Tianhuang nobleman

In the main hall of Fenghua Palace, Concubine Xue was dressed in plain clothes, with only a hairpin loosely tied on her head, and there was no hairpin. There was no mat on the floor, and a thin layer of brown woven carpet was covered with gold bricks. The bone-piercing cold, she had knelt for less than half an hour, at this moment her knees were numb, but her figure was still stable, only a little bead of sweat oozed from her forehead.

Empress Feng seemed not to see Concubine Xue, quietly leaning on the concubine's couch and closing her eyes to doze off, with her slender wrist resting on a small round pillow, while the palace servants beside her knelt on the ground, carefully drawing golden flowers on Empress Feng's nails .

I don't know how long it took before Empress Feng yawned, raised her hand to look at the delicate nails, smiled and said, "Your craftsmanship is getting better and better...Look at this peony, the petals are layered on top of each other. , really average."

The palace people called the empress empress absurd, and Empress Feng waved her hand: "Go down and receive the reward... Oh, why is Concubine Xue still kneeling?"

Empress Feng looked at Shi Lou, shook her head in surprise and said, "Didn't you come right then? Oops... I fell asleep and forgot to wake you up, so I made you kneel for half a day for nothing."

Concubine Xue Gui gritted her teeth, her face was still submissive, she lowered her eyes and said in a low voice: "The Empress has a lot of things to do every day, she is a little sleepy, and occasionally falls asleep."

Empress Feng smiled: "But it's true... Now that I've recuperated, and the emperor asked me to take over the power of the Six Palaces, I'm really busy, and so are you. You don't know if I'm asleep. Wake up Bengong, just kneel down at the bottom blankly."

Concubine Xue Gui's face was pale, and she laughed softly: "The empress is worried about the affairs of the Six Palaces every day, and she has to go to the emperor's sickness in front of her. The empress is waking up."

Empress Feng shook her head and smiled, her words were kind and reproachful: "You are too knowledgeable... Hey, what are you waiting for, quickly help Concubine Xue Gui up!"

Only then did the maid who followed Concubine Xue dare to come forward to caress her master, who knew Concubine Xue had been kneeling for too long, she couldn't stand together, and fell down suddenly, the maid didn't hold her back, and the two of them fell together on the ground On the ground, in a panic.

Empress Feng let out a chuckle, and when she was about to make some more jokes, it was reported that Princess Dunsu was coming. Empress Feng quickly restrained her expression and stood up to greet her. Princess Dunsu came in after a while, seeing the smile on Empress Feng's face Before he finished, he saw Concubine Xue Gui kneeling on the ground with embarrassment on his face, and he knew the general idea in his heart. He lowered his eyes and said indifferently: "What are you doing in a daze? Does this look good?"

Many people in the palace know that Empress Feng is a little timid about her powerful elder sister. Seeing this, the maid Xue Gui boldly said in a low voice: "His Royal Highness, please calm down. Our mother has been kneeling for a long time just now, so I can't stand now." live, that's why..."

The little girl said half a sentence and left half a sentence. What else did Princess Dunsu not understand? Hearing this, she took a deep look at Empress Feng. I'm done, I don't know if Concubine Xue Gui is here to say hello, give me a seat, Concubine Xue Gui should sit down and rest for a while."

Concubine Xue gave Princess Dunsu a grateful glance, frowned and sat down.

Princess Dunsu sat down as soon as she ordered, and said in a low voice: "I just went to see the emperor...it looks very bad, but I just heard about a good prescription for fever, and I don't know if it's good or not. Alright, I just want to bring it to the queen to see."

The female official behind Princess Dunsu presented a prescription. Empress Feng took it and looked at it. The prescription was quite satisfactory, and there were not many serious medicines. They were full of rock sugar, mint leaves, snow pears, hawthorn, etc. Princess Dao Dunsu was still so careful, but her face was very gratified. She thanked her repeatedly and said that she made the princess think about it. Why is it so powerful all of a sudden? I can’t even get out of bed, I haven’t entered the palace for a few days, and the emperor has lost weight again, what did the imperial doctor say?!”

Empress Feng turned her head and glanced at Concubine Xue Gui, implying something: "The princess doesn't know, the third prince was ill a few days ago, and the emperor was worried, so his condition got worse."

Princess Dunsu frowned slightly, and looked at Concubine Xue: "The third prince is ill? I don't know, how is it now?"

Concubine Xue Gui's face was pale, and she said cautiously: "His Royal Highness is concerned, it is safe now."

Princess Dunsu nodded, shook her head and sighed: "What's the matter, this kind of thing happens again and again in the palace, queen... the vernal equinox is coming soon, why don't you just invite the eminent monks to come to the palace to do ritual ceremonies? How about going to get rid of heart disease, and praying for the emperor and princes?"

Empress Feng naturally agreed: "Very true."

After talking for a while, Princess Dunsu looked at Concubine Xue Gui again, shook her head and said, "Concubine Xue Gui is going to take care of herself, and those who didn't know thought you were sick. You are always dressed in plain clothes, but now I feel even more pitiful." gone."

Concubine Xue Gui immediately got up when Princess Dunsu clicked on her and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

Princess Dunsu shook her head again and again: "Among these concubines, you are the only one who is the most valuable, and the emperor loves you the most. Now that he is sick, it is time for you to serve him. You should care more for the emperor's sake, not for yourself. Don't worry about the emperor's illness not recovering quickly, you've exhausted yourself first."

Concubine Xue Gui has been subjected to all kinds of human relationships today, at first hearing these words, she felt a lot of embarrassment, her face was miserable, her eyes were a little watery, she nodded and said: "Yes."

Empress Feng couldn't see Concubine Xue's appearance the most, so she continued with a mocking smile: "Yes, who doesn't know that the emperor likes the tremella and lotus seed soup cooked by Concubine Xue the most, the emperor often said that it doesn't taste like that when it is made by others. "

Empress Feng deliberately emphasized the words "Tremella lotus seed soup". Concubine Xue's thin body swayed when she heard this, and she almost couldn't sit still. Princess Dunsu frowned slightly, and looked at Empress Feng in confusion. The queen drank tea on her own, as if she was really just joking, and said with a smile: "By the way, I heard that the princess has recently arranged a marriage?"

Princess Dunsu smiled: "The queen has heard about it too? What kind of marriage is this, but it's just a bridge to lead the way." Empress Feng asked again: "When will you enter Beijing?"

"You don't need to do anything. After the two sides talk about it, they will send someone to pick it up." Princess Dunsu thought for a while, "When will I enter Beijing... I'm afraid it's almost here."

Empress Feng smiled contemptuously: "I don't understand. A good girl has a family, a family, an elder brother and a mother. Why rush to be a concubine for others? There is no way to be inferior! I don't respect you. , and always want to compete with others, it's really funny."

Only then did Concubine Xue understand that the two were talking about the marriage of Princess Kangtai of Lingnan. She knew that the following words of Empress Feng were for herself, and she felt bitter and unspeakable. When did the queen dare to treat herself like this?It's just because I made a wrong step and ended up in such a situation.

Princess Dunsu sent Concubine Xue Gui to go first when she saw that Concubine Xue was in a bad state. Concubine Xue didn't dare to leave and looked at Empress Feng. Empress Feng wanted to beat her again, but Princess Dunsu had to Let it go.

"What's the matter with you now?" Princess Dunsu frowned after Concubine Xue left, and said in a low voice, "Queen, it stands to reason that I don't have any reason to say anything about the harem, but in terms of seniority, I am the eldest aunt of the queen. Sister, let me just say one more thing... Concubine Xue Gui is just a noble concubine no matter what, and she can't surpass the queen. In the past, the emperor loved and respected her. It's like this for a while... What you know is that the empress is teaching Concubine Xue Gui, but what you don't know is that the empress is just taking advantage of the emperor's bad health to torture the former concubine. Is it the one who is still looking for you, why bother?"

If it was before, Empress Feng would not have spoken, but now that she has reasoned, she is arrogant, and said with a sneer, "Princess, don't worry, the emperor will not blame me even if he knows, what did Concubine Xue Gui do?" I understand."

Princess Dunsu was puzzled: "What is the meaning of this?"

Empress Feng smiled and said: "It's nothing, by the way... the princess hasn't entered the palace for a long time, so I will stay at noon, I will let them..." Princess Dunsu shook her head and said: "No, my big girl has been ill for the past two days. It’s not very good, I’ll take a look when I’m out of the palace in a while.”

Empress Feng was puzzled: "What's wrong with girl Fen?"

With a smile in her eyes, Princess Dunsu paused and said, "I'm healthy again."

Empress Feng said with a smile: "This is a great thing. Their young couple are harmonious, and girl Fen is also up to the task. There are several boys in front of her. I'm afraid this baby will be the same."

Princess Dunsu smiled and shook her head: "She and my uncle are looking forward to having a girl, let them go."

Empress Feng said a few good words, and arranged for someone to go to the library to bring two bolts of soft and thin satin to Princess Dunsu. Princess Dunsu didn't sit down much, and she spoke after a while.

"All arranged?" After leaving Fenghua Palace, Princess Dunsu walked slowly along the floating pool in the imperial garden with the help of her confidant female officer, and said in a low voice, "Don't disturb others."

The female officer lowered her eyes: "Princess, don't worry."

Princess Dunsu laughed mockingly: "Look at her just now... let her be proud for a few days."

The female officer smiled: "Princess, be careful where you step... Turn around the corridor over there, Concubine Xue Gui is under the pavilion."

Princess Dunsu nodded: "Help me there."

In the prince's mansion, Qi Xiao welcomed Princess Dunsu into the Nuan Pavilion, and said with a smile: "It's bad weather, I should have gone to pay her respects, but my tired aunt has been walking around again and again."

Princess Dunsu handed the caged embroidered golden phoenix-hair muff to the nanny who followed her, sat down, took the hand stove Qi Xiao handed over, stroked it with a smile and said, "I can't, I don't know what good things are hidden in this mansion. Well, you stopped me several times when I wanted to come, and insisted that I was not sick, so I was afraid of tainting it, how is it now? You have used me, so you invited me to come again. "

Jiang Deqing's face froze when he heard the words, and he almost couldn't hold on, good thing?Isn't it a baby? It's just that this baby returned to Lingnan two days ago, so my master dared to let Princess Dunsu come over.

The smile on Qi Xiao's face didn't fade: "Auntie is joking again, it's really because of the cold a few days ago, I dare not let Auntie come over."

Princess Dunsu teased him again, then turned to look at the people who followed her and said, "I have something to tell the prince, you go out first, don't let outsiders in."

Everyone in the room filed out, Princess Dunsu took a sip of tea and said in a low voice: "According to your words, I told Concubine Xue Gui exactly what you said, but... how much she listened to, I don't know." knew."

Qi Xiao smiled lightly: "It's okay, it's good that my aunt brings the conversation, and I will make my own arrangements for the rest."

Princess Dunsu frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice: "What's going on? Xue Guifei is not that reckless person. Although she is a little restless and loves to compete with Empress Feng, she has never done anything out of line. , This time, she actually came up with such a bitter plan, is it really easy to fool her when she is the emperor?"

Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "There is something I forgot to tell my aunt...I told Concubine Xue Gui through someone else's mouth, that the emperor has tuberculosis."

Princess Dunsu was taken aback for a moment, then she understood everything, and said in a dumb voice: "What I said...she wanted Qi Hua's life so anxiously, she was afraid that the emperor would beat you before he left, and then pass the throne to you. Qi Hua, if Qi Hua succeeds... there will be no way for their mother and child to survive."

Qi Xiao nodded: "I told her in a hurry, and she was also in a hurry when she thought about it. She acted rashly, and the emperor saw it right away. Fortunately, she still had the courage to see it. No matter how confused the emperor was, no matter how empress Feng Pressed, she just killed Qi Qi and didn't know anything, and even picked Qi Qi out completely, but so what... The emperor didn't believe her. She knew in her heart that she had offended Queen Feng's faction this time, and she would wait With Ri Qihua succeeding to the throne, there is no way for him to survive."

"Bah!" Princess Dunsu sneered, "What is Qi Hua succeeding to the throne! Don't laugh at me to death, the emperor asked her to be a director again because there was no one available. I have never seen such a shallow eyelid. Things just made her happy like that, you haven't seen Queen Feng's current villainous appearance, just like this, she still wants to be the mother of the world, and she still wants to be the queen mother, don't dream..."

Qi Xiao chuckled lightly: "Let her dream, no matter what the reason is, Concubine Xue Guizhen did something poisonous. The emperor is suspicious, so he will not pay attention to her anymore. Now he is doing this for the sake of the royal family's face." The matter has been suppressed, but he still secretly instructed his direct line members in the cabinet to secretly suppress the Xue family, in the next few months, there will be fewer and fewer people in the Xue family in the court, Xue Guifei... will understand."

Princess Dunsu smiled and nodded: "Of course, as long as she is not stupid, she should understand that it is the right way to help you in turn. At least...you can save her and her son's life." Princess Dunsu shook her head and smiled: " I didn't expect you to be able to accommodate their wives."

Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "There's nothing we can't tolerate. Concubine Xue Gui was still in her boudoir when the accident happened, and she didn't interfere at all. I wouldn't blame her, and she has only been with Queen Feng for the past ten years. I fought with Qi Hua, but I didn't dare to hit my head... Whether I really didn't dare or I was waiting for Qi Hua and I to die, it doesn't matter, if she can be obedient in the future, let her and her son stay A life is nothing."

"However..." Qi Xiao paused, "That's all."

Princess Dunsu sighed: "Flesh and blood in the world... Forget it, let's not mention this, I will go first. When I went out, I told your uncle that I came to see your cousin. I haven't gone after a few hours."

Qi Xiao said with a smile: "It's not convenient for me to go there, aunt will congratulate my cousin for me, Jiang Deqing..."

Outside, Jiang Deqing quickly agreed, and Qi Xiao said: "Open the storeroom, take a box of golden swallow, two bottles of tortoise paste, two handles of white jade ruyi, and take twelve pieces of silk and satin in each season, and tell Zhuangzi in the south to say, Send a few silky chickens to my cousin every few days, don't delay."

Princess Dunsu kept laughing and said: "Aiyoyo... Where did she come from such good luck that you miss her so much?"

Qi Xiao smiled lightly: "It's just such a cousin, just like my own sister, so how can I not miss it."

Princess Dunsu felt ironic in her heart that if Qi Xiao could successfully succeed to the throne in the future, it would not count the anger she said back then. If Qi Xiao knew how to repay kindness, he would naturally treat his children better.

Princess Dunsu put on her cloak and said in a low voice with a smile: "Okay, I'll go. If Concubine Xue has any news, I will send someone to tell you right away."

Qi Xiao nodded: "Please trouble Auntie."

After Hao Sheng sent Princess Dunsu out, Jiang Deqing couldn't help asking: "His Royal Highness... Could it be that when Liu Yuanjuan deliberately revealed the matter of tuberculosis to Concubine Xue, he thought of using her in the future?"

Qi Xiao smiled and said nothing.