Story of Yanxi Palace: Fu Ying's banner will never fall

On the road leading to the prince's residence south of Ningshou Palace, everyone accidentally met Concubine Gao.

She bent her knees slightly, and absentmindedly saluted the queen, saying, "I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Queen." The queen did not pay much attention to this, but responded as usual, "Get up."

Then, Concubine Gao said with a hint of deep meaning: "Empress, are you going to the prince's residence? Please be careful. I think the road ahead seems a little unsafe."

Although Concubine Gao's words were ambiguous, the Queen did not take it seriously because she knew very well that Concubine Gao had always been like this.

However, Wei Yingluo, who was standing by, became alert, secretly thinking that Concubine Gao might have already taken action.

So she decided to investigate carefully today.

At this time, the Queen asked calmly: "Thank you for your reminder, my concubine. I wonder where did you come from just now?"

Concubine Gao still replied in that sarcastic tone: "I just came out of the Imperial Garden. After all, I have no children, so it is impossible for me to go to the prince's residence. Your Majesty can rest assured."

As she spoke, she did not forget to roll her eyes, and her speech was slow and sarcastic.

"I guess you are tired after visiting the Imperial Garden. I will not keep you to talk." The Queen said softly, with a hint of fatigue and helplessness in her eyes.

"Yes, I'll take my leave." The imperial concubine replied with a pinched throat, with a hint of reluctance in her voice, but a faint smile on her face. She slightly bent her knees to salute, turned around and slowly left, leaving behind a graceful back.

Seeing Concubine Gao walking away, Mingyu couldn't help but frown and said to the queen indignantly: "Your Majesty, why do you care so much about Concubine Gao? She is obviously very rude and arrogant. She doesn't take you seriously at all!"

The queen shook her head lightly and sighed, "Never mind, she is also a pitiful person. Although her tone is bad and she is a bit arrogant and willful, she is not scheming."

She thought of how Concubine Gao lost her mother at a young age and was alone and helpless in the palace, and could only rely on her beauty and means to fight for status and favor. She couldn't help but feel a trace of pity in her heart.

"But Your Majesty..." Mingyu wanted to say something else but was interrupted by the Queen.

"I know you are worried about me, but Concubine Gao is just like that, she has no ill intentions. Besides, there are too many intrigues and deceptions in this deep palace. Compared with those scheming people, Concubine Gao is more sincere and lovely."

The queen spoke earnestly, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

After hearing this, Mingyu was still a little dissatisfied, but she stopped arguing. She knew that the queen was kind-hearted and always wanted to see the good side of others.

At this time, the chief eunuch Zhang Jianyi also interrupted and said, "Your Majesty is right. Although Concubine Gao often oversteps her bounds in her words and is jealous of you, such people are easier to deal with. It is those who appear respectful and obedient on the surface but play tricks behind the scenes that need to be guarded against more."

The queen nodded in agreement. She knew that the struggle in the harem had never stopped, and everyone was fighting for their own interests. In this war without gunpowder, only by keeping a clear mind and a broad mind can one be invincible.

Wei Yingluo knew that although the queen was very smart, had a keen eye, and was very good at judging people, her biggest shortcoming was that she always thought too highly of others and trusted them too much. She also suppressed her heart for the so-called responsibility of being the mother of the country.

There is definitely no way to change the Queen Mother in a short period of time. I can only try to persuade her indirectly and help her see the true faces of the people in the harem.

"Okay, I know you are worried about me. Don't worry, I know what's going on. We will soon arrive at the prince's residence. Don't mention these troubles again, lest Yong Lian hear them."

The Queen said helplessly, but she was also very happy in her heart that they had always been thinking about her.

"Your servant pays his respects to the Empress. The Second Prince is practicing calligraphy in the study." Wang, the steward of the princes' residence, saw the Empress coming and hurried forward to report.

The queen nodded slightly to show that she understood, and then led everyone into the inner hall.

"Your son pays his respects to the Empress Dowager." Seeing the Empress coming, Yong Lian, who was only eight years old, put down the pen in his hand and paid his respects to the Empress.

"Yonglian, it's still winter now, you shouldn't wear so little in the study, be careful of yourself."

The queen said gently that she felt extremely happy watching her child growing up and becoming more and more sensible, but she was also very worried that he was so young and had to work hard all day long because of the emperor's attention.

"Don't worry, Madam. Yonglian knows that I have grown up. You don't have to worry too much about many things. You should pay more attention to your health."

What the Queen didn't know was that Yonglian was even more worried about his mother's health. After all, he had always known how difficult it was for the Queen Mother to manage the affairs of the harem, and that she was often overworked and worried. Because of this, he had no choice but to work harder, study harder, and strive to be perfect so as not to cause any trouble to the Queen Mother.

They are indeed mother and son, both have such a kind heart.

Wei Yingluo thought silently in her heart that this was also the first time she had observed Yonglian, the prince who was rumored to be extremely talented, so closely. As expected, just by looking at the books on the desk, she could feel the unique temperament of this little prince - he had already shown extraordinary talent at such a young age.

In comparison, my son is so far behind! Wei Yingluo couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No wonder the emperor and the queen would always miss Yonglian and worry about him. Who wouldn't like such an excellent child?

Perhaps all this is fate's arrangement, as the saying goes, "too much wisdom will lead to harm." Fortunately, she can start over again this time. Wei Yingluo secretly made up her mind to try her best to save Yonglian no matter what, and she must not let the Queen suffer the pain of losing her beloved son...

"Okay, mother knows, Yonglian is really a good child." The Queen stroked Yonglian's head with a smile on her face, her eyes full of love and comfort. Then, she turned around and told Mingyu beside her: "Go and bring the soup for Yonglian."

Soon, Mingyu carefully placed a bowl of steaming, fragrant stew on the table. The Queen herself scooped up a spoonful, blew it gently to cool it, and fed it to Yonglian: "Come, Yonglian, this is what your mother specially asked the kitchen to stew for you, come and taste it."

Yonglian drank a few sips and found it delicious. He smiled and said to the Queen, "Thank you, mother. It tastes good. But mother, Yonglian has grown up and can drink it by himself."

Seeing Yonglian acting like a little adult, the Queen laughed happily.

Then, the Queen Mother called Yingluo over and said to her, "Yonglian is growing so fast! He has grown a lot taller, and his old clothes may not fit him anymore. So, I would like you to make him a few new sets of clothes for the spring."

Yingluo responded respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty, it is my honor." After that, she began to carefully measure Yonglian's body size and recorded it carefully.

Yonglian was very cooperative, standing straight and motionless. After the measurement, he did not forget to thank the Empress and Yingluo: "Thank you, Empress, thank you, Sister Yingluo." He looked very cute and well-behaved.