Queen's Road in the Red House

Inside the Imperial City.

This is Daiyu's second time entering the palace, compared to the first time she was nervous, entering Fengyi Palace this time is much more cordial.

The summer was long, and she stayed indoors for the past two months, so she made a purse and a fan case for Empress Yang.

Since the queen treats her like a girl in a clan's family, she also treats her elders with care.

Although Empress Yang is not favored, she is also the mother of the country. She has never seen any good things, so she just gave her a sewing watch made by herself to show her heart.

Sure enough, Empress Yang laughed and told her not to do needlework at night, so as not to hurt her eyes and so on.

He also gave her a box of golden silk pearl sachets in various colors: "This year's new sachets from the House of Internal Affairs, you can share them with your sisters when you return home." Meihua pointed to Daiyu: "I think this looks the best and suits you best, don't give it to others, keep it for yourself."

All the maids in the room laughed, starting with Miss Zou.

Daiyu also smiled: "Okay, listen to your mother, I will hide this one myself."

Talking to Queen Yang is really easy and fun.

When it was time for dinner, Empress Yang asked her to stay with her.

The emperor would never come to Fengyi Palace for nothing, and it took Xin Hongcheng two or three days to report that the emperor would come to accompany his mother for dinner, so most of the time, only Queen Yang stayed in the huge Fengyi Palace.

As soon as she sat down at the table, Empress Yang couldn't help but said: "This is really not as good as a meal."

Daiyu was startled, looked carefully at the table, and found something.

There are mostly vegetarian dishes on the table, and the meat is nothing more than bad whitebait, yellow croaker with pickled vegetables, and shredded chicken with silver sprouts. It looks very light, not like the queen's order.

Empress Yang pointed to a slice of winter bamboo shoots and magnolia: "This one is green and white, and you will lose your appetite just looking at it. Didn't I say that I will add the crystal elbow and crab powder lion head today. Even if I don't eat it, Yu My son is also a guest of our Fengyi Palace, so if it's not good, let me eat these."

Ms. Zou comforted her with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Jing Su happened to be standing on Daiyu's side, so she lowered her voice and explained a few words in a low voice.

It turns out that Empress Yang has always loved food, especially meat, and it has to be spicy and delicious or thick oily red sauce.Unfortunately, my body is dry and hot, and because of the summer heat in central Beijing, I have recently suffered from lung heat and phlegm, and sometimes I feel dizzy.

The Imperial Physician ordered Imperial Physician Wu to tell the truth at the risk of contradicting her. It is best for the empress to lower her weight, and she should be more restrained in her diet.

So Empress Yang's dining table became lighter day by day.

Zhou Huangwei followed Daiyu into the palace as usual, but nodded secretly when she heard the words.Empress Yang loves sweets and meat, and women in ancient times couldn't guarantee the amount of exercise. If they get fatter and fatter, it is really not good for the body.

Although Empress Yang had a hard-to-eat chopsticks expression, she still ate two bowls of rice, and finally said solemnly: "Tomorrow's lunch must be served with the grilled mutton. Didn't Imperial Physician Wu say that it's okay to use more for lunch?" of."

Daiyu couldn't help smiling.

It's a bitter summer for the nobles in the palace, so the imperial dining room racks their brains every day to make some ingenious side dishes.Daiyu had a light diet, but felt that it was in harmony with her spleen and stomach.

After the meal, the ladies in the palace served tea.

Empress Yang then said to Daiyu: "The imperial concubine and concubine Ming have been released. It stands to reason that you have to go and ask them to be safe. However, I don't like to ask you to go to their place. So tomorrow I called Liugong to go with them. Go to Changchun Garden to watch a play, and you can just say goodbye there together."

The noble concubine and concubine Ming had finished contemplating behind closed doors. Although she hadn't returned to assist the Sixth Palace, she had already come out to walk as usual, and she also started to make trouble for Empress Yang as usual.

Ms. Zou has almost given up on the matter of telling Empress Yang to be cautious in her private words.

So he directly changed the topic: "Your Majesty, tomorrow is the day when the princes greet you."

The princes get up to study at three o'clock every hour, and they don't have breakfast, at most they put two pieces of snacks as a cushion.I didn't sit down to have a serious meal until I got up in the morning and finished memorizing the book, and then continued to read.Every three days, there will be an additional task after breakfast, which is to pay tribute to the aunt.

Empress Yang smiled: "Alright, I haven't seen Cheng'er for two days."

After finishing speaking, he patted Daiyu's hand, and said gently: "Tomorrow you come over early in the morning to accompany me to have a meal, and then stay in the back room for a while—the princes are very busy with homework, so they will leave soon. Wait for them to go to school , I will take you to the theater. Your family is from the south, so you probably like Kunqiang, right? I grew up in the northwest, but I am used to listening to Geyang tune in the north."

There is no need for Daiyu to answer, Empress Yang can talk on her own: "It's okay, summer is long, let's all get ready to watch a day of drama. After Wu Taiyi diagnoses your pulse the day after tomorrow, my palace will Let me send you out. It's not that this palace doesn't like to keep you, it's just that it's difficult to stand in this palace, you don't know how many things will happen to them if you stay for two more days."

Daiyu thought of Ge Momo's words, and couldn't help but feel sore. Seeing Empress Yang's gentle expression, she said yes.

Although the affairs of the masters in the palace cannot be talked about, since Daiyu has to enter the palace every two months, Mother Ge still revealed some important points in the palace, especially the disputes between the concubines and concubines.In case Daiyu's eyes are darkened, someone will get involved.

Daiyu could also hear the embarrassment of Empress Yang's situation from Mammy Ge's point-to-point words.

Empress Yang is such a good person, and she takes good care of her.

When Daiyu came down, she naturally became more determined in her heart, she must be cautious in her words and deeds in the palace, don't say a word and take a step, so as not to cause trouble for Empress Yang.

However, in the early morning of the next day, Daiyu realized that she didn't need to cause trouble for Empress Yang herself, as Empress Yang herself had countless troubles.

--

After breakfast, Jingsu sat in the inner room with Daiyu herself.

Empress Yang's inner room is not extravagantly furnished. There is a rosewood bed with Ganoderma lucidum pattern and a bright yellow tent with cloud gourd pattern.

A faint mint fragrance is burning in the incense tripod of the copper seven-story lotus platform on the ground.

The furnishings are also homely. On the case, there are two lotus flowers inserted obliquely in a sweet white porcelain vase. It seems that Empress Yang inserted them herself - the maid probably would not dare to insert them casually like this, and let the two flowers squeeze together. Together.

It's quite warm.

There is an embroidery frame in the middle of the room, and on it is a half-embroidered picture of birthday stars giving blessings.Jing Su smiled and said: "Miss Lin, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, it will be the Empress Dowager's birthday, and our empress wanted to present an embroidered screen."

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Daiyu thought about it, and it was only two months away, but this picture of the birthday star was only half embroidered, and I was afraid it would be too late.

Jing Su smiled: "Your Majesty grew up in the Northwest, and the female red Uehara is not very good at it, so naturally she is slower. So the servants and maids will help you embroider the corners on weekdays."

Then he asked Daiyu to sit down: "Girl also try?"

Daiyu was stunned: This kind of thing should belong to the secret of Fengyi Palace, the hand embroidery given to the Empress Dowager is done for her, so how does the Empress Dowager get a foothold in front of the Empress Dowager?

Seeing her expression, Jing Su knew that she had thought of it.

"Miss Lin, it's okay. The empress dowager is very kind to our empress. The empress dowager has mentioned it to the empress dowager last time, saying that she is slow, and the embroidery screen given to the empress dowager can't cope with the rush, so she devoted herself to embroidering the birthday party The word "Fu" and the embellishment of auspicious clouds and auspicious grasses on the side are all done for me. In the past, when the princess came over occasionally, she would also embroider two stitches."

Daiyu understood.

The empress has already made a stand in front of the empress dowager, if the noble concubine Ming concubine goes to complain in front of the empress dowager, the empress dowager will feel that their minds are not right, and they will only focus on the empress' faults.

The empress dowager herself is also the main palace, so how can these concubines who think about making trouble every day have a good impression.

Daiyu figured it out in a flash, so she sat down and helped embroider a bud of grass and leaves.

Jing Su looked at Daiyu's side face: If the emperor's intention is decided, and Miss Lin is really allowed to marry the fourth prince, the empress will definitely feel much less worried when facing the noble concubine Ming with such a smart daughter-in-law.

But if such a girl becomes a concubine, even Jing Su will feel it is a pity.

That's all, thunder, rain and dew are all the grace of the king, and they are all fate.

Just like the Empress Dowager, when she came to Beijing to be Princess Xun, she never expected the day when she would be in the middle palace.

--

The main hall of Fengyi Palace is full of fragrant clothes and temples, covering Feiwei.

Empress Yang sat on the top and watched the concubines still fighting with each other, and then said: "It's about time to leave. It's time for Changchun Garden to play."

It means, save your tongue now, listen to the play for a day today, and sit down and have plenty of time to chat.

Hearing the queen's opening, Ma Guiren, who had just been ridiculed for his outdated clothes and had no time to refute, had no choice but to swallow the counterattack he had planned, and hurriedly got up and left with everyone.

After all the concubines took leave in unison, they suddenly felt that something was missing.

Looking at it again, isn't there something missing? The two noble concubines and concubines didn't get up at all, and they sat firmly on the Diaoyutai, seemingly not planning to retire at all.

For a moment, Fengyi Palace froze.

The concubines of the imperial concubine and Ming concubine's faction wondered if they would annoy the two concubines if they left at this time, while the concubines of the queen's faction were afraid that they would all leave, and the queen would be unable to do anything alone, and they would not be able to talk to the two concubines for a while.

So the two sitting concubines and a dozen standing concubines froze in the main hall of Fengyi Palace in such a strange way.

Empress Yang was not that surprised.

Over the years, she has never seen what these two have done.So I asked directly: "Why don't you leave?"

The noble concubine was a bright beauty when she was young, but now that she is getting older, her brows are sharp and she is not as gentle and amiable as the concubine Ming.

At this time, her phoenix eyes raised slightly: "Empress, the princes will come to pay their respects later, and the concubine wants to stay and see her son."

Empress Yang waved her hand: "The princes pay their respects to the concubine mother every seven days. See you then."

The concubine Ming is gentle and gentle: "Your Majesty, it's hot now, and the princes study hard. I heard that some of them have some symptoms of getting angry. The emperor has called the imperial doctor to take turns to look at them these days. The concubine, as a mother, is in the heart. I'm really anxious, I still ask the empress to let the courtiers and concubines accept this time, it's because of the painstaking efforts of the courtiers and concubines."

Empress Yang's words were ear-piercing.

Concubine Ming's words seemed to lower her figure, and she was more respectful than Concubine Gui's words in a daze.But it can be said that the mother-in-law is painstaking, to Empress Yang, it can be said to be very heart-wrenching.

So Empress Yang immediately said: "Summer is hot, winter is bitter and cold, spring and autumn are dry, which season is not difficult? If Concubine Ming is really worried, she will ask the imperial decree to live in Wende Palace to take care of her all year round. Is it okay for these seven days?" The rules of seeing the birth mother are the rules of the ancestors, I don't have the ability to violate the ancestral rules, I just want to understand your 'hard work'."

The noble concubine and concubine Ming hadn't had time to speak, only to hear that Concubine Kang had already answered quickly: "Your Majesty, I have something to do in the palace, so I will leave first."

She is the biological mother of the third prince, and the third prince is weak and sick, so she is the one who has the most reason to stay.So at this moment when she left, the noble concubine Mingfei's face was a bit unsightly.

The coward!

It is nothing more than knowing that his son has no hope of becoming the throne, so he hides when he sees something, and only knows to close the door to live his own life!

As soon as the queen waved her hand, Concubine Kang walked faster than a rabbit, and she didn't look at the usual description of a weak willow and Fufeng getting tired after just two steps.

The rest of the concubines were just waking up from a dream, and they each had "something to do" and left.

Immortals fight, and mortals retreat quickly.

Empress Yang saw that the two concubines were still sitting, and counting the time, the princes should have arrived, so she pulled her face down: "Is it still waiting for me to invite you to leave?"

The imperial concubine and concubine Ming looked at each other, and slowly got up.

Empress Yang became irritable when she saw this, and wished that someone would throw them out, so she thought of reprimanding them.

Lady Zou put her hand on Empress Yang's back lightly: "My lady, don't worry." She always had some ominous premonition in her heart. The two concubines knew the rules, and they also knew that the empress and empress couldn't be lenient. Why bother to act like this today? Queen run.

In fact, to change the request of a concubine like Concubine Kang who has always been obedient, the queen agreed if she was not sure.

Anyway, the princes came to stay for a while, just to take a look, the queen raised her hand and passed.

But for Empress Yang, the two concubines tripped her every day, and it was a dream to want her to raise her hand at this moment.

The noble concubine and Ming concubine seemed unable to walk, and were supported by the maids on both sides to walk slowly outside. Sure enough, when they reached the door, they heard the eunuch's shrill voice outside.

"The Emperor is here."

The noble concubine looked at Concubine Ming, who showed a gentle smile as usual.

The five princes followed the emperor, and when he saw the two concubines, he said casually: "You are also here, let's go in together."

Queen Yang held her breath.

It seems that Concubine Gui and Concubine Ming knew that the Emperor was coming today, so they put on a gesture.If I had really reprimanded or even punished them just now, the two of them would probably cry and complain about their grievances in front of the emperor.

Empress Yang sometimes wanted to ask them if they were annoying, digging these trivial pits all day long to disgust others, isn't she tired?

After the emperor dismissed everyone's ceremony, he said to Empress Yang: "You are the aunt, and the princes in Wende Palace are all your sons, so you should take care of them more. The imperial physicians go there three times a day, and you just sit there alone. Fengyi Palace not moving? Even Concubine Ming remembers ordering the princes to add mung bean and lily soup to their snacks every day."

The atmosphere in Fengyi Palace was slightly condensed, and everyone could hear the emperor's dissatisfaction.

Empress Yang was speechless: Didn't the imperial physician prescribe medicine?The princes also have their share of ice. According to her, most of the princes get angry because the emperor has been relatively free recently and often tests their homework.A bowl of mung bean soup does nothing.

Ms. Zou's heart trembled.

Jing Su, who was sitting in the inner room, also had a dark expression: The emperor's words are to praise Ming Concubine for her carefulness, so is it necessary to bring up the matter of the two concubines assisting the Six Palaces again.

It's only been two months!

In front of the emperor, Lady Zou didn't dare to pull the queen's clothes anymore, she saw the corners of Queen Yang's mouth curled up slightly, knowing that she was going to explain that the concubine's doing so was useless, so she was anxious.

Before the queen could speak, she heard the boy's voice and laughed first: "Royal father, the queen asked Aunt Zou to give each of us a box of mint sachets. Reading at night is refreshing. It probably came with the summer clothes , So Father doesn’t know.” He smiled brightly, and suddenly he brought on the lively and naughty characteristic of young people, and said to Empress Yang: “So Empress Mother just brush off her clothes and hide her achievements and fame.”

The emperor pointed to Xin Hongcheng and said: "You have always been limited in poetry and prose. You always name the maids with white hair and red palms. Now you are showing off poetry in front of me and your mother, stepmother and concubine?"

The atmosphere was immediately relaxed.

Daiyu in the inner room couldn't help smiling, and even Jingsu's expression relaxed.

Sure enough, the Fourth Prince had to come forward to say this.

It is also good to not be a real son, so there is no need to avoid suspicion when speaking.If the emperor is questioning the noble concubine Mingfei, the eldest prince and the second prince will not be able to speak for the biological mother, lest the emperor feel that the prince does not know right from wrong and only defends the biological mother.

But Xin Hongcheng stood up to defend the queen, so he didn't have to worry so much.

Empress Yang changed the subject: "What the emperor said, every time you give questions at palace banquets, Cheng'er does not do badly."

The emperor clapped his hands and smiled: "The empress is protecting him again. Forget it, people say that you are a strict father and a loving mother. It can be seen that you women are soft-hearted."

These words erased the fact that the empress was not interested in the princes just now, and the empress became a loving mother again.

Although Xin Hongcheng still had a smile on his face, he was not at ease in his heart: this is something that can be resolved when he is around. In the days when he is not around, the Emperor and Empress Yang must not be able to talk about going together.

Concubine Ming said softly, "Your Majesty, it is indeed the empress who thought thoughtfully and sent mint sachets to the princes. However, the mung bean and lily soup sent by the concubine is out of concern. After all, the princes are drinking medicine these days , mung beans are also cold in nature, maybe it is not suitable. It can be seen that the concubines are short-sighted and not as good as the empress."

After speaking, he stood up: "Please forgive me, the emperor." There was a little fear and weakness in the tone, like a trembling flower in the wind.

The emperor said gently: "It's okay. You also care about the children."

Xin Hongcheng lowered his head, and gently touched the cold hair standing on his arm.

In the past few years in the palace, not only Queen Yang, but even him have had sequelae caused by Concubine Ming's behavior. Whenever he sees this kind of weak woman like a little white flower, he feels terrified.

Emperor Xuanhe's back house left a lot of psychological shadows on his fragile heart.

So when the emperor said that he would choose a concubine for him, he subconsciously wanted to refuse.He would definitely not be able to bear the drama of Pili Yangqiu with the person next to his pillow every day.

Empress Yang was in a place where the emperor could not see, with her eyes turned upwards, she took a deep breath.

Concubine Ming's style is all good, probably out of concern that the princes are still there, so she put out a [-]% standard, and Empress Yang can bear it.

Otherwise, she is afraid that she will be angry again, and then the emperor will blame her for treating the concubine harshly.

Concubine Ming stood up and said respectfully to Empress Yang: "Your Majesty sent mint sachets to the princes. The concubines are useless and can only pick up people's teeth. I was thinking about letting the Ministry of Internal Affairs send some mint sachets to Wende Palace."

Empress Yang didn't want to talk to her, so it took a while before she said a word: "Yes."

The emperor just glanced at her, probably feeling that she was cold.

At this time, the imperial concubine suddenly interjected: "The other princes are fine, but the third prince has asthma, so these sachets with mint paste are all fine."

For a moment, all eyes in the hall were focused on the pale and weak Third Prince Xin Hongying.

The third prince said softly: "Thank you for your care, the empress and the two concubines. The mint is not harmful to my illness."

The emperor nodded his head: "If you feel uncomfortable, call the imperial doctor, don't bear it."

What a prince, but he was born with severe asthma, he can't ride a horse or draw a bow, and he can't even study hard.

The emperor has no other expectations for him, seeing that he is usually obedient and silent, he treats him more sympathetically than his other sons.

The noble concubine nodded, and then continued to ask, this time there was a tingle in her voice for no reason: "The third prince is fine, but what about the sixth prince? Does the empress know if mint is forbidden in his medicine?"

The atmosphere became tense immediately.

Empress Yang's face was as dark as ink.

It turned out that they were waiting for themselves here.

The momentary silence in the main hall made even Daiyu feel strange in the inner room, but looking at Jingsu's face, she knew something was wrong.

In fact, she was also wondering just now.

Everyone in the court knows that there are six sons of Emperor Xuanhe.

Those who were born noble and could compete for the crown prince include the eldest prince, the second prince and the fourth prince, the sickly third prince, and the fifth prince who came from a humble background and was ignored by the emperor.

But this sixth prince is actually like an invisible person, which has never been mentioned before.

And today, when the princes greeted their aunt, he didn't come.

Daiyu guessed that it probably involved the secrets of the palace, so she lowered her head and embroidered seriously, not going to ask.Who knows that Jing Su actually took the initiative to tell her: "Since the girl will enter the palace in the future, it's better to know something."

Daiyu listened quietly.

The biological mother of the sixth prince was a concubine who was once favored by the Prince Xun's Mansion back then. It is said that she was able to overwhelm the two side concubines with one hand, that is, the favored concubine of today's imperial concubine and concubine Ming.

Because of her humble background but domineering and arrogant, everyone in the palace hates her and wish she would fall out of favor as soon as possible.

until she gets pregnant.

Although this concubine is arrogant, she is not stupid, knowing that everyone regards her as a thorn in her side.So he acted coquettishly and foolishly with King Xun, wanting to live in the concubine's courtyard and protect his stomach with the hand of his wife.

King Xun agreed and ordered the princess to take care of the concubine.

At that time, Empress Yang and the emperor were not so indifferent as husband and wife, so she was wronged and accepted this thankless job.

However, this concubine's pregnancy is not good, and she feels very uncomfortable in the third trimester. I don't know who listened to the instigation, thinking that the princess deliberately harmed her, because she has no children, so she wants to keep the son and go to the mother.

She was delirious, and ran to the emperor to sue the princess, making a big fuss, and died of dystocia on the spot.

King Xun felt extremely unlucky.

The sixth prince survived, but I don't know whether it was the premature birth or the mother's mental state that affected him. After he was born, he was not as active as other children, and he looked dumbfounded.

When he couldn't speak until he was two years old, everyone in Xunwangfu knew that he had a problem.

Sure enough, the imperial physician tremblingly reported to Prince Xun that this child is an idiot, and I am afraid that when he grows up, his mind will be far lower than that of ordinary people.

Because of this matter, the husband and wife of King Xun and Princess Wang were completely divorced, and gradually reached the point where the queen is easily blamed today.

With the emperor's temper, he doesn't like to see the fifth prince like this, and even ignores the sixth prince, as if he didn't have this son, and just leave it in Wende Palace.

Anyway, the sixth prince couldn't read or write, and only talked nonsense when he was seven years old.

As for Empress Yang, who was so angry with the sixth prince's birth mother, she naturally refused to interfere in the sixth prince's affairs, in order to avoid the emperor's suspicion that she was targeting the sixth prince.

So the sixth prince lives in Wende Palace like a weed that no one knows, and he doesn't even have a name so far.

Today, all kinds of words of the noble concubine and Ming concubine were finally pointed at the sixth prince.

The sixth prince's spirit is abnormal, and he has been drinking tranquilizing medicine all year round. Presumably, the two concubines have already inquired about it. There must be ingredients in this medicine that are contrary to peppermint.

As long as Empress Yang sent a sachet to the sixth prince, it would be a crime of harming the prince at a big scale, and it would be a crime not to be investigated at a small scale!

Can such a queen be in charge of the sixth house?

Daiyu's heart couldn't help but hang up.

Ever since what happened to the sixth prince, it has been very quiet outside.Only the queen ordered that Ms. Zou go to check the sixth prince's medicine in person, and then everyone sat where they were and waited for the result.

Only the slight sound of the western clock echoed in Fengyi Palace.

作者有话要说：感谢在2020-06-2423:18:57~2020-06-2523:21:10期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angel of the irrigation nutrient solution: 幻@huan5bottles;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!