the empress dowager's favorite flower. As expected, the empress dowager smiled He took it and praised Concubine Zhu a few words.

The empress dowager asked people to put away the handkerchief, and said with a smile, "Where is the one for my good granddaughter?"

Concubine Zhu took another veil from the hand of the court lady. There were three cats embroidered on that veil, one big cat and two kittens, lazily basking in the sun, very cute.

"Yuan Min see if you like it, if you don't like it, I'll let Concubine Zhu embroider it for you again." The Empress Dowager said lovingly.

"Ms. Concubine Zhu has a heart." Xiao Yuanmin stood up, took the handkerchief with his own hands, played with it a bit, and then said, "It's very delicate, Yuan Min likes it."

Seeing the smile on Xiao Yuanmin's face, the Empress Dowager said with satisfaction, "Just like it."

After another conversation, the empress dowager said, "I'm tired too, you all go back."

"Yes."

Although the concubines replied quickly, they were very reluctant, after all, the emperor was coming soon, but the queen mother had spoken, and no one dared to openly oppose the queen mother.

"Concubine Zhu, work harder, stay and serve my wife." The Empress Dowager didn't look at the people below, but just teased Xiao Yuzuo with Xiao Yuanmin.

Congratulations flashed across Concubine Zhu's eyes, and she saluted respectfully, "It's the concubine's blessing."

"Grandma Huang is tired. Will Yuan Min and younger brother disturb Grandma Huang's rest? Then Yuan Min and younger brother should also step down." Xiao Yuanmin looked at the Empress Dowager with some concern, and said in a childlike voice, "Grandma Huang should take a good rest." .”

Although Xiao Yuzuo didn't quite understand, what my sister said was correct, so she nodded aside, "Rest."

"Stay with Grandma Huang for a while, Grandma Huang will be happy to see you." The Empress Dowager patted Xiao Yuanmin's head, "It's better to let Concubine Zhu play with you two."

"The concubine will definitely take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess." Concubine Zhu said after saluting.

"Ah."

"Yuan Min wants to accompany Grandma Huang, Yuan Min doesn't want to play anymore." Xiao Yuanmin moved closer to the Empress Dowager, "Does my brother want to play?"

Although Xiao Yuzuo still wanted to play, he was even more reluctant to part with his sister, and took Xiao Yuanmin's hand, "I want my sister."

"Then Concubine Zhu will beat the old lady's legs." The emperor is coming soon, if Concubine Zhu doesn't do anything, it will be too deliberate. Yes, there are so many scheming.

Although the Empress Dowager is not the biological mother of Emperor Xuanhe, Emperor Xuanhe has not lost any of the etiquette that should be expected. He will come to greet the Empress Dowager every day, and sometimes have meals with her.

As soon as Emperor Xuanhe entered the door, he saluted, "Son Xiao Jing pays respects to the empress, and the empress is auspicious."

"Get up quickly."

"Thank you, Empress." Emperor Xuanhe got up, Xiao Yuanmin pulled Xiao Yuzuo forward to salute Emperor Xuanhe, and then Concubine Zhu who stood beside him saluted Emperor Xuanhe.

Emperor Xuanhe didn't care too much, he knew that his mother was close to her natal family, since Concubine Zhu entered the palace, most of them kept her by his side to serve her.

"Did Xuanxuan and Xi'er cause trouble for the emperor's grandmother?" After Emperor Xuanhe sat down, he beckoned and called his son and daughter to his side.

Xiao Yuanmin puffed his cheeks and said, "Grandma Huang said that my brother and Xuanxuan are very good."

"With the two of them accompanying the old lady, the old lady can be ten years younger." The empress dowager smiled kindly, "My emperor, the two of their children live alone, and the old lady is worried every day that the servants are not taking good care of them and treat them poorly. "

Emperor Xuanhe patted his daughter's head, and then said, "Mother Lao is worried, Xuanxuan and the others who are arranged by me are watching, those slaves dare not."

"That's good." If Emperor Xuanhe was the Empress Dowager's own son, she wouldn't just hint at it every time, but dare not speak directly. After all, when Emperor Xuanhe was raised by her side, she already remembered things. "Yuan Min is not young anymore, it's time to find someone to teach her something."

The education of Princess Jin Dynasty was given to the concubine in the palace. Emperor Xuanhe had thought about Xuanxuan's education. If the queen was still there, he would naturally hand it over to the queen, but now... "Is there any good candidate for the queen mother? "

The Empress Dowager smiled and said a few people, and Zhu Concubine was naturally among them, but she didn't focus on boasting, "They are all good writers at home, and now they have good papers. The old lady is too picky, let the emperor make up his mind." .”

"Mother reminds me more, my son will think about it carefully."

"Yes." The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction, "I think Concubine Lin is not bad, but Qingrong is weak, so let Concubine Lin educate herself."

"It's up to the queen mother to decide."

After saying a few more words, Emperor Xuanhe stood up and said respectfully, "My son still has some political affairs to deal with, so I will take my leave first."

The empress dowager heard the words and said, "Government matters are important. The old lady knows your filial piety, so you don't have to come to pay your respects every day in the future. You should rest more."

"It's the son's duty." Emperor Xuanhe said with a smile, "When the son sees the tired look behind his mother, Xuanxuan and Xi'er will go with the son."

The Empress Dowager touched the Buddhist beads on her wrist, then smiled, "That's fine." Then she looked at Xiao Yuzuo and Xiao Yuanmin, "You guys come back tomorrow, Grandma Huang will prepare something delicious for you."

"Yes."

Emperor Xuanhe sent his daughter and son back to the palace, and instead of leaving immediately, he talked with his daughter.

"Grandma Huang ate bean cakes for Xuanxuan and my younger brother, it was sweet." Xiao Yuanmin played with his younger brother with a small ball specially sewn by the mother, "By the way, I met Concubine Lin on the way there."

"Oh?" Emperor Xuanhe's eyes flashed, and he glanced at Li Dezhong who was standing beside him, and Li Dezhong retreated.

"Ms. Concubine Zhu embroidered handkerchiefs for Grandma Huang and Xuanxuan, and Xuanxuan was not happy." Having said this, Xiao Yuanmin puffed up her cheeks, "Very unhappy."

Emperor Xuanhe saw it and became interested, "But it's not good-looking? Doesn't Xuanxuan like it?"

"It's beautiful." As he said that, he took out the handkerchief embroidered with three cats in his arms, "It's beautiful, but the one she gave Grandma Huang is a very bright red peony." Words, it can be seen that Xiao Yuanmin cares.

When Empress Huiyi died, Emperor Xuanhe ordered that all princes and ministers wear hemp and mourning for her, and slaughtering was banned in the capital for 49 days, and she was outside for three days.Stop music and worship for a hundred days, stop marrying officials for a hundred days, and stop military and civil affairs for one month.

Emperor Xuanhe quit the court on the 27th, did not enter the harem for one year, and did not draft for five years, while Xiao Yuzuo and Xiao Yuanmin kept their filial piety for three years, and they used plain colors in their houses.

Empress Huiyi has been gone for less than a year now, and Concubine Zhu's handkerchief is exquisitely embroidered and it will take some time, Xiao Yuanmin is not angry after seeing it.

(End of this chapter)