Empress and concubine

Chu Yao and Zhao Yi went all the way to the gate of the Empress Dowager's Palace and walked out. A palace official came out to welcome her, but it was not Aunt Zhou, but another servant of the Empress Dowager, Wan Zhong's godmother, Aunt Wan. .

Seeing that it was Aunt Wan who came out, Zhao Yi and Chu Yao were a little strange, but seeing Aunt Wan came to salute, she didn't hold her back and just called out. Chu Yao was half a step behind Zhao Yi, and she heard Zhao Yi ask Aunt Wan on the other side, "Listen!" It is said that the mother is not very happy, but you have invited the imperial doctor to see it?"

"I have already invited the imperial physician," Wan Gugu said, "I just left a prescription."

Zhao Yi nodded, and with just a few words, she walked outside the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

Aunt Wan suddenly raised her voice, and said to Zhao Yi, "This morning the saint sent someone to bring fresh food, and the empress dowager is still planning to invite the two empresses."

Chu Yao smiled, and continued, "I came to see the empress, but I never expected such a good thing to happen."

"You are greedy, this is specially enshrined by the sage to the empress, and you have to ask for it," Zhao Yi deliberately scolded Chu Yao once, and put on a show.

Chu Yao grumbled, "Ah, it was my fault. I only thought about having food, but I didn't remember the filial piety of a saint. Sure enough, I should be punished."

"Then punish you to come in quickly," the Queen Mother said with a smile from inside, "It's just two steps, and it will take a long time."

Zhao Yi and Chu Yao looked at each other, and they couldn't help but quicken their pace and turned into the inner room.

I don't know whether it's because the Empress Dowager likes it or Xia Yunjing does it on purpose, but the Empress Dowager's bedroom is just like when she was a noble concubine in the past, it is magnificently decorated.Except for the totem that symbolizes the identity of the Queen Mother, red and black are rarely used on the side, and bright yellow and gold are used more. For example, the bed is made of yellow rosewood, and flowers are also pasted with gold leaf, and the curtain is bright yellow. The gauze curtain is embroidered with the pattern of a phoenix wearing a peony.Because the Empress Dowager did not like candles for the lighting in the room, she used lotus lamp holders to put luminous pearls inside, and put a lampshade on the outside, and put several of them on the bedside, making the whole inner room look like daytime.Also called Zhao Yi and Chu Yao, the two clearly saw the empress dowager's sallow complexion.

Chu Yao came in behind Zhao Yi, and saluted the Queen Mother together, "Your Majesty will be happy and healthy."

"It's all free." The queen mother asked someone to move a stool for the two of them to sit on. Instead of talking to Zhao Yi first, she waved to Chu Yao and called Chu Yao to come over. What's new?"

Chu Yao obediently went over. Seeing that the queen mother was about to sit up, she hurriedly took the pillow and asked the queen mother to lean on her. She sat down on the bedside of the queen mother casually. The queen mother didn't change her face at all, she seemed to be used to it.While tidying up for the queen mother, Chu Yao said, "Your Majesty, I know that there is a large lake outside the concubine's Laiyi Palace, and there is a small island in the lake. The concubine has been wandering around that island for the past two days."

"Oh," the queen mother became interested, "it's just a small island, but it's worth your attention."

"Don't tell me, ma'am, there are all pavilions, towers and pavilions on the island. If no one tells you, you'll think it's another palace," Chu Yao said very playfully, showing her daughter's coquettishness.

The queen mother never had a daughter in her life, so she was very happy with Chu Yao's set. After hearing this, she just smiled and said, "If you are happy, you can go and stay for two days, but you can't stay for a long time. The island is too cold. If you stay for too long, you will hurt yourself."

"The concubine can save it," Chu Yao nodded, "It's just that the concubine saw that the courtyard is really elegant and can enjoy the scenery on the lake, so she thought, after a few days, when the lotus blooms, I can hold a banquet, so I will hold a banquet on that island There will be a lotus flower banquet in the future, and then the empress must come."

"I won't go to the lotus banquet," said the Queen Mother, "You also have a show, so ask me to watch it."

"Ah, ma'am, this is embarrassing for the concubine," Chu Yao pretended to hesitate, "The concubine knows how to play the pipa with two hands, but I have lost this pipa for a few years, and I am afraid that I can't even play the strings. I have learned it in previous years. I have played the piano twice, now I have to practice again, I am afraid it will be too late."

"What's so difficult about it?" Zhao Yi said, "After two days, when you can start playing, call a musician to teach you. Just learn a piece or two."

"Look at what my sister said, this is a sincerely prepared program, and I want to invite my mother to watch it. How can I just call a music officer to teach me?" Chu Yao hurriedly shook her head, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the thoughtful look on the Queen Mother's face. Then he said to the Queen Mother, "The concubine can't show her talent. Why don't the concubine arrange a show and ask the servants to practice it, and then invite the empress to watch it, how about it?"

The queen mother came back to her senses, and when she heard this, she laughed and cursed, "You have a lot of eyes, as long as you do it, I will go to the palace, are you satisfied?"

"Hey, that lady can't change it," Chu Yao pretended to be cheap and obedient, and deliberately came to tease the queen mother, who got a few words of laughter from the queen mother.

After a while, the Empress Dowager said to Zhao Yi, "You are also busy on weekdays. I think you don't have time to help Concubine Shu. It is the first time for Concubine Shu to hold this banquet, so as not to cause accidents. In two days, I will point out someone to come over with you. Together, she will be a deputy."

"Yes," Zhao Yi held it like a log, agreed, and stopped talking.

When Chu Yao saw it, she said, "The person your empress is referring to must be good. Why don't you tell me first, and ask my concubines to listen?"

"You will know in two days, and you don't have to think about it like this," the queen mother refused to say, and asked someone to take two copies of the saint's filial piety to Zhao Yi and Chu Yao.

Chu Yao only said, "Your Majesty, let's keep it secret, the concubines are waiting for your Majesty's people," and then said, "Your Majesty, please rest well and don't work anymore."

At this time, Zhao Yi also persuaded Fang a few words, and then asked the servants around him, and when the medicine was brought over, he and Chu Yao personally served him for a while, his body was smelled of medicine, so he went.

After leaving the door, someone went back and forth between Zhao Yi and the two, saying that the sage was in Fengyi Palace with His Highness the Crown Prince, and that the sage also invited Concubine Shu to go there together.When the two heard the words, they hurriedly sent someone back to answer the question, then stepped up and went to Fengyi Palace together.

Due to the delay at the queen mother's place, it was almost time for lunch when Zhao Yi and the two returned to Fengyi Palace. Fortunately, the people below knew Zhao Yi's taste, and Zhao Yi also said before going out that Chu Yao would be there at noon Fengyi Palace added two of Chu Yao's favorite dishes to the meal. Now that Xia Yunjing brought Wen Yuan over, he was not afraid of being late, but he just deleted and added a few more.There are still some taboos at this moment, there are only a few dishes, and it doesn't hinder anything.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Xia Yunjing sitting at the head and not wearing court clothes, but changed into a dark blue brocade suit, holding Wen Yuan, who was wearing a black prince's attire, with a gentle expression, looking a bit like he was in the palace in the past. What it looks like inside.

As soon as he saw the two of Chu Yao coming in, Wen Yuan's eyes lit up, and his serious face changed into a look of joy. He came out of Xia Yunjing's arms two or three times, and waited for Chu Yao and the two of them to finish their work for Xia Yunjing. After the ceremony, Fang pretended to be an adult again, and cupped his hands to Zhao Yi and Chu Yao, "My son has seen his mother, empress."

Xu Shi followed Chu Yao from the bottom up, but Wen Yuan was very close to Chu Yao.Calling Xia Yunjing and Zhao Yi the queen mother of the father and queen, she sometimes pretends to be cute and coquettish, but to Chu Yao, she always likes to call her a lady, and he will not be willing to add a concubine Shu in front of anyone.However, only Chu Yao knows that Wen Yuan called Chu Yao her mother when she was in Li country. Once, Chu Yao took Xiao Wen Yuan out to play, because many of the dolls outside were called mothers. Yuan also followed suit, and the parent character at the back had a strange tone, so he left out the parent character and just called the mother character. Now it happens that the high-ranking concubine in the palace is also called a so-and-so empress, so he uses the name Wen Yuan to complement her. It's not so strange anymore, I just thought that Wen Yuan's yelling meant getting close to Chu Yao.However, Xia Yunjing once taught Wen Yuan to call him Auntie Chu Yao, but Wen Yuan refused to change.

Zhao Yi's status was more noble, so Zhao Yi called Wen Yuan exempt from courtesy.

Wen Yuan asked Zhao Yi how he was with a stern face, Fang ran two steps, hugged Chu Yao's leg, and asked Chu Yao to hug him.

Seeing him, Xia Yunjing couldn't help but shook his head, pointed at Chu Yao who had already hugged Wen Yuan, and said, "You dote on him, he's becoming more and more indifferent."

Zhao Yi pulled Chu Yao to sit down, and when she heard Xia Yunjing's words, she said, "Yuemo is because of the similarity between Wen Yuan and Yao'er." Zhao Yi paused, "They are both naughty and fun, and they look like siblings." .”

When Xia Yunjing heard Zhao Yi say this for the first time, he couldn't help but take a second look.It just so happened that the two of Chu Yao and Wenyuan heard this and looked at them together. The appearance, posture, and demeanor seemed to be carved out of the same mold, especially the eyes, one phoenix eye and the other apricot eye, were all wet. , It makes people feel soft-hearted.

Xia Yunjing pursed his lips, with a look of helplessness on his face, and said to Zhao Yi, "That's not it, it's just like this, if it's true, I'm afraid it will make you restless every day .”

Zhao Yi smiled and said, "It's fun."

Xia Yunjing was startled when he heard the words, but also nodded, "Exactly."

Seeing this, Chu Yao said, "Look at what the sage and sister said, they are all said to be my nephew, uncle Xiao. Although I can only be regarded as an aunt, this similarity is inevitable." Zhao Yi and Xia Yunjing laughed as if they were direct sisters.

Xia Yunjing pointed at Chu Yao and said, "I'm getting more and more shameless, and I can talk nonsense about this ancestor."

Chu Yao made a grimace, "The saint is wrong. My sister said that in the palace, those who are of the same rank are the elders who enter the palace first, and those who are of the highest rank are the older sisters. Those who enter the palace at the same time are the older sisters." It's my sister. So, it's the same clan as my sister, isn't it?"

Seeing this, Zhao Yi pretended to be annoyed and said, "Speaking of which, you still want to recognize two other sisters?" What Zhao Yi said was referring to the position of imperial concubine and concubine Yuan. According to Chu Yao's words, she was higher than her. It is the elder sister, so apart from Zhao Yi, there are only two positions in the ranks of the imperial concubine and Yuan concubine.

When Chu Yao heard this, she lost her face in a hurry. She wanted to explain to Zhao Yi, but she didn't know how to say it. That appearance made people laugh, and finally she just said, "That's not it." .

Xia Yunjing shook his head and said, "Zitong, don't bully Yao'er anymore, you don't have to make her speechless in a hurry." After finishing speaking, he said to Chu Yao, "I promise you that from now on you will I have to be a sister of Zitong, please stop making such gestures."

Wen Yuan blinked his eyes suddenly after hearing Xia Yunjing's words, and asked, "Your Majesty is Concubine Shu, and there is Concubine Yuan on top, so does the Emperor want Madam to be a Concubine?"

Chu Yao's eyelids twitched when she heard the words, and she was about to speak when she heard Xia Yunjing laughing, "You also know how to ask for a reward for your mother," Xia Yunjing said, and then teased Chu Yao, "You have to thank Wen Yuan Thank you."

Chu Yao was taken aback for a moment, and Wen Yuan in his arms had already turned around, hugged Chu Yao's neck, and kissed Chu Yao on the face, "Your Majesty is now a noble concubine."

This lively look made Xia Yunjing jealous, and couldn't help showing a little bit of it on his face, but seeing the same crooked eyebrows and eyes, he was reluctant to say a few words, so let them go.Suddenly, some people from the lower palace came to congratulate, Xia Yunjing issued an order saying, wait until the second half of the year, enter August, and then canonize on Wen Yuan's birthday, and also ask Chu Yao and Wen Yuan to celebrate together.

After this topic was over, Wen Yuan suddenly asked, "Your Majesty is sick? She smells like medicine."

Chu Yao shook her head, and said, "I just went to the Empress Dowager's place. I guess I got it while serving the Empress Dowager taking medicine, and I haven't changed it yet."

When these words came out, Chu Yao saw that Xia Yunjing's face froze, and before he could think about it, he blurted out, "It was because I was not careful just now, I should change it first."

Zhao Yi suddenly interjected, "It's time to change it first," and said to Xia Yunjing, "I was in a hurry just now, and I didn't have time. Two days ago, the servants brought up two pots of rhododendrons. They bloomed very well. The saint brought them up first. Wen Yuan is going to admire the flowers, can you let Yao'er and I wash up?"

Only then did Xia Yunjing calm down. After thinking about it, he knew that Zhao Yi and the two came directly because of lack of time, so he nodded and coaxed Wen Yuan to go out together, and Zhao Yi and Chu Yao took a shower and changed clothes in the back pool together. went.

It is said that life in the palace is extravagant, and it is probably the same. In Zhao Yi's Fengyi Palace, a large pool was dug in the bath room, and the bottom and surroundings were inlaid with suet jade, and there was an earth dragon underneath. When you use it, it will be like a soup spring.If you want to take a bath, just say it, and it will be done after a while.In a bathroom, not to mention the two of Zhao Yi and Chu Yao, even if there are more than a dozen more, they will not be crowded.

Zhao Yi has always disliked being disturbed when bathing with Chu Yao, so she only asked people to put things in it, and asked Zi Yan to lead the others to guard outside and not to go in.

Chu Yao just took off her hair ornaments, and Zhao Yi waved away the servants. Chu Yao pouted, deliberately acting bossy, and said to Zhao Yi, "I called everyone down, so I want my palace to come back." Let's do it, since we are here, don't hurry to do it." As Chu Yao said, she gave Zhao Yi a sidelong glance with her usual charm.If someone else sees it, I'm afraid they will be hooked immediately, their whole body will be hot and hot, and they will not be able to control themselves.

Although Zhao Yi is not someone else, but she puts Chu Yao on top of her heart, and she can't stand Chu Yao's behavior, but she knows the priorities, and she doesn't have time to be tender at the moment, so she just went forward to hug Chu Yao, and kissed him lightly Kissing the eyelids, he stretched out his hand to untie the clothes on Chu Yao's body until he was completely naked, and then said in Chu Yao's ear, "So, is the empress satisfied?"

"Satisfied, very satisfied," Chu Yao's ears were itchy, and she was naked again. Seeing that Zhao Yi had quickly taken off her clothes, she went to Zhao Yi's side, raised her head on tiptoe, and nibbled on Zhao Yi's chin. One mouthful, rubbed lightly, and then licked twice with red tongue, although no trace was left, it made Zhao Yi's breathing messed up.Only then did Chu Yao smile with satisfaction, and walked towards the pool.

Zhao Yi's eyes darkened. Seeing that Chu Yao had almost reached the edge of the pool, she tore off her clothes and ran to Chu Yao's side in two or three steps. When Chu Yao turned her head, she hugged Chu Yao and kissed Chu Yao's lips. , with momentum, they fell straight into the water together, making a loud noise.Fortunately, the pool is deep enough, otherwise it cannot be buffered.Fortunately, it was a group of confidantes led by Zi Yan who were guarding outside, otherwise, they would not have dared to act recklessly.

Chu Yao was caught off guard by Zhao Yi's embrace, and she thought it was love and fun, and when she fell into the water, she was so startled that her heartbeat stopped for a moment, and she couldn't breathe well. When Zhao Yi found out, the hand on Chu Yao's back comforted her in time, and Chu Yao gradually relaxed.It's just that the hand caressed and caressed, and the taste changed a little. Chu Yao's hands and feet were weak, and now he felt exhausted to breathe, and he couldn't push Zhao Yi away, and probably didn't want to push away.Zhao Yi gave Chu Yao some more breath, and then came out of the water together.

Chu Yao was lying on the edge of the pool, gasping for breath, without any strength at all. If it wasn't for being supported by Zhao Yi behind her, she might have slipped to the bottom of the pool.

Zhao Yi hugged Chu Yao, and saw two baskets of fresh flower petals beside her. The pink color was similar to Chu Yao's in several places, so she reached out and took a basket, and grabbed a few. Throw it into the sky, then let it fall, and when Chu Yao looked over half ashamed, half resentful, she smiled and kissed her, "Even if you die, I will hold you. "

Chu Yao was taken aback when she heard the words, then smiled again, "If you don't take me with you, I'll go find you."

After Chu Yao finished speaking, she felt that the current posture was really inappropriate. She was afraid that something would go wrong after a while, so she hurriedly picked up the matter just now, and casually said to Zhao Yi, "I don't know what's wrong, just now he Hearing Wen Yuan talk about the smell of medicine on my body, I was annoyed."

Zhao Yi glanced at Chu Yao, knowing what she was thinking, and considering that there was really not enough time at the moment, so she didn't expose her, just took the balm and rubbed it on Chu Yao, and said, "You probably never thought that this would Son... think again?"

Chu Yao stuck out her tongue, "But because at this moment, he has already started to attack? Maybe he is a part of the Queen Mother's illness now."

"Look at the Empress Dowager, there is Wan Zhong and Aunt Wan, don't you know?" Zhao Yi said, "It's probably because the medicine is not good for you, you and I have a little smell, he is afraid that it will be bad for Wen Yuan. "

"He treats Wen Yuan well." Chu Yao thought for a while before saying, "If in the future..." Chu Yao hesitated for a moment, "I'm always reluctant to let Wen Yuan treat him."

"Then it's enough not to let Wen Yuan know about it," Zhao Yi said with a flat expression on his face, "It's just that there are few people in the harem now, and it looks like a happy family. After two years, the head of the palace There are too many, Concubine Yun has a child in the palace, and what will happen after that, you can see if he and Wen Yuan are still the same as they are now." It is probably a tacit understanding, in the conversation between Zhao Yi and Chu Yao, he is often used to refer to Xia Yunjing .

Chu Yao hesitated a little after hearing Zhao Yi's words, but thinking about the original father-son relationship between Xia Yunjing and Wen Yuan, she believed it, "That's the case, I still feel sorry for Wen Yuan, after all, I have had it before, and I want to lose it again." ..."

"With you," Zhao Yi kissed Chu Yao's temples, "He is my son, and I know it well. That child is cold from the bottom of his heart, but with you, he is warm. They say he is a strict father and a loving mother." , He regards you as his mother from the bottom of his heart."

"That's why I took good care of him," Chu Yao said again, "Wen Yuan is intelligent, but I was worried that his wisdom would be hurt. Now that you are here, he has someone to guide him, but I don't have to worry about it."

"This is the responsibility of the parents, isn't it?" Zhao Yi joked.

Chu Yao glared at Zhao Yi, and then said, "Just now the queen mother said that she would point out someone to be my deputy, guess the person she is pointing to is Miss Qin Ning?"

"The empress dowager's natal family only has a few girls, and the one who can get it is Qin Ning. Otherwise, can you ask the concubine from the other room to come out with this?" Zhao Yi thought for a while, and then said, "When It is not impossible. Originally, this Miss Qin Ning was married to the prince of a country. Although her life was not happy, there was no major event after all. If the two had known each other at this time, then Miss Qin Ning had designed a concubine sister It’s not impossible to come for yourself.”

"Since you say that, the chance of Miss Qin Ning entering the palace is less than [-]%," Chu Yao said, and then said, "I mentioned this idea just now, why didn't you remind me."

Zhao Yi rubbed Chu Yao's head, Chu Yao hurriedly patted Zhao Yi's hand, with a bitter face, "This time, even the hair has to be washed."

"I'll just wash it for you," Zhao Yi said, "Things are changing so much at this time, there is no fixed number, and you didn't name them just now, or deliberately guide them, it just depends on what the Queen Mother is thinking, you There is no need to worry. Do as you please, that is, if there is any other mess, I will clean it up for you. "

Chu Yao laughed when she heard the words, "If you say that, I will cause trouble every day, will you clean it up for me later?"

Zhao Yi asked back, "Can you?"

Chu Yao smiled, and didn't answer any more, just continued the words just now and said, "If you want to come to this deputy, it should be Miss Qin Ning, after all, she is the only one who has enough status. As for whether it is her or her concubine sister who entered the palace in the end It’s enough to say that the soldiers will block the water and the earth will cover it, and you can’t escape from the circle, so bear with it for a while, and when the draft is selected, a newcomer will be selected, and once the queen mother is gone, she will have no confidence.”