concubines

Qi Niqun returned to the door on the third day, Liusu was a little envious that Liubai and the others could follow back, Qi Yunruo happened to receive a post from Ji Huan in the front yard, and looked at it excitedly, ignoring Liusu's eyes.

Ji Huan said that he got a painting, and asked Qi Yunruo to enjoy it together, Liusu said: "You should wait for the eldest lady to come back and ask her what she means."

Qi Yunruo said: "Why?"

Liusu frowned and said, "Haven't you noticed? That concubine Ji is not easy to get along with, and Ji Huan is concubine Ji's elder brother, so naturally he doesn't have any good intentions for you."

Qi Yunruo said: "Not necessarily, Mr. Ji has good handwriting, so he must be a good person."

Liusu realized that she had too many chances to roll her eyes recently, before she said anything, Qi Yunruo excitedly asked Liusu to find clothes for him.Liusu hated Eunuch Yuanbao because of the hot water. This time Qi Yunruo went out, she asked Eunuch Jixiang to explain the situation.

Ji Xiang seemed much more genial, and after hearing Liusu's words, he quickly agreed, and called a little eunuch named Xiao Lizi, and asked him to lead Qi Yunruo.

This is the first time Qi Yunruo went out after entering the Dongmei Courtyard. The palace occupies a vast area, and the backyard only takes up one-third of it. There is also a large martial arts arena in the front yard, which is far separated by the clear lake water. , Ji Huan lived in a separate guest courtyard, with the words "Xiu Lin" on the courtyard door, Qi Yunruo glanced at it, and a servant opened the door, respectfully said: "Our master is waiting for you."

Qi Yunruo looked at the yard curiously. Although it was not as big as Dongmei Yard, it could be seen that the owner put his heart into it. There were a few clumps of bamboo in the corner of the yard, and a pot of water was drawn from the lake, with dark green lotus leaves floating on it. Grapes were planted, and a rocking chair was placed under the vines.

A slender man looked at him from a distance and waved. Qi Yunruo immediately felt a little liking when he saw his smile.

Ji Huan is twenty-two, different from the flamboyant beauty of his first sister, his face is elegant and handsome, his eyes are narrow and long, but he looks very gentle.

Walking up to him, Qi Yunruo felt a little cramped. Ji Huan was wearing a literati's gown, also without a crown, and a strand of his long hair was tied behind his head by a lavender ribbon. Ji Huan naturally took Qi Yunruo's hand He walked into the house and poured tea himself.

"Is there anything uncomfortable in the palace these few days?" Ji Huanrou said softly.

Qi Yunruo blinked, and said somewhat cautiously: "The palace is very nice, thank you brother Ji for asking me to come and see the painting."

"Brother? That's great. I don't have such an obedient and sensible brother like you?" Ji Huan invited Qi Yunruo to come, of course not to look at the paintings, but to see the people sent by Ziyangbo Mansion, whether they are enemies or can be friends. It's just that when he saw Qi Yunruo, he felt that he was thinking too much.

Qi Yunruo looked at Ji Huan's room, he had a big desk with various brushes on it, a stack of thick rice paper, and several books stacked together, Qi Yunruo said: "Brother Ji writes beautifully."

Sometimes the fate is really wonderful, Qi Yunruo has been fond of Ji Huan since he saw him, and Ji Huan also has a little liking for this well-behaved boy, Ji Huan stood up and showed Qi Yunruo his copybook, he saw Qi Yunruo Instead of drinking tea, he asked, "Don't you like this?"

Qi Yunruo said: "No, I smell very fragrant, but I'm afraid of being hot."

Ji Huan was a little surprised, and said with a smile: "If you're afraid of the heat, just let it go, come here."

Qi Yunruo obediently walked over to look at Ji Huan's copybooks. He also saved a lot of everyone's picture albums. Qi Yunruo said: "I look at them all well, but I can't tell what's good. What does brother usually do?"

"Ok?"

"I always feel a little boring on weekdays. What does brother do on weekdays?"

Ji Huan didn't know how to describe it for a while. Although he lived as a "guest" in the palace, he did a lot of things on weekdays. Apart from collecting calligraphy and paintings by famous masters, he wrote calligraphy and paintings to enjoy himself, and read books and theories more often. The palace has a large collection of books. , but these books are not suitable for Qi Yunruo.

Qi Yunruo looked at the bookshelf and asked, "Does brother want to take the imperial examination?"

Ji Huan hesitated, then nodded.Sitting on a chair, Ji Huan smiled wryly and said: "I am the eldest son of a concubine in my family. I have kept my name on the list since I was a child. The last time my biological mother passed away, I gave up the exam for a year. After that, my aunt and sister discussed and asked me to enter. Come to the government, although outsiders don't know about this matter, sooner or later they won't be able to hide it."

"Brother has great ambitions." Qi Yunruo said.He seemed to have heard people say that the two young masters of the uncle's house were going to have a try this year, and the wife planned to ask Uncle Ziyang to invite him to be the crown prince after the eldest young master Qi Yunshan won the prize, and then find him a good marriage.Uncle Ziyang has been inherited for three generations, all of whom started with military exploits. This generation of Uncle Ziyang has also experienced many years of experience in the frontier, and now he is in charge of the defense of Gyeonggi. His eldest son, Yunwen Yunwu, has nothing to do in the frontier for many years. Luzi and his second son, Yunying, did not study well. If he failed the exam this time, Uncle Ziyang would find him a job as a bodyguard.

Ji Huan said: "My lord is an ambitious person, I don't want to be buried, so I can't be ashamed of myself."

Qi Yunruo vaguely understood what he meant, he thought for a while, and said, "Brother will definitely get what he wants." Ji Huan rubbed his head, thinking that he still had such a long-cherished wish, but if Qi Yunruo made it clear The dowry, which will be a trace of his life.

This is where Qi Yunruo ate his lunch. Ji Huan happily asked someone to prepare an exquisite banquet, and four maids followed behind to serve the dishes. It was the first time Qi Yunruo drank alcohol in his life. My stomach is warmed up, very comfortable.

Ziyangbo Mansion.

Li Chen personally accompanied Qi Niqun back home, giving Ziyang uncle's family enough face, Ziyang uncle Xiumu was at home, Weng and son-in-law's family plus two sons were at the same table, Ziyang uncle had no other brothers, and the family population was not large, so there was no Two banquets were held separately, and behind the screen were Qi Niqun and the female relatives of Ziyang Bofu.

Mrs. Zhao had already inquired about the affairs of the palace with her daughter. During lunch, she kept persuading her to eat more with her red eyes. The second young lady Qi Danxia stood up and said softly, "I would like to toast to Eldest Sister. Eldest Sister is overjoyed."

Qi Niqun said indifferently: "Thank you sister."

Ruxue, the six-year-old third lady of Ziyangbo's mansion, also learned to stand up and said, "I also respect elder sister."

Qi Niqun touched her cup with a funny face, "Little sister is so cute."

Qi Ruxue said childishly: "Big sister, isn't the palace much bigger than our uncle's mansion, and there are many good things we haven't seen before?"

Qi Niqun glanced at Aunt Bai who was standing not far behind her, and said: "Well, ask mother to take you to play tricks someday, you have to be obedient."

Qi Ruxue nodded and said, "I'm obedient, my mother even praised me a few days ago."

Qi Niqun smiled and stopped talking.

Aunt Bai and Aunt Liu, Qi Danxia's biological mother, were standing together. Aunt Liu was graceful and graceful. Madam Zhao didn't move when she saw that she was angry, and turned around, simply out of sight.Aunt Liu came from a good family, her status was not low, she was not as restrained as Aunt Bai, and she said openly, "Seeing that Missy's complexion has improved a lot, I wonder how the third young master is doing in the palace?"

Mrs. Zhao's smile froze, and she looked at Aunt Liu displeased.

Qi Niqun said: "When I return to the palace, I will definitely pass on Aunt Liu's concern to my third brother. I am afraid that my third brother doesn't know that Aunt Liu cares so much for him."

Aunt Liu smiled, but didn't answer.

Outside, Uncle Ziyang said a few words of advice in his father-in-law's capacity, while Qi Yunshan and Qi Yunying were more restrained, Li Chen smiled and said: "The prince is called from outside, we are serious in-laws, you two just call me brother-in-law."

Neither of them dared to say anything, they were still respectful and humble.

Uncle Ziyang looked at the two sons with a smile. For some reason, another person's image suddenly appeared in his mind. The mood is fleeting.

After dinner, Uncle Ziyang and King Chun went to the martial arts arena in the uncle's mansion, followed by his two sons, and Qi Niqun continued to talk to his mother about her life in the past two days.

"...that concubine Ji is really rampant, and my son has been wronged."

"She gave birth to the prince's eldest son, so she is naturally proud."

Mrs. Zhao snorted coldly and said: "That child heard that he is not in good health, so he can't say..."

"Mother, keep quiet," Qi Niqun frowned, "I went into the palace the day before yesterday, and the Empress mentioned the child, saying that she wanted to ask the emperor to give her a name, maybe there will be a decree in the past few days."

Mrs. Zhao said angrily: "A child from a concubine should be named by the Holy Labour, that side concubine must be even more rampant."

"Mother don't have to worry, what about the name given by the emperor? He was not in good health before, and the prince didn't get his name corrected, which is enough to see the prince's attitude."

Mrs. Zhao thought for a while, "I don't feel relieved until you give birth to a son-in-law, otherwise, if you told the prince to raise the child under your name, didn't you say that concubine Li Shu also wanted to raise the girl by your side?" ?”

Qi Niqun said with dissatisfaction on her face, "Mother, I don't want to raise other people's children."

Mrs. Zhao sighed: "You are young and don't understand. When your child grows up, he will naturally kiss you. From now on, this will be your child's help." Speaking of this, Mrs. Zhao suddenly said: "That kid Didn't cause trouble for you?"

Qi Niqun said: "Third brother has been very peaceful these few days, and the prince doesn't have much interest."

Mrs. Zhao nodded and said, "I'm relieved."

Afterwards, Mrs. Zhao talked about Qi Niqun's housekeeper again, and said with a displeased expression: "I heard from Nanny Song that Nanny Cheng didn't know who she was targeting, otherwise why didn't she take the initiative to tell you about the housekeeper's right?" !"

"She is someone the prince can trust."

"Otherwise... Otherwise, you can tell the prince directly, and tell the prince to give you the housekeeping power directly. You are the legitimate mistress of the palace."

Qi Niqun thought for a while, then hesitated and said, "Daughter should figure it out on her own." In the past few days, the prince has been respectful and considerate to her, but she always felt that it was a little less intimate.

Mrs. Zhao didn't try to persuade her.

In the evening, Qi Niqun bid farewell to her parents and went back to the mansion with Li Chen. Li Chen stayed in the uncle's mansion for a full day and gave her enough face. She was very grateful for what he did.

After returning home, Li Chen said: "I'm going to the study first, the princess can go change herself."

Qi Niqun saluted and went back in a soft sedan chair.

In the front yard of the palace, there are quite a few of Li Chen's aides and guests, some of them are recruiting people, and some are talented in governing the country. Li Chen is already an adult, and he is one of the few direct princes. In his world, there is nothing but romance , and many more important things.

Li Chen dismissed his followers and walked alone, thinking about things while walking.

In the evening, the lights are dim, and in late spring, the wildflowers beside the path are not yet defeated, with the fragrance of dying.

Li Chen heard a cry, he suddenly raised his eyes, and saw a person deep in the flowers.

Wearing gray clothes without eye contact, Li Chen watched him rubbing his eyes vigorously, sitting on the floor, as if he had just woken up, looking around in confusion.

He approached and smelled the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus wine on that person.

Qi Yunruo finally woke up, he shook his head, and suddenly fell down as if he lost his support, but his head did not touch the hard soil, and a hand was placed underneath.

Qi Yunruo widened his eyes and saw the face above.

"...I seem to be lost." Qi Yunruo said.