The Major General's Country Wife

"May the queen be blessed with golden safety."

All the concubines greet the queen, greetings once a day is a grand scene in the queen's palace, and it is also the time when she feels most at ease.

"Hmm." The empress, with a lazy, luxurious and generous posture, slightly squinted her eyes and revealed a deep smile, "Sit down."

"Thank you, empress." The concubines stood up and took their seats, some naturally turned a blind eye, some were cautious, and some were trembling and uneasy.

Every concubine is unparalleled in beauty, some are gorgeous and dazzling, some are gentle and soft, and some are fresh and refined. They are all beauties who are fat, swallows and thin.

The queen sipped her tea silently, and looked at the well-behaved concubines below with satisfaction. No one would dare to speak first if she didn't speak. This is the majesty of the queen.

"Dear sisters, I have something to discuss today." She looked at the expressions on the faces of every concubine who was listening attentively, and said with a smug smile: "I think that the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, and this important festival should be a time for family reunion and joyous gatherings. .”

The empress paused for a moment, put down the tea bowl and sat upright, and said with a serious expression: "However, it is also time to be filial. The empress dowager has been in poor health for the past few days. In order for her to recover early and attend the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner smoothly, I have chosen a few concubines. Eat fast and copy the scriptures, and pray for the queen mother."

When the concubines heard this, there was no reason why they didn't understand. They were all thoughtful, wondering who would be selected to take on this important task.

"I don't know which younger sister is willing to go to the temple?" The queen asked, her eyes flicked across the concubines, waiting for someone to stand up.

Knowing the silence, no one got up and voluntarily went to the temple to pray. The water is deep here, and no one dared to take the risk.

"Ai!" The queen sighed: "I want to preside over the affairs in the palace, so I can't go in person. I feel extremely guilty. I can only hope that the younger sisters can go well and pray for blessings, so that the queen mother can be well soon."

The noble concubine on the side looked at the queen, and there seemed to be no sarcasm in her eyes, she said with a smile: "Jiangfei's younger sister is blessed at first glance, the fourth prince was praised by the emperor yesterday, if the younger sister goes in person , the Empress Dowager must have a good morning so as not to delay the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner."

Concubine Jiang: "Sister, how dare you say you are blessed? The imperial concubine and empress praised it absurdly. If you say you are blessed, the empress and imperial concubine are the first choices."

"Okay, well said." Before the concubine could speak, the empress immediately praised her, "Sister Jiang concubine is right, the concubine is indeed blessed, she is the first person beside the emperor to give birth to a prince, even this palace Stay away."

After she finished speaking, she looked at the noble concubine and said: "Then sister Lao will go to the temple in person, pray for the queen mother for a while, and then see which sister she wants to choose to accompany, so you can be companions."

"What the empress said is true." The noble concubine said: "My sister can pray for the empress dowager. This is a blessing that cannot be obtained. Unfortunately, after giving birth to the eldest prince, this blessing is not as good as that of the empress. I have been feeling unwell for the past few days. Li, for losing this opportunity to be filial, I ask the empress to forgive me."

"Unhappy?" The queen's charming eyebrows turned cold, and her voice became cold and severe, "The imperial concubine looks rosy, but she is still radiant. I don't know what is wrong. I can go to the imperial physician for a diagnosis and treatment."

"Hehe." The noble concubine covered her lips with a silk handkerchief, and let out a chuckle, "Thank you, Empress, for your concern, but there are always some days of discomfort every month, and my sister can't help it either!"

"Huh?" The empress was stunned, and silently clutched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, secretly hating such a coincidence, "It's okay, let Jiang Concubine's younger sister go, choose a few other concubines to go with you, and pray with all your heart, so that the Empress Dowager can go with you. Already in good health."

"Yes." Concubine Jiang stood up and said with a smile still on her face: "If I let my sister take advantage of it, I will sincerely pray for the blessing of the Buddha, and the empress and imperial concubine can rest assured."

The empress nodded slightly, it would not be a fault of her to think of this way to get rid of one, as for the noble concubine to take it easy, there will always be a day when she will be punished and subdued by herself.

The imperial concubine looked at Concubine Jiang and said with a smile: "Just say that my sister is blessed, but if you still don't believe it, it won't come true."

Concubine Jiang was beautiful and raised her eyebrows slightly, her beautiful eyes said with reproach: "It's not that the concubine concubine is modest, my sister thanked you here."

The most powerful ladies in the palace, the empresses with the princes beside them were talking to each other secretly, none of the other concubines dared to intervene, they kept their duty and sat silently at the side as a foil.

The stern empress, powerful concubine, and shrewd concubine Jiang, there is no one they can provoke. They are forced to watch gods fight every day, and if they are careless, they will suffer disaster and be punished.

This is also the reason why there is relatively little right and wrong in Emperor Renhe's harem, and no one is proud of being favored. It is entirely the result of being suppressed by these three people.

When these concubines came out of the Queen's Palace, the noble concubine looked at Concubine Jiang and said with a smile: "I wish my sister an early return to the palace, and pray for success, hahaha."

Concubine Jiang looked at the back of the concubine who was laughing wildly, her expression was stern for a moment, she and the queen still miss her after hiding for so many years.

……

"Your Majesty, the empress suddenly wants to pray for blessings. I wonder if there is a problem here?"

When Concubine Jiang returned to her own palace, Xiu Yun, the maid beside her, said: "The empress dowager just said that she has been tired recently, and she closed the palace to rest for a few days without going to the concubine to pay her respects. The empress dowager will go to war. If there is no reason, it is impossible."

"Hehe." Concubine Jiang sneered, and said, "The empress wanted to send the concubine and the concubine to the temple together today, but unfortunately the concubine escaped a catastrophe and failed to make her wish come true, do you think you can calm down by staying in the palace?"

"What about the fourth prince?" Xiuyun said: "The empress is not in the palace, isn't the fourth prince an opportunity for people to take advantage of?"

"Take the fourth prince with me." Concubine Jiang said: "The emperor knows that he will definitely praise the fourth prince for his filial piety, and will send more guards to protect them. If they don't give them a chance to cause trouble on the road, they will come back smoothly and soon."

Concubine Jiang has a well-thought-out plan. If the queen sends her out, how could she easily let her go back to the palace? It is even more dangerous to keep the fourth prince behind. Only mother and son can survive together.

"Go." Concubine Jiang said: "Send a letter to the Shangshu Mansion to make arrangements for this matter, to ensure the safety of our mother and child."

"Yes." The palace lady Xiuyun withdrew.

Concubine Jiang: After so many years of humiliation, now that the fourth prince is about to grow up, these people can't hold back, and want to take their mother and child into surgery, how can I do what they want.

She frowned slightly: After so many years of acting in a low-key manner, seeing the empress and the noble concubine fighting in full swing, why did she suddenly shift her target and focus on herself.

The imperial concubine is an idiot, if it wasn't for the high reputation of the Tai Tuo, which was valued by the emperor and respected by him, she would have been killed by the empress many times.

Concubine Jiang suddenly felt uneasy, and the things she had been certain of all along had reversed. Now she can no longer be sure that her mother and child are safe, and she wants to see her natal family immediately.

"Invite Mrs. Shangshu to see you." Concubine Jiang said: "Invite the eldest lady in together, and say that she is going to pray for blessings and don't know when she will return. I want to see my mother and sister-in-law."

"Yes." The old nanny who was pinching her shoulders immediately stopped, "The old slave will go in person and report everything."

"Huh?" Concubine Jiang looked at her wet nurse with a milder expression, "This time is very dangerous, and I feel very uneasy."

"Young lady, don't be afraid." The old nanny comforted her kindly, "I've been here for so many years, seeing the Fourth Prince grow up, I can't let it fall by the wayside."

"Not everyone desires that position." Concubine Jiang said: "It's just that I can't help myself, thinking that the reserve position can be settled early, and the fourth prince can escape. It's just a pity that what should come will eventually come."

The old mama was speechless, after so many years in the deep palace, she still had a fluke mentality, even if she was fighting for that position, she couldn't win it!

……

"Master." In Shangshu Mansion, Mrs. Chen came to find Jiang Shangshu in person.

Jiang Shangshu raised his head, "How did you come here?"

"There are people from the palace today." Chen Shi said: "The fourth prince and the empress are in trouble, the empress and empress have already attacked them."

"If you want to keep them, you can only vote for one side in a low-key manner." Jiang Shangshu said with a wry smile: "However, even if you vote for the queen, you may not be able to keep the third prince."

"Why don't you try again?" Chen said: "The Duke's Mansion refuses us, why not find Duke Xu's Mansion, which is much better than the Duke's Mansion."

Chen's face was a bit dissatisfied, and he didn't understand why Jiang Shangshu had to join forces with Duke Zhen's government. No one knew what the current situation of the Xu family was.

He has no influence in the court and the harem, and the only military power he has is still in jeopardy. It will be a matter of time before the emperor thinks about taking it back.

If the whole family can be kept safe, it is the emperor's kindness, otherwise, the lightest punishment is to confiscate the family and exile, and there is no hope of becoming a commoner.

But in the current situation, according to her, a person outside the court, the Duke's Mansion is in a situation where death does not let go, and the fate of the family cannot be escaped.

"What do you know?" Jiang Shangshu was silent for a moment, "The Xu family does not need to support any prince, it is still famous and powerful, but the Xu family is different. They need the support of the emperor to enjoy the prosperity and wealth safely."

"Then the master can't offer an olive branch to a junior, he should discuss it with Xu Guogong or Xu Shizi." Chen Shi said.

"That's all." Jiang Shangshu shook his head, "Let's protect the empress and the fourth prince first, have you entered the palace yet?"

"No, didn't the master say not to enter the palace recently." Chen Shi said: "The concubine excused herself from the mother's health and asked the eldest daughter-in-law to receive the old mother."

"Well, very good." Jiang Shangshu said, looking at Mrs. Chen with inexplicable eyes, and said meaningfully: "Madam is sensible, she really manages the family properly and is dedicated to the Jiang family."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chen's eyes brightened and said reservedly: "I am responsible for this concubine, I am ashamed to be praised by the master."

"Well, go." Jiang Shangshu said: "I will take over this matter, you don't have to worry about it."

"Yes." Mrs. Chen left proudly. The master hadn't praised her for many years, but today she was finally praised. It seems that all these years of painstaking efforts were not in vain.

Jiang Shangshu looked at the closed study door and closed his eyes in pain. Didn't he think that what happened back then would be repeated again?

"Master." The housekeeper called cautiously from the side. Seeing Jiang Shangshu opened his eyes, he handed over a cup of tea and said, "Master, drink a cup of tea and rest."

"Go to the second young master and set up a place to meet." Jiang Shangshu said: "Tell him, you must come, and I beg him."

"Yes, master." The butler's heart trembled, his eyes became moist instantly, and he choked up, "Don't worry, master, this old slave will definitely ask the second young master to come and see the master."

"Go." Jiang Shangshu waved his hand feebly, except for the second son, he couldn't think of anyone who could keep the fourth prince.