Bystander

"The number of people in the palace is dying, maybe I should recruit more concubines to keep the royal family prosperous." The emperor put down the last memorial and said.

"Your Majesty Shengming."

The emperor looked at Xiao Shengzi and asked, "Your name is Xiao Shengzi?"

"Return to Your Majesty, the slave is called Xiao Shengzi." Xiao Shengzi bent down and replied respectfully.

"In the future, wait for me to review the memorial."

Xiao Shengzi stepped forward and kowtowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

The emperor's family is indeed the most capable of playing power. Even though the current emperor is young, he has been influenced by his ears and eyes since he was a child, and he still has a deep understanding of the way of being a king. The emperor used the reason of enriching the harem and prospering the royal family to recruit the daughters of the ministers. Entering the palace as a concubine, and then making use of the inseparable relationship between the former court and the rear palace to secretly provoke, in just a few months, there is little support from the court, and the emperor is also constantly cultivating his cronies, reuse Newcomers, assign these people to inconspicuous, low-income but critical departments. Within a year, the emperor has replaced most of the stubborn old officials in the court, and they are barely "evenly matched" with those high-ranking civil servants. Even implementing the New Deal in this way is difficult.

Since ancient times, the eunuchs who could accompany the emperor were not only able to read and write, but most of them were the emperor's secretary. Received the emperor's respect, and only three years after entering the palace, he became the chief eunuch next to the emperor, and he was the fastest climber among the eunuchs.

However, how important is the position of the chief eunuch next to the emperor? It is a position that all factions in the court and harem must contend for. He usually monitors the emperor's every move, and more importantly, he can give the emperor advice at critical moments. Many things will naturally happen. much easier.Xiao Shengzi is impeccable in his words and deeds, making people unable to catch him. He is neither greedy nor lustful. He never gets too close to anyone, so he will naturally become a thorn in the side of others. The trouble is the imperial concubine, who walks sideways in the harem because she is the daughter of a veteran minister and prime minister of the three dynasties. Xiao Shengzi occupies an "important position" but refuses to enter. The imperial concubine naturally hates her teeth and often makes things difficult.One day, Xiao Shengzi walked quickly past the imperial garden, and happened to meet the imperial concubine, "The slave sees the imperial concubine every year." Xiao Shengzi wanted to be courteous and not stop, but he never thought that the imperial concubine would stop him, "Eunuch Sheng, this is Where are you going?"

"Return to your mother's words, this servant is in a hurry to find the emperor to return to his life." Xiao Shengzi moved out of the emperor, not wanting to entangle with the noble concubine.

Who knows that the imperial concubine doesn't want to just let Xiao Shengzi go like this: "No rush, it happens that I'm going to see the emperor, you can go with me."

"The servant feels the wind and cold today, and is afraid that he will offend the empress and become extravagant."

"It's okay, how can I be so delicate, let's go together."

"My lady..."

"Why, if I'm not the emperor, I can't do it with you all the way?"

"I'm panicking, but there are many stones in this garden, and I want to help my mother to prevent her from falling." After finishing speaking, Xiao Shengzi stretched out his arm.

The imperial concubine was not polite, and the light white catkins took advantage of the opportunity to put it on Xiao Shengzi's arm, deliberately slowing down, "Eunuch Sheng, I heard that you don't have any relatives in your family anymore, do you?"

"Yes."

"It's so pitiful. I heard that in the early years, there was a man named Feng Wei who was just like Eunuch Sheng, and his family members passed away one after another. It's very pitiful to be left alone? Has Eunuch Sheng heard of this person?" The concubine seemed It was just a casual remark, but Xiao Shengzi heard that the words had a lot of meaning, "Really? That's a sympathy with a slave."

The imperial concubine looked at Xiao Shengzi meaningfully, and continued, "This Feng Wei seems to be from the same hometown as Eunuch Sheng. Eunuch Sheng has never heard of this person?"

Xiao Shengzi took a deep breath and replied, "I have never heard of this person."

"I heard that this Feng Wei used to have a younger sister. The poor sister was killed by a local bully at a young age. Feng Wei killed the bully in order to avenge his sister. Now he is still on the run. I don't know when he will be punished. It is said , Feng Wei is still quite talented, but unfortunately, his great future has been ruined like this."

Xiao Shengzi clenched his fists and replied in a low voice, "That's really a pity."

The imperial concubine continued, "A person is fate. Thinking about his younger sister, too, maybe fate should be like this, and I can't blame others."

"Mother, that girl was only ten years old, but she died tragically at the hands of others, how can she say she can't blame others?" Xiao Shengzi was a little annoyed.

"What are you in a hurry for?" Although the concubine's tone was reproachful, there was another expression on her face, "How do you know that girl is only ten years old? Didn't you just say that you don't know Feng Wei?"

Xiao Shengzi realized that he was a little excited, and immediately claimed that he was just guessing, and he didn't expect such a coincidence.

"Really?" The imperial concubine seemed to have got what she wanted, so she stopped bringing up this topic.

When the two came to the imperial study room, the emperor was still reviewing the memorial. Seeing that Xiao Shengzi came back after a long time, he asked, "I ordered you to do something, why did you come back?"

"Your Majesty, you don't have to blame Eunuch Sheng. It was my concubine who came to see Your Majesty and met Eunuch Sheng, and that's why I let him be with me." The imperial concubine stopped the emperor's scolding, and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, I haven't seen Your Majesty for a long time. I miss you so much, does Your Majesty miss a concubine?" The imperial concubine took advantage of the situation and sat beside the emperor, leaning lightly on the emperor's shoulder.

The emperor closed the memorial that he had finished reviewing, and embraced the noble concubine, "I miss my concubine very much, but there are so many things going on today, that's why I neglected my concubine. Don't be angry with my concubine."

The noble concubine pushed the emperor away, looked him in the eyes and said, "Your Majesty is the king of a country, and of course state affairs are important. Why is this concubine angry at His Majesty for these things? Wouldn't that be a disaster and a jealous wife? Your Majesty, I know that Your Majesty is busy. Fearing that His Majesty would forget to eat, I brought you the snacks made in the small kitchen. They are delicious, Your Majesty, have a try?" After saying that, he beckoned his servants to bring the snacks, and opened the food box, "Your Majesty, does it look good?"

"Well, it looks good. Let me taste it." The emperor picked up a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake. "It's not bad. The cakes made in your small kitchen are not as good as those made in my imperial dining room."

"If your majesty likes it, you can often come to see my concubine, and I will always keep the small kitchen ready." The concubine pretends to be sad, "I don't dare to come to the imperial study to disturb your majesty."

The emperor laughed loudly, and said, "You woman, you still blame me for not seeing you often."

"Your Majesty~" Seeing that the emperor was having a good meal, the imperial concubine seemed to insert a sentence casually, "Has your Majesty ever heard of a man named Feng Wei among the people?" As soon as this sentence came out, Xiao Shengzi, who was standing by the side, broke into a cold sweat.

"I've never heard of it, what's the matter?"

The noble concubine glanced at Xiao Shengzi and said, "It's nothing, I just heard that this person passed the Juren examination, but killed someone for my sister, and I think it's a pity."

"It's such a pity. Feng Wei, a talented person, is still missing in this great country. Since ancient times, there are many people who can be admitted to Juren. What's more, he is familiar with the teachings of Confucius and Mencius but committed murder. If When this person becomes an official, he has no choice but to disregard human life!" The emperor's words made Xiao Shengzi both ashamed and resentful. Officials can be upright and honest, who would want to have blood on their hands.

"Your Majesty said so." Xiao Shengzi's reaction fell into the eyes of the imperial concubine, it seemed that this was what she wanted.

"Why does the imperial concubine care about the affairs of the people?"

"It's nothing, I just heard from the new lady in my palace that Feng Wei is also a pitiful person. Today I heard His Majesty's words and I woke up. Speaking of which, this Feng Wei hasn't been caught yet! Oh, Eunuch Sheng seems to be the same as Feng Wei is still from the same hometown." The imperial concubine seemed to suddenly remember it.

"Really? I've never heard Xiao Shengzi say that."

Xiao Shengzi stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, this servant has just heard your empress talk about this matter, and I have never heard of it before."

After eating snacks, the emperor chatted with the concubine and said, "Okay, it's getting late, I still have a lot of memorials to read, you should go back early, and I will see you when I am done."

"Concubine resigns." The imperial concubine led a group of maids out of the imperial study, and before leaving, she gave Xiao Shengzi a meaningful look.

Xiao Shengzi knew in his heart that this was definitely not a coincidence, and the imperial concubine would not mention Feng Wei to the emperor for no reason, and believed that the imperial concubine would summon him again within a few days.

As expected, three days later, the imperial concubine ordered the maid to summon Xiao Shengzi, and as soon as she entered the door, she saw the imperial concubine leaning on the couch drinking tea, "See the imperial concubine."

"Eunuch Sheng is free of courtesy, and someone who comes will give you a seat."

The maid moved a small stool and placed it next to Xiao Shengzi.

"Mistresses." Xiao Shengzi asked after sitting down, "I don't know why your mistress summoned slaves?"

The noble concubine put down her teacup, stared at Xiao Shengzi for a long time, and said slowly, "Nothing? Just chatting casually. Does Eunuch Sheng know the eunuch who is in charge of the respect room?"

"I know, not only the slaves, but all the eunuchs in this palace know the father-in-law." Xiao Shengzi replied respectfully.

"Really? But the eunuch in charge said that he is very familiar with Eunuch Sheng." The imperial concubine spoke in a leisurely manner, but every sentence seemed to be punishing Xiao Shengzi, or the Lingchi kind.

"Yes, the slave can be supported by the father-in-law who is in charge today, and sent me to work by the emperor's side."

"A few days ago, the father-in-law was imprisoned in the Punishment Division because of some trivial matters. I happened to know about it. I saw that the father-in-law was old and pitiful, so I helped him. The father-in-law is old. , inevitably a little sentimental, I chatted with Bengong for a long time and talked about many things." The imperial concubine took a sip of tea and continued, "Many of them are about Eunuch Sheng."

Xiao Shengzi didn't know what to do at this time, let alone how much the imperial concubine knew, so he continued to remain silent. Seeing that Xiao Shengzi didn't talk to her, the imperial concubine said, "I didn't expect that Eunuch Sheng still has these unknown bitter stories. I have been with the emperor for five years, if the emperor finds out, he will definitely feel sorry for Eunuch Sheng."