concubines

After Li Chen mentioned the matter of becoming a queen in the court, it really caused an uproar. Li Chen quietly listened to the reactions of the people in the court. At first, there was a buzzing, and then there were voices of kneeling and pleading——

"Your Majesty, I beg you to think twice."

"Your Majesty! Throughout the ages, there has never been a man as a queen!"

Li Chen said indifferently: "An old saying goes, 'Woman, Cheng Ye, Cheng Ye, Cheng Shi Ye,' when I was a prince, I married a wife of the Qi family, and my younger brother accompanied my wife. When the Qi family died, the concubine should have inherited his position. "

"Your Majesty, that's an old saying hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Nowadays, there are no concubines as their main wives. A gentleman doesn't take a concubine as his wife. What's more, in the family of Zhongming Dingshi, the status of a concubine is not even comparable to that of a concubine. "

Li Chen smiled, "Speaking of which, 'Don't take concubines as wives' is also a rule in the Spring and Autumn Period."

Seeing that the emperor blocked the words of the civil and military ministers one by one, and he leisurely announced his retirement, Ji Huan didn't know how he got out of the hall. When the cold wind blew, his head cleared up, and after he left the palace, he called his The coachman drove directly to the Prince's Mansion.

When Ji Huan saw Qi Yunruo, Qi Yunruo was instructing people to take advantage of the sun today to dry their books, Ji Huan asked: "Do you know what the emperor said in court today?"

Qi Yunruo smiled calmly, "I know."

Ji Huan sat down and sighed, "I was really shocked today."

Qi Yunruo said: "Has the quarrel started today?"

Ji Huan said: "It's more than a quarrel. The emperor's words shocked everyone, and then some old ministers from the Yushitai and the Imperial Academy exploded the pot. Fortunately, there was no deadly remonstrance on the spot. ..."

——"My lord!" Lu Lan ran in in panic, "My lord, suddenly a lot of people gathered outside the Prince's Mansion, saying they want to see you."

Ji Huan looked at Qi Yunruo worriedly, and Qi Yunruo said indifferently, "Please go and visit Heting Island."

Qi Yunruo stood up, Ji Huan took his hand and said, "I'll go with you."

"...No need, brother Ji, I can handle it myself." Now that Ji Huan is in his prime, it is very likely that people will classify him as a courtier, thinking that he disregards the rules of the world, as long as it is the emperor's will, no matter good or bad If Qi Yun doesn't want to make things difficult for Ji Huan.

Ji Huan shook his head resolutely, "Xiao Qi, I'm the only one beside you now, I can't hide."

Although Qi Yunruo was able to appear on behalf of the palace after serving as the chief history of Prince Chun's residence, he did not go out to socialize several times. When searching the mansion, Qi Yunruo led people to stop in front of Li Chen's inner study, found evidence and entered the palace to sue Su Yuan.

In the eyes of many people, especially the officials who knew the whole story, Qi Yunruo is not just a prostitute, but a strategic retainer. This retainer may have a deep relationship with the emperor, but This does not mean that he will be recognized for it.

Qi Yunruo walked into the main hall of Guanhe Tingzhou in casual clothes. The officials who had been invited were headed by the Minister of Rites, Mr. Du. They believed that Qi Yunruo was not a big evil person, and the purpose of today was to persuade him to let him retreat in spite of difficulties. , Take the initiative to tell the emperor, let the emperor know that his proposal will not be recognized.

Qi Yunruo looked around, his current status is naturally inferior to the ministers, but there is no need for him to salute, he walked over to sit on the main seat, and ordered: "Serve tea!"

Just as Master Du was about to speak, he saw Ji Huan, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, approaching slowly. He didn't realize that Ji Huan came for the same purpose as himself, so he said, "Master Xiao Ji, are you here too?"

Ji Huan said frankly: "To tell you the truth, Mr. Du, this official has always had a personal relationship with Qi Changshi."

Master Du was stunned for a moment, realizing that he was not his helper, he frowned and said: "Master Xiao Ji is also a person who has read sage books, do you also support the emperor to appoint a man as queen?"

Ji Huan said: "It is said that it is the queen, but in the end it is also the emperor's official wife. If the emperor wants to choose a wife for himself, there is nothing worth talking about."

Another old minister shook his beard, tilted Ji Huan and said, "Master Ji, if your father, Mr. Ji, is here, I wonder if he would agree with your rhetoric."

This person is actually Ji Huan's superior. He is the deputy head of the Imperial Academy. , what has it to do with Xiaguan's father?"

The maidservants brought the tea, and Qi Yunruo ordered it to go on, and the ministers realized that today they were not here to play tricks on Ji Huan, but to ask Qi Yunruo to take the initiative to let the emperor dispel that idea. Master Du coughed lightly and said: "How many times are we here?" Actually, I came to see Qi Changshi."

Qi Yunruo said with a smile: "I have never visited your lord's residence before."

Zhao Hanlin didn't want to say more, and said directly: "Dare to ask Qi Changshi, do you know about the fact that the emperor wants to make a man his queen?"

Qi Yunruo glanced at him and felt familiar, Ji Huan quietly nodded at him, Qi Yunruo knew that this lord was also there at Brother Ji's celebration banquet, Qi Yunruo said: "Of course I know."

"Then you agree?"

Several officials looked over together, Qi Yunruo said calmly: "The lower officials naturally agree."

"absurd!"

"Yes, this kind of thing is really unheard of...isn't it Master Qiu?"

"Of course, it is very rare in this world to marry a male concubine, unexpectedly..." A white-faced and beardless official was about to finish speaking, but he felt uncomfortable talking about the emperor, so he said harshly, "How can there be such a rule!"

Qi Yunruo took a sip of tea, and seeing the commotion in the main hall of Guanhe Tingzhou, Qi Yunruo asked doubtfully, "How are you and your majesty doing, why are you adults so excited?"

"This is not your private matter, it's a national event!"

"Qi Changshi," Du Shangshu interrupted his peers, and said seriously, "This matter is not as simple as you think. The emperor's wife is not like the mistress of ordinary people, but the mother of a country. My son, show your enlightenment... Hey, speaking of it, I have heard about some things about you. In the northwest, you served the emperor, killed the Qiang people, and escaped by yourself after the adventure of the Xinyuan Kingdom," Du Shangshu laughed self-deprecatingly He smiled, "Speaking of which, you have done much more than us useless scholars..." Before Du Shangshu could finish his words, he received many displeased looks from his own camp.

Qi Yunruo said: "Du Shang's book has been praised."

Du Shangshu wiped off his sweat, and continued: "I admire your achievements, but I don't know if you have thought about it. The current emperor is a man of great talent and strategy. A hundred years later, the historian will comment on the emperor's thousand-year achievements one by one. Write it down, but the emperor is very likely to go another way, and when the posterity mentions it, he is... an innocent monarch!" After Du Shangshu finished speaking, his face was covered with cold sweat again, which is a big deal. If it was disrespectful, the officials who had spoken fiercely just now lowered their heads one by one.

Ji Huan glanced at Qi Yunruo uneasily, worried that he would be frightened.

But Qi Yunruo said sternly: "I dare to ask my lord, in your heart, it is best for the emperor to follow the steps and become a monarch like Emperor Tang and Han Wu? Excuse me, is it true that after that, you adults will have the opportunity to become Tian Fu and Wei Zheng?" Such an important minister with a long history, but is this what the emperor wants? Are you imposing your own ideas on the emperor! "

Zhao Hanlin said coldly: "According to what you mean, you don't want the emperor to become a Mingjun?"

Qi Yunruo also said indifferently: "There is no contradiction between the generation of Mingjun and the establishment of me as the queen, the lower officials can't see any contradiction."

Du Shangshu stopped Zhao Hanlin who was about to question him, sighed softly and said: "I am here to persuade you, maybe you care more about reputation than the emperor, but it seems that we should not come. "

Du Shangshu's speech was relatively warm, Qi Yunruo said to him gently: "Lord Du, you all know that this is a matter of risking the world, don't the emperor understand? The emperor has no one to support him in such a difficult matter. If I If you back down again, the emperor is really lonely... If the subordinates offend you today, please don't take it seriously, but the subordinates cannot agree to you."

Du Shangshu nodded, thinking in his heart, after all, these courtiers still can't shake the emperor's insistence, if one day the post-canon grand ceremony is really held, maybe they have to manage it by themselves, as the minister of the Ministry of Rites, he is unprecedented.

After Ji Huan left, Qi Yunruo stayed alone in Guanhe Tingzhou drinking tea, Li Chen and the children were not here, it made no difference to Qi Yunruo whether he lived in Molian Courtyard or here.

But after a while, Concubine Ji came rushing to kill her and shouted at the beginning: "Where's Ji Huan?"

Qi Yunruo said casually: "Brother Ji just left not long ago."

Concubine Ji looked at Qi Yunruo, she still didn't know about the incident that shocked the government and the public, the matter of her two brothers alone was enough to annoy her, Concubine Ji said: "When will the emperor take us into the palace?" After entering the palace , I have the opportunity to see the emperor, to intercede with the emperor.

Qi Yunruo was silent, and Concubine Ji asked fearfully: "Will the emperor lower my position because of this?"

Qi Yunruo was silent for a while, then turned his thoughts from the group of people just now to the present, and sighed: "Concubine Ji, the emperor has just ascended the throne, and you have discredited the emperor."

Just like Concubine Ji was still dissatisfied with her younger brothers before, when she heard Ji Huan's name, she transferred her resentment to Ji Huan. And he walked over aggressively and said: "Qi Changshi! What qualifications do you have to say these words! Whether to smear or not is a matter between me and the emperor, and has nothing to do with you!"

Qi Yunruo had a headache and said: "Concubine Ji, please don't make trouble for me, the concubine should not be involved in political affairs, the emperor can't spare you to deal with you now..."

——"Qi Yunruo!"

Both Qi Yunruo and Concubine Ji were startled, Concubine Wei walked in tremblingly holding the maid's hand, she was really trembling all over, Qi Yunruo frowned, Concubine Ji subconsciously thought it was funny, she didn't seem to know Wei What happened to the concubine and Qi Yunruo?

Concubine Wei didn't seem to see Concubine Ji, she walked in and shook off Xiao Qiao's hand, and walked up to Qi Yunruo step by step, her words seemed to be cold in her mouth, "hissing" while Qi Yunruo sat On the chair, Concubine Wei leaned down slightly, her gaze was unprecedentedly cold, "Qi Yunruo...you are really capable!"

Qi Yunruo looked at her calmly.

Even Concubine Ji saw something was wrong and asked, "Sister Wei Concubine, what happened?"

"What's the matter?" Concubine Wei sneered again and again, "Sister! It seems that you don't know yet, our emperor is ready to become queen!"

Concubine Ji was stunned. It seemed that the candidate for the future empress was neither Concubine Wei nor herself. Concubine Ji looked at Qi Yunruo in a panic and asked, "Is it the candidate you recommended?"

Concubine Wei stood up straight, looked at Concubine Ji and said with a sneer: "No! Sister, the empress that the emperor is going to make now is he—" She pointed at Qi Yunruo, "You heard me right! The emperor would rather appoint a man as queen! "

Concubine Ji screamed: "It's impossible—"

Concubine Wei has never provoked anyone in the open. She was planning to be the empress with all her heart, and persuaded her father to let the ministers recommend her. Who knows that it didn't take long. She just got the news that the emperor didn't think about her at all, and the emperor didn't think about her at all. I thought about marrying the daughter of a rich family, but I want to make Qi Yunruo!The revenge of seizing the son has not been avenged yet, Concubine Wei has been occupied with all her mind by hatred, and came to He Tingzhou irrationally.

"Concubine Wei, you are really well informed," Qi Yunruo looked at her, "You really don't think much of me."

Concubine Wei cried: "Now, how can I take you seriously! I have served the emperor for seven years! Seven years... What did I do wrong! Why does the emperor always see me!" She hated it too much She hated her poor background, hated her parents for sending her to Prince Chun's mansion, hated concubine Ji for giving birth to a son the first time, hated Qi Niqun's status as the official wife, hated Qi Yunruo for winning the emperor's heart, hated herself for planning for many years but ruined it once...

Concubine Ji looked at Qi Yunruo, and said stiffly: "What Concubine Wei said is true..."

Qi Yunruo looked at her, "Yes, what Concubine Wei said is true, Concubine Ji, do you also have so much dissatisfaction?"

Concubine Ji can also cry like Concubine Wei, but she didn't say a word, except for a few concubines who taught the prince's personnel affairs, Concubine Ji is the first woman in Li Chen, and the first one in the Chun Palace. The concubine of the master, she even favored her—that is something that even the concubine did not get. When Ji Hansong ascended to the position of Minister, Concubine Ji even felt that she was no worse than the concubine. As long as the prince is willing to support her, why can't she replace her? Where is the princess?

Concubine Ji hated Ji Huan first. After Ji Huan took the prince's gaze away from her, she never came back. Secondly, she hated Qi Yunruo the most. After the prince fell in love with Qi Yunruo, there was no one else in his eyes, but Concubine Ji still has that expectation in her heart, she is the emperor's first, after all, she is different... Everything that happened at this moment finally shattered Concubine Ji's dream.

Concubine Ji couldn't tell what was in her heart, Qi Yunruo said: "Don't worry, the emperor will not lower your position."

——But it will put me in limbo for the rest of my life.Concubine Ji has never realized this clearly for a moment like now.

Concubine Ji ignored Concubine Wei who was still crying, and left Guanhe Tingzhou.

Concubine Ji remembered that nine years ago, she was wearing a rose red wedding dress and entered the palace through the side door. She was only 15 years old, full of fear and uneasiness. approached and lifted her hijab.

Concubine Wei murmured, "Why did I lose to you?"

"A long time ago, you and concubine Ji were the ones who impressed the emperor," Qi Yunruo said indifferently, "You have impressed him. I remember when he just said that he would go to war, many of you were sitting and joking with the prince. I went in from the outside, and he looked at you, Concubine Ji, and Concubine Wang with a smile in his eyes, maybe there was also Concubine Li Shu before he made a mistake, and brother Ji, Yingqiu who had served him for many years... I really want to exchange my heart with my heart Yes, Concubine Wei, you have never loved the emperor. You have done a lot of things for your own status. The emperor knows that from a very early age, maybe when you used Eunuch Qian to punish Yuan Bao to make the princess hold me accountable, Maybe when you encouraged Concubine Li to harm the eldest lady, the emperor's heart for you died."

Concubine Wei looked up at him.

"Do you know why the emperor tolerates you again and again?"

Concubine Wei was stunned for a long time before she said indifferently: "One is for my father's reputation among literati, and the other is to prevent Mu'er from being stained by her biological mother."

Qi Yunruo's eyes were full of pity, Concubine Wei glanced at him, she couldn't tell what was in her heart, she smiled bitterly for a long time and said: "Who expected you to have today?"

Yes, who would have expected that?Qi Niqun who is dead, Ji Ru who is always domineering, and Wei Qiang who is shrewd and introverted, who would have thought that when we first met Qi Yunruo was so short that he couldn't even compare to one of them, wearing the most ordinary blue clothes, not Speaking, Qi Niqun gave an order, and he knelt down in front of them to say hello, they couldn't regard him as an enemy, they only had contempt in their hearts, but now...even if the person who came to send the letter to Concubine Wei said how fiercely the ministers of the court opposed him, But Concubine Wei understands that the emperor wants to do something and will not be stopped by any reason. Qi Yunruo is now... actually the empress!

Concubine Wei knelt in front of Qi Yunruo and kowtowed.

Qi Yunruo looked at him calmly.

Concubine Wei said: "What I wish in my life is the status of a royal wife, but I can't get it in this life. I beg you to treat Mu'er kindly."

Concubine Wei kowtowed again, "I just hope... I just hope that after many years, the emperor will think of me, and it's not all those scandals."

Concubine Wei was all hopeless, and all her heart and soul were wasted. She kowtowed for the last time, with a smile on her face, but tears continued to flow down, "I know, the emperor will not let us enter the palace, so I am here to celebrate your ascension Take the position of empress—empress empress!"

Qi Yunruo closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

The prince lived in the East Palace. After the prince who was not the prince ascended the throne, his mansion was called Qiandi, that is, the mansion of Qianlong. Although Li Chen was named the prince in the end, he never lived in the East Palace. The Prince's Mansion should also be the Qiandi Same, don't give it to others, or change it into a temple, or use it for sacrifice, but the emperor has never ordered to break the ground.Now the concubines and concubines in the Prince's Mansion have not moved out, and the Prince's Mansion is open to entertain guests as before. Several adults tried to persuade Qi Yunruo to come out of the Prince's Mansion, but Zhao Hanlin suddenly said: "It's my father's fault to raise him or not! We all blame him Don’t move, there is also Uncle Ziyang! Uncle Ziyang is the father of the emperor’s original concubine, and the emperor and Qi Yuze will listen to what he says.”

"However, how did I hear that Uncle Ziyang and Qi Yuze have a bad relationship?"

Zhao Hanlin said: "Filial piety is greater than the sky. If Qi Yuze is really an unfilial person, we have more reason to continue to oppose the matter of establishing a queen."

Du Shangshu said leisurely: "I won't continue to mix in, I'm going to Ziyangbo's mansion, you go, I won't accompany you."