concubines

Li Xiuqi packed up his pen and ink, and when he was about to rest, he suddenly heard a knock on the door, and a voice came from outside the door: "Is Brother Li asleep? It's me."

Li Xiuqi said: "Brother Cao, please come in."

Cao Manjin walked in with a jug of wine smiling, Li Xiuqi frowned slightly, Cao Manjin sat down, sighed, and sighed again.He poured the wine, Li Xiuqi said: "The night is late, the meal has been digested, drinking at this time will hurt your body, Brother Cao, let's drink again tomorrow."

Cao Manjin said: "I'm not drinking for myself, I'm not worth it for you."

Li Xiuqi was silent.

"Who in the mansion doesn't know that the position of Chief History Officer of the Wangfu is prepared for you, brother Li? The prince has arranged for someone from the backyard of the palace to take up this position. We can't say that the prince is not good, but..."

Li Xiuqi frowned and said: "Brother Cao, be careful, don't say that this position is for me. We are the prince's staff, and we should think of the prince's planning and planning as our own responsibility. If we only care about official positions, the prince will keep us. What's the use."

"Brother Li, don't be in a hurry, eat and drink." Cao Manjin said indifferently.

Li Xiuqi looked at him dissatisfied, but did not refuse any more, and drank a glass.

After Li Chen went to court, Qi Yunruo was sorting out the accounts in the small study in the West Wing. He looked at the direction Li Chen was going away, lowered his head, and felt a little disappointed, as if the day when he came back was different from what he had imagined.After Qi Niqun left that day, Qi Yunruo felt a little uncomfortable and moved out to live, but the prince didn't stop him, allowing him to come out.

A little servant girl came over in a hurry and said, "Master Qi, Wangfei invites you to go over."

"Huh?" Qi Yunruo looked at the person coming.

"It's about the princess rebuilding the inner treasury, please go over and discuss it." The little maid bowed.

"Okay." Qi Yunruo nodded, took Lu Lan and Yu Zhi with him, and walked back to the backyard along the lake.

Going back to the backyard again, Qi Yunruo had a new identity, and his mood was different from before. He met a group of passing servants, and the eunuch who led them stopped, saluted, and said, "I have seen Mr. Qi."

Qi Yunruo looked at him and thought for a while, "Is this Eunuch Qian?"

"It's a slave." Eunuch Qian stood up straight, with a smile on his face, "I heard that my lord is the head of the palace, and I have always wanted to kowtow to you. The one-acre three-point land I manage is good for you. Explain clearly, it will be much more convenient for you to manage in the future."

Qi Yunruo looked at him, and said: "Eunuch Qian will come again after the construction of Heting Island. Now that the affairs are complicated, Eunuch Qian will spend more effort on his own."

"Thank you my lord." Eunuch Qian saluted again with a smile on his face.

When Qi Yunruo walked to Dongmei Courtyard, Mother Cheng came to greet her personally, and Mother Song said: "The concubines and masters have all arrived."

Qi Yunruo said in a low voice: "Thank you, mama, for reminding me." He frowned, stopped in his tracks, and asked, "Does mama think it's appropriate for me to go in?"

Mother Cheng said lightly: "There is nothing inappropriate, adults can sit upright, and you are not obliged to come."

"En." Qi Yunruo nodded.

Qi Yunruo was wearing a big red robe embroidered with egrets. When he entered the main hall, Qi Niqun was holding a cup of tea, sipping lightly. Qi Yunruo only walked two steps into the door, but did not go in. He said: "I have seen the princess and all of you. Empress Dowager."

Qi Niqun glanced at him, and said, "Is there a regulation for repairing the Neiku?"

Qi Yunruo said: "Yes."

Two years ago, Qi Niqun asked Qi Yunruo to come out to meet the side concubines. Now Qi Yunruo is no longer the weak dowry boy, but an official official of the Chun Palace. Qi Yunruo said calmly: "The next day is a good day to start construction. Tomorrow, officials from the Baigong Bureau will come to measure and draw pictures, and then the craftsmen will expand the building. In order to avoid those craftsmen from colliding with the princess, they have cleaned up the Thrushcross Courtyard since this afternoon, and asked the princess to move there during the day. The craftsmen will return to Dongmei Courtyard after leaving the mansion. .”

Qi Niqun said lightly: "Just listen to what Chang Shi said, you are in charge of the palace now, if there is any emergency in the future, please ask Mr. Chang Shi to help you."

"If it is within my authority, the princess will order, and I will obey."

Qi Niqun nodded, and said: "In the future, Mr. Changshi will be in charge of the palace, and the concubines and concubines will naturally have something to hand over to you. See you today... and what's more, just now you said the Thrushcross Academy, I originally Thinking about packing it out as soon as possible to invite the new side concubine to move in, it would be inconvenient if the orders come down during this period."

Concubine Ji's face was full of surprise, "New side concubine? Has it already been decided?"

Concubine Wei remained silent, her eyes wandering over Qi Niqun and Qi Yunruo.

Qi Niqun continued: "Lord Changshi, these things should not have been told to you, but Lord Changshi has a special status, so it's okay for you to mention it to the prince. The prince is in the prime of life, and it is a good time to have children. If you look at the palace They are all old faces, so it’s better to find a few more beautiful and good-aged women to go back to the house, the new side concubine has no temper, if the prince is interested, he can send his concubine to ask secretly when he is with people."

Concubine Wei couldn't help showing a smile on Concubine Ji's face, Concubine Ji's complexion became even worse, and the rest, Concubine Ying Qiu, Concubine Li Shu, etc. also lowered their heads silently.

Qi Yunruo said calmly, "I will convey it to the prince."

"Ah."

Concubine Wei supported Xiao Qiao's hand to go back, Mu'er was still asleep, Concubine Wei looked at her son, leaning on one side, and after a while, she heard a few crisp "clang" sounds from the opposite side.

Xiao Qiao frowned and went to close the doors and windows tightly. Seeing that Muer's eyelids moved and she calmed down again, she was relieved that she was not woken up.Concubine Wei's face was flat, Xiao Qiao said: "Concubine Ji is too much."

Concubine Wei said: "She can't sit still anymore."

Xiao Qiao said softly: "I heard that before the prince went out, concubine Ji wanted to cooperate with the princess to get rid of Qi Changshi, but Qi Changshi went out with the prince."

Concubine Wei smiled and said: "Let them fight, they can fight too hard, but I'll just watch here..." There were more voices from the opposite side, and the screaming of a maidservant. After waking up, she gritted her teeth and said fiercely: "It seems that I have to move out!"

Concubine Ji on the opposite side said angrily: "You bastard! What's your name!"

The beautiful servant girl got a long slash on her face, Pei Er stood aside in fear, Ji Fei smiled angrily: "What are you doing with such a good-looking dress? You are in the small building opposite, and the prince will go to see the small building." Son, there is no prince here, you have made a wrong idea!"

The maid knelt at Concubine Ji's feet, she didn't care to wipe the blood on her face, and cried: "I don't have it, I just happened to wear this dress today, and this hairpin was given to my servant by the side concubine in the past."

Concubine Ji kicked her away, and said with a sneer, "I rewarded you? You want me to promote you? It's a pity! It's a pity that your side concubine is not old enough to promote a maid, Peier! Don't call She appeared before me again."

Pei Er tremblingly said: "Yes..." She slammed the ring off her sleeve and dragged the crying maid Yan Hua'er out.

Concubine Ji was still angry, and glanced at her maidservant coldly, a group of girls were silent, Concubine Ji said: "If anyone still has the dream of flying on a branch and becoming a phoenix, get out of here as soon as possible, don't dirty my eyes."

Except for Yingqiu who came out of the palace and had served King Chun's bed, they were all maidservants. The concubine can't bear falling out of favor, can't bear the prince falling in love with others, but Ji Huan, Wei Qiang, Qi Niqun, Qi Yunruo, these people keep appearing, constantly diverting the prince's eyes from her, Ji Concubine can't wait To kill all these people, I wish the prince would be alone.There is also her son, the eldest son of the prince, who speaks smartly, is lively and cute... If he can be named the prince... Concubine Ji's heart is beating wildly, anyway, the concubine can't give birth to a son.

Qi Niqun sat rubbing her forehead after Qi Yunruo left, and Nanny Song said, "Could it be true that a new side concubine will come in?"

Qi Niqun said: "Ask Qi Yunruo to ask." It is inappropriate for her to ask the prince herself, if so, how should she react, is the emperor really tired of herself?If not, I would be a person who listened to rumors, and the prince might be displeased.

Qi Niqun quarreled with the prince that day, and regretted it when she came back. She shouldn't be like that, she shouldn't be jealous like a shrew, no man likes a jealous woman, just like her own mother, didn't she give her father two Did a personal servant allow his father to accept the concubine of the Liu family, who was born in an official family?She herself is not jealous, she is waiting for Qi Yunruo to be jealous, waiting for Qi Yunruo to be rejected by the prince, as long as the prince's eyes return to the backyard, she is sure to keep him.

She must have a son.

The spring rain fell suddenly, Qi Yunruo put down his pen, opened the window, and the fresh grass and trees in the spring came together with the smell of soil. Qi Yunruo looked at the time, and suddenly remembered that it was almost the time when the prince came back from court. The prince has been riding a horse for the past few days out.

Qi Yunruo put on a coat, ran out with an umbrella, and ran all the way from the main road on the main axis of the palace. The guard of the palace opened the door, and Qi Yunruo stood aside anxiously waiting.

In fact, it wasn't just Qi Yunruo, Su Ge called a guard to meet the prince with an oiled silk amber cloak, and he also asked someone to prepare a carriage and clean clothes, and went along the road back to the prince's house to see if the prince wanted to take a carriage or not. Come back on horseback.Just as Qi Yunruo was about to get on the carriage and go together, he heard someone say: "The lord has returned to the residence."

When it started to rain, Li Chen was already very close to Prince Chun's Mansion, so he simply came back in the rain. Qi Yunruo trotted to the door, held up his umbrella and let the prince come over. Li Chen was completely soaked.

Li Chen said: "Go back."

If Qi Yun wraps the cloak around Li Chen, he doesn't need to stand on tiptoes now, he can also tie the rope. Li Chen recalled the winter of the previous year when Xiao Qi was short and trying to put himself on a fox fur coat.

Qi Yunruo still held up the umbrella and let Li Chen go first. The rain gradually subsided, but it was still drizzled, and it seemed that it would not stop for a while.

Qi Yunruo walked quickly, and Luxuan brought the little maidservant over, bowed and said: "The maidservants have prepared ginger soup and hot water, the prince should wash and change his clothes first."

Qi Yunruo said: "Sister, hurry up."

Qi Yunruo took off Li Chen's wet clothes, pressed him into the hot water, and hurriedly brought ginger soup over. Li Chen said, "Don't be so nervous, it's fine."

Qi Yunruo said: "It suddenly became cold today, and the rain hit your body very cold. If you are not feeling well today, you can take a leave tomorrow."

Li Chen shook his head and put down the empty bowl for him, "I didn't feel anything if you didn't speak so loudly."

Li Chen got up and was about to wipe his body, Qi Yunruo came over with clean clothes, took the cloth towel and wiped Li Chen's hair, he thought of Qi Ni skirt, his eyes were in a daze, and seeing that the prince had already put on the underwear, he changed it The cloth towel continued to wipe Li Chen's hair.

Li Chen noticed his momentary stiffness.

He thought of the gate of the Prince's Mansion just now, Qi Yunruo anxiously held up an umbrella and looked out the door, his blue hair was blown messy by the wind, Li Chen saw him from a distance, standing in the rain, Li Chen was upset for many days, he and Xiao Qi You can only see him in the study outside. Xiao Qi didn't deliberately avoid him. Maybe the two of them were a bit busy, but they didn't deliberately look for each other, and they didn't deliberately stay together. That's the situation.

"Little Qi."

"Huh?" Qi Yunruoshou paused again.

Qi Yunruo hasn't set foot in this main room for many days, Li Chen said: "Go to the desk, there is a page in the first book, you go and get it."

"Okay." Qi Yunruo put down the cloth towel and came back with a piece of paper. Li Chen's hair was wet. Qi Yunruo went over and combed him with a comb. The cloth towel continued to absorb water from the end of his hair.

Li Chen opened the piece of paper and spread it in front of Qi Yunruo, "If a boy is fifteen, the elder or teacher can start writing."

Qi Yunruo's heart moved, and when he saw the word "Yuze", Li Chen said: "A gentleman is as gentle and moist as jade, and his luster reaches all people. I give you these two words."

Qi Yunruo took the paper in a daze, and subconsciously clenched his teeth together. He looked sideways at Li Chen, and said, "That's not what you mean."

Li Chen looked at him silently.

"My lord, I don't need to be gentle and moist like jade. 'Chen' is from jade, and Ze is water, which is my surname."

Li Chen stretched out his hand to touch Qi Yunruo's face, Qi Yunruo turned his head to feel the temperature of his palm, Qi Yunruo remembered that he went to Dongmeiyuan, Qi Niqun pointed at every word, Qi Yunruo didn't take it seriously after all, but now he really wanted to ask, "My lord, my lord, are you sincere?"

"My lord..." Qi Yunruo pulled the hand on his cheek and pressed it to his heart, "My lord, if you don't want to, I can leave immediately, if you want, I will never leave your side again in my life , you live, I live, you die, I die."

"Xiao Qi," Li Chen sighed, and looked at Qi Yunruo intently, "Xiao Qi, things are not as simple as you said."

"But I believe it's not too difficult." Qi Yunruo said stubbornly.

Li Chen looked at him, his eyes softened a little, and he asked, "Xiao Qi, do you know how many things you will encounter in the future?"

Qi Yunruo hesitated for a while, then nodded, he felt it just an hour ago.

Li Chen said: "I don't have a legitimate son, this will cause even bigger problems, I can't depose concubines, there will even be more people in the palace, do you understand?"

Qi Yunruo continued to nod.

Li Chen's expression was a bit sad, he said: "You will regret it."

"I do not know."

Li Chen hugged Qi Yunruo, Qi Yunruo smiled and closed his eyes. After a long time, Qi Yunruo said: "My lord, I want to help you. I can't do it like Queen Mother Lan, but I won't cause you any trouble. You teach me Whatever I do, I will do."

What Li Chen envied most in his life was his grandfather Emperor Mingzong and his grandmother Empress Dowager Lan. His grandfather completely believed in his queen in political affairs. Mingzong had been in power for several years and had never had a concubine. Someone once wrote a letter saying that the queen was not good. A wife is enough, and she also reprimanded the official, and the grandmother did not disappoint the grandfather's affection, and left the descendants of the grandfather for the grandfather.Li Chen wanted to be in the ninth or fifth place, but he didn't want to be in the high position. Xiao Qi was the only one who made him feel relieved, a lover who could not hide his heart. Later, he no longer wanted to regard Xiao Qi as a lover. Being human, it's just that this road is too difficult for them.

Why Xiao Qi?Li Chen has recounted it over and over since he and Xiao Qi got acquainted, as if it was not Xiao Qi who appeared at that time, it could be someone else, but it was indeed Xiao Qi who appeared when he needed it most.

If I hadn't chosen to take Xiao Qi on the expedition because of seeing the attitude of the princesses and concubines who wanted to get rid of the poor Xiao Qi, if it hadn't been for Xiao Qi's meticulousness and gentleness all the way, if it hadn't been for Xiao Quan's wholehearted trust, if it hadn't been for Xiao Qi Yushu If Xiao Qi hadn't been willing to give up his life for himself in the dangerous situation of confronting the wolf alone outside the pass... perhaps Li Chen would not have fallen in love with Qi Yunruo.

However, due to fate, he wrote down their encounters and experiences. When Li Chen returned to the capital, and returned to Chunwang Mansion where his wife, concubine and children lived, he realized that only Xiao Qi was allowed by his side. I am glad that I met this person, but I sigh for their encounter.

Xiao Qi said he would not regret it.

So Li Chen is also willing to walk a difficult but satisfying road for this no regrets, for this hard-won affection.

Li Chen was not sick, but Qi Yunruo felt a little feverish at night. Li Chen thought that Xiao Qi was wearing thin clothes and ran out in a hurry. It wasn't raining much, but it wasn't that he didn't get wet at all. Xiao Qi's body has become stronger than before in the past year. Few, but this time he fell down very suddenly, he was stuffed under his quilt by Li Chen, Qi Yunruo said in a low voice: "My lord, you have to go to court tomorrow morning, you go to that wing room to rest early."

Li Chen touched his forehead and said, "I even forgot to ask you to drink a bowl of ginger soup."

Qi Yunruo smiled and said: "Although it's a little hot, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It will be fine tomorrow, so don't worry, go to sleep quickly, and don't get sick here."

Li Chen said: "I'll go out when you fall asleep."

Qi Yunruo nodded and quickly closed his eyes.

The next day Qi Yunruo woke up, his head was still a little groggy. He drank the medicinal porridge, got up and put on his clothes, and saw that the expansion of He Tingzhou was much more complicated than the expansion of the inner warehouse of Dongmei Courtyard. After going to the study to look at the tents for a while, Su Ge knocked on the door and came in and said, "Princess Wangfei is going to temporarily put some valuables in the Thrushcross Courtyard."

Just as Qi Yunruo was about to say that he couldn't pass, his heart suddenly moved, and he remembered the dowry list he had written by himself, Qi Niqun's dowry... many of them belonged to his mother.

He was a little confused, he must get his things back, but he couldn't go directly to Qi Niqun, and Qi Niqun would not believe that these things belonged to him, Qi Yunruo thought very simply, even if they were women's things, I can't use it myself, but it was left to me by my mother, Qi Suxiao is not a good person, my mother died because of him, why should I leave things to him?

What should he do?

Qi Yunruo stood up, walked around the room for a few times, finally sat down at the desk, wrote a short message with a pen, called Yu Zhi, and said, "Can you find someone for me to come out of the palace to do it for me?" thing?"

Yu Zhizhi: "Of course it is possible, but what are you going to do?"

Qi Yunruo handed the letter to him, "You ask someone to go to Zhiyalou quietly, don't let anyone see it, give this letter to the boss Rong Sanniang, ask her to read the letter face to face, and give me a reply."

Yu Zhi was silent for a moment, without asking any questions, and said, "The servant knows."

Qi Yunruo sat down, thinking of Shui Yuanyuan, thinking of Brother A Cheng, his expression darkened again. If possible, he really hoped that everyone could live well, but things backfired. Said it was the prince, and I hated it very much.

Sister Yuanyuan and Brother Acheng have three children, they are still so young... Sister Yuanyuan is my only old friend in these years, and the only person he has missed and wants to see again in these years, Sister Yuanyuan is now Don't you hate him?

Si De was imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice and has not been arraigned so far. In fact, if Li Chen had not been involved, he would not have been imprisoned easily.

Si De didn't say a word on the way back to Beijing, and now he is forbidden to visit, and he hasn't uttered a few words until now. After Li Chen came down to court, he got a piece of news on the way - Si De committed suicide in prison.

When Li Chen galloped away on horseback, Si De left a suicide note, and he was already out of breath. The officials of the Ministry of Punishment dodged, holding Si De's blood book, and their eyes wandered. They didn't dare to look at Li Chen at all. Li Chen sensed something strange and took the letter. After reading it, he just sneered.

When Si De was about to die, he even bit him back - the current Xinyuan Kingdom has not yet admitted that it sent people to ambush Si De. Si De wrote in his blood book that he was innocent. Threatening King Chun's life, but after all, he is the one who cannot escape the blame, and he is willing to die in exchange for the lives of his subordinates. I beg the emperor and King Chun for forgiveness, and don't endanger his family—he didn't say a word about King Chun eradicating dissidents. Framed him, but every sentence was telling me that I was innocent, and I had no choice but to kill myself to prove my innocence.

good means.