Minglan is reborn, this time with no regrets!

royal palace.

Concubine Liu brought the little prince to Baoci Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. After the eunuch took the little prince out to play after the ceremony, Concubine Liu began to recount to the Empress Dowager what had happened in the court today with a beaming face.

When she finished, the Queen Mother laughed and said, "When water is full, it overflows; when the moon is full, it wanes! They have achieved high positions but still do not know how to restrain themselves. They are tyrannical and disregard ethics and laws. Naturally, they will wear out the Emperor's patience."

"Madam, there is another interesting thing. Uncle Shen and Marquis Gu were scolded so harshly today, but Prince Huan just huddled aside and said nothing. They are said to be a trinity and a party, but now it seems that it is just that! Whenever something happens to them, Prince Huan protects himself and keeps silent. How can he be supported by the court officials with such a character?"

The Queen Mother: "He is still too young, and there is no one to teach him."

Concubine Liu: "Yes, if there was an expert like the Queen Mother behind him to give advice, the boy wouldn't have made such a fool of himself. Unfortunately, they don't know how good the Queen Mother is, and they pretend to obey her but secretly disobey her. This is their retribution! Your Majesty is now disgusted with Uncle Shen and Prince Huan, I'm afraid it won't be long before you depose the Queen Mother, right?"

She spoke so excitedly, as if she had already worn a crown on her head.

The Queen Mother did not respond to her words, but brought up another topic: "I am old now, and I just like to have children around me, it's lively and lively."

Concubine Liu thought the Queen Mother was mocking Prince Huan for serving her so little, so she agreed, "That's right, the Queen Mother has worked hard all her life, helping the late Emperor to create such a prosperous era. At this age, she should have children and grandchildren around her. Don't worry, the Queen Mother, Yong'er and I are on your side. The mother and son in Kunning Palace don't know how good you are, but don't we know how good you are? If you hadn't found those wet nurses for Yong'er... the Queen Mother, your daughter-in-law will always remember your kindness."

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded: "I know you are a filial son. I just think that you are very tired from running back and forth with Yong'er every day. Yong'er is getting older, and I think it's time to teach him some real skills. Why don't you keep Yong'er in my palace?"

The smile on Concubine Liu's face froze.

The Queen Mother said: "First, you will be free now and have more time to accompany the Emperor, so that he won't have to stay in other people's rooms all the time; second, my room will be more lively, so I can have a taste of the joy of being in the arms of a father, which is your way of showing filial piety to me."

Concubine Liu's eyes quickly became moist.

She knew she should keep a straight face at this moment, but she couldn't control it.

Why should the child learn any real skills when he isn’t even weaned yet?

Seeing that she seemed to be crying and laughing at the same time, the Queen Mother hurriedly said, "Oh, oh, oh, oh, look how scared the child is. Oh, I just had an idea, shouldn't I ask your opinion first? Quick, come and bring the peach blossom wine I brewed to calm your Imperial Concubine down."

Concubine Liu drank three cups in a row.

After leaving Baoci Palace and returning to her own bedroom, she cried and drank a lot of wine. From dawn to sunset, Concubine Liu cried until her eyes were red and swollen and her voice was dry. When the moon finally hung high above her head, she stared at the moon in a daze: "The moon is full and then it wanes, and the moon wanes and then it waxes."

If the temporary separation and forbearance now can be exchanged for long-term wealth and glory in the future, why not give it a try?

She drank one last glass of wine, threw the golden cup hard to the ground, then walked to the little prince's room, picked up the child who had just fallen asleep, and hurried to the Queen Mother's bedroom.

……

The Empress Dowager had not gone to bed yet. As soon as the eunuch came in to report, Concubine Liu was invited in.

The empress dowager met her in her inner clothes, appearing very casual.

Concubine Liu knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I am not very knowledgeable and I am afraid that I cannot teach the heir well. I would like to ask you to help me take care of Yong'er and let him receive your careful instruction."

The Queen Mother laughed and said, "Very good! Concubine Liu is really sensible and far-sighted! I will definitely take good care of your child and make him the most noble prince in the world."

These words were full of meaning. Concubine Liu wept and bowed down, "Thank you, Madam!"

Queen Mother: "Prince Huan has his uncle to support him, and our Yong'er cannot do without the support of his mother's family. I heard that your brother-in-law can also lead troops to fight?"

Concubine Liu's heart skipped a beat. "Yes, yes. My sister came to tell me these days that my brother-in-law wants to be the commander of the imperial guards...but my influence is insignificant, and your Majesty rarely comes to my palace..."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "That was in the past. Gu Tingye was the boss and the Emperor relied on him, so he could not be shaken. Now, Gu Tingye and Shen Congxing are both locked up. The position of the Palace Guard Commander is related to the Emperor's life and death, so it is natural that it should be placed in the hands of one of our own. Your brother-in-law is a very good candidate!"

Concubine Liu: "Can the Madam really do it?"

The Queen Mother: "You have been my queen for decades for nothing? This lunch box is a gift from me to Yong'er!"

Concubine Liu finally showed her genuine joy: "Thank you, Madam!"

……

Qi Mansion.

Qi Heng was walking around the house in a hurry, and Princess Pingning scolded him, "I told you not to associate with Uncle Shen, but you insisted on following him to Guangyuntai every day. Now that they are locked up, you should be quiet and stop causing trouble for the emperor!"

Shen Hezhen also advised: "I heard from my father that the emperor seems to be disgusted with the Shen family and the Gu family. Sir, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Now the situation is unpredictable, you should not get involved in this muddy water."

Qi Heng: "How can that be possible! Am I going to watch others wrongly accuse them of their crimes and do nothing?"

Princess Pingning: "What are you going to do? What can you do! You are only a fifth-rank official now, and the road ahead is long. How many hurdles are there to overcome? Are you going to give up your future for the two of the Gu family and the Shen family? Have you thought about me and your father, and your wife and the child in her belly?"

Qi Heng: "Mother! If I know that the emperor has been deceived by treacherous officials but I pretend to be deaf and dumb, how can I have the face to teach my unborn child? Besides, this child was also obtained by Minglan and Old Madam Sheng. Do we have to repay kindness with hatred and watch our second uncle being wrongly killed?"

The mother, her son and the couple were arguing fiercely when someone came to report that the wife of Marquis Gu was here to visit.

Princess Pingning and Shen Hezhen looked at each other, and hurried to the front hall to entertain the guests. Qi Heng followed without thinking.

When they saw Minglan, the Qi family members were secretly surprised.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was haggard. She looked nothing like her usual lovely and charming self, and it was obvious that she had been crying a lot.

After the two families finished their greetings, Minglan said to Qi Heng, "I heard that Lord Qi gave frank advice on behalf of my husband in the court. Minglan would like to thank you on behalf of our whole family!" As she spoke, she bowed again.

Qi Heng responded: "Sixth sister, don't say that, I... I didn't help at all..."

Minglan lowered her eyes and sighed, "I heard that during this court meeting, His Royal Highness Prince Huan said nothing?"

Qi Heng was stunned. He had not paid attention to this matter the whole time. Now that he thought about it, it was true. He said, "Yes, it is said that His Highness Prince Huan relies on his second uncle and the king's uncle the most. Why didn't he say a word this time?"

Minglan nodded: "So, since even His Royal Highness Prince Huan doesn't dare to argue, Master Xiao Qi should not waste your energy."

Qi Heng was even more confused: "What does this mean?"

Minglan: "I'm afraid the emperor has already abandoned me."

Shin Hezhen nodded secretly - this was the same as what her father said.

Qi Heng: "How could that be? Second uncle escorted the emperor all the way from the Qiandi Palace to the throne, and risked his life for the emperor several times. How could the emperor dislike him so quickly?"

Minglan: "If you want to blame someone, blame me... Every time my husband comes back from leaving the capital, he comes home to see me first. When he hears that I have a headache or a fever, he won't go to court. Over time, it's strange that the emperor doesn't get tired of him..."

Qi Heng: "But...I've never seen the emperor get angry about this before!"

Minglan: "The emperor didn't show any anger on the surface, but he went to the Queen's palace to curse him in private. You know, the Queen treats me more kindly, and she would secretly tell me if there was anything. During this time, the emperor has been scolding my husband every day, and I have advised him to change several times, but he...but he is used to leading troops, and his straightforward nature cannot be changed. The more you scold him, the more he refuses to obey...Over time, no matter how deep the emperor's friendship with him is, it will be worn away. Alas, everything is fate! Young master, you are a sincere gentleman, but this matter cannot be solved by external forces. I thank you for your righteousness on behalf of my husband, but from now on, I hope you will not stand up for him again. The emperor...the emperor will not listen..."

Minglan left after talking for a while. Shen Hezhen supported her and walked her all the way to the street corner before returning.

When they entered the inner hall again, Qi Heng and Princess Pingning were both silent.

Shen Hezhen coughed and said, "Madam Gu is a beautiful and kind person, but, alas, she has had a rough life."

Princess Pingning nodded: "In this situation, she still came to tell us the truth. She really deserves the word 'righteousness'."

Qi Heng said angrily: "She is a woman who still knows how to be righteous. I am a man of seven feet tall. Am I... am I going to be a coward?"

Shen Hezhen went over and held his hand: "Sir, there are thousands of ways to practice benevolence and righteousness. From now on, Minglan will probably encounter many difficulties. We will support her with all our strength."

Princess Pingning also said: "That's right, from now on, no matter what happens, our Qi family will recognize them as relatives."

……

Yangzhou, the Bai family’s old house.

Auntie Wu of the Gu family stood in front of Bai Dalang's bed and asked, "Are you Gu Tingye's cousin?"

Bai Dalang was sleeping when a person suddenly appeared in front of the window. He was startled. He took a closer look and found that the woman was well dressed. He patiently asked, "Who are you?"

Aunt Gu: "You don't need to care who I am. I just want to ask you, do you want to save Gu Tingye's life?"

When Bai Daluo heard this, he immediately understood: "Are you another member of the Gu family? The fat woman who came last time told me the same thing. She asked me to send people to Jiangning to assassinate Gu Tingye, but what happened? The person didn't make it, and I was almost beaten to death by the people sent by Gu Tingye! You members of the Gu family can fight all you want, but this time, I won't get involved even if you kill me! Someone, get her out!" The fat woman he mentioned was the fourth aunt of the Gu family. It was the fourth aunt who instigated Bai Daluo to assassinate Gu Tingye in Jiangning last time.

The fifth aunt of the Gu family: "Gu Er has the Bai family's huge fortune and is the number one salt dealer in Jiangnan. Dalang, you have been plotting for your whole life, and now the opportunity has been presented to you, but I didn't expect that you have no manliness at all!"

Bai Dalang said angrily, "Then I have to survive too! My leg still hurts because that kid Gu Tingye sent people to beat me up." Gu Tingye found out the mastermind behind Jiang Ning's assassination, so he did the same thing and sent a group of men in black to beat Bai Dalang up, as a tit-for-tat.

The fifth aunt of the Gu family: "Now that Gu Tingye has been convicted of forcing his brother to death and imprisoning his father, he can no longer shirk responsibility. Dalang, how come you are so lucky that you can exchange a life for your millions of dollars in assets? Isn't this wealth given to you by God for free?"

Bai Dalang finally sat up from the bed and asked excitedly, "He killed someone?"

The fifth aunt of the Gu family: "The one he killed was not just an ordinary person, he killed his own brother!"

Bai Dalang suddenly became more energetic and ordered his servants, "Pack your luggage and prepare the car!"

Aunt Gu: "Don't bother. Our car is ready and waiting outside. It's a soft-van. Dalang, please go in!"

……