concubines

The two finished the second half of the journey in silence. When they entered the yard, Li Chen glanced at him, remembering that Qi Yunruo was still copying the scriptures, and couldn't help but said: "When the child is born, this yard won't be too big. , I will find a suitable yard in a few days, you can move out."

Qi Yunruo nodded.

After that, the two servants led Qi Yunruo back, and the rest went to Qi Niqun's main room in a mighty manner.

Qi Niqun had a gentle smile on her face, because of being a mother, she became more gentle and gentle, she poured sober tea for Li Chen herself, Li Chen said: "Princess, sit down, these things Just let the servants do it.”

Qi Niqun said: "My concubine heard that a woman is pregnant, so she can't just sit and enjoy comfort. As the days get older, she still has to go out and work frequently."

Li Chen smiled, noncommittal.

Mrs. Zhao was both happy and worried about her daughter's pregnancy. The former didn't say much, but the latter said that for nearly a year, Qi Niqun couldn't have intercourse with Li Chen. It happened that the mother and daughter knew that Li Chen asked Qi Yunruo to go out to meet her. Regarding the matter of father and brother, Mrs. Zhao snorted coldly: "I can't see that little bastard still has some skills."

Qi Niqun caressed her stomach, and said with some hesitation: "Then mother, see if the daughter should follow the prince's wishes."

Mrs. Zhao said: "Qun'er, you took the initiative to suggest that you are different from the prince's hint. Now that you have a child, you naturally have the confidence. That little bastard can keep you from being favored by the prince, and can suppress you to be liked by the prince." , is becoming more and more important in the heart of the prince, daughter, you must suppress his temper, and you might as well support him yourself in the future, he dare not miss your kindness."

Qi Niqun thought for a while, and said: "The concubine Ying seems to be a good one. Concubine Li Shu, I will also help to negotiate in front of the prince. Since she has voted for me, I need to give some benefits."

Mrs. Zhao said with a smile: "That's exactly the truth."

Li Chen originally wanted to stay here to rest, and it would be good to talk to the princess. This is his first child, and he must have high hopes. Qi Niqun watched him drinking tea and said with a smile: "Concubine, what are you doing?" As time goes on, Concubine Ying is a kind person, with her, a person who knows both cold and hot, by Wang Ye's side, this concubine can feel at ease."

Li Chen was noncommittal, and said lightly: "Ying Qiu is indeed a good one."

Qi Niqun didn't seem to hear the indifference in his tone, and sighed softly, "Since my concubine brought Yan'er here, I realized that being a mother is not easy. Concubine Li Shu often makes needlework and sends it here, it is really a loving mother."

Li Chen put down his teacup and said, "It's getting late, the concubine should go to bed early, and the king is going back."

"The concubine will send the prince off." Qi Niqun hurriedly stood up.

"Princess, please stop." Li Chen said calmly.

Qi Niqun clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and said softly: "I'm too impatient?"

He was served by Liu Yue, who pressed the blanket on Qi Niqun, and said softly: "Princess, you think too much, you just did your duty."

Qi Niqun was a little uneasy, she lay down slowly, and sighed when she was tired.

Liu Yue turned off the lights and went out lightly.

Li Chen left Dongmei courtyard and went straight back to his main courtyard.

... The concubine has overstepped the bounds this time.Li Chen never wanted to be a fat piece of meat, he didn't want to be a tool for others to fight for power and profit, and he didn't want to be caught up in a carefully woven net.

Li Chen walked to the front of Molian Courtyard, paused, and said, "Go and see Concubine Wei."

Concubine Wei was reading a book under the lamp, when she saw Li Chen, she was overjoyed, she moved down the drawer, Li Chen supported her arm, and saw the books on the kang table.

Concubine Wei said: "I heard that the concubine is pregnant, and I am planning to prepare a gift, but I don't know what the concubine likes."

Li Chen took her "Old Village" to read, and casually said: "clothes, women love these."

Concubine Wei laughed and said, "How can a concubine's stuff compare to the princess's?"

Li Chen shook his head and said, "It's time to make summer clothes, so I asked Su Ge to open a warehouse, and I'll send you a few more bright materials."

Concubine Wei smiled, with a playful look on her face, "Then I will take it tomorrow without being polite."

"Ah."

After summer, the second lady of Ziyangbo's mansion was getting ready to get married. On the day of putting on make-up, Qi Niqun didn't go back to the mansion in person because of her pregnancy, but went with Nanny Song.She is the elder sister who got married and the honor of the concubine. Although she was not close to this concubine when she was in the mansion, she also presented many treasures. A horse of red double-sided Suzhou embroidery was a tribute, which was rewarded by the empress. Uncle Ziyang favored Aunt Liu, and the dowry he gave to the second daughter was eighty levies, which made Aunt Bai a little jealous. Mrs. Zhao was a little unhappy, but it didn't happen much. Something, called Uncle Ziyang, who was surprised and grateful.

Qi Niqun didn't go to Qi Yunruo to copy the scriptures, but Qi Yunruo slowly went out to play with Ji Huan again.

In Qi Niqun's first year of marriage to the royal family, her mother-in-law's birthday was much more important to her than her concubine's younger sister's marriage. With the addition of pregnancy and housekeeping, she really didn't bother to deal with Qi Yunruo.

When Qi Yunruo entered Xiulin Courtyard, Ji Huan was writing a line and said casually: "Your sister is getting married, what gift don't you give?"

Qi Yunruo didn't know about this, and asked in a daze, "What sister?"

Ji Huan realized that what he said was inappropriate, and shook his head in a concealed manner. Qi Yunruo remembered, "Oh", and said: "I remember, she is getting married?"

"Cheng Lingjun, the eldest son of Cheng Wenjie, Minister of the Household Department, can be regarded as a young talent." The father of Uncle Ziyang's concubine works in the Household Department, and Li Chen is also in charge of the Household Department. The prince has it.

Qi Yunruo didn't have a good impression of Qi Danxia. In the mansion, Qi Yunshan's brother and sister just ignored him, Qi Yunying was silent, but Qi Danxia and Qi Ruxue always looked at him coldly, with disgust in their eyes.

Qi Yunruo thought for a while, and asked doubtfully, "Should I give her a congratulatory gift when she gets married?"

Ji Huan smiled and said: "No, if you don't want to, then don't give it away."

Qi Yunruo said: "I don't have anything either."

Ji Huan rubbed his head, and said in a gentle voice, "Just tell me what's missing."

"There is nothing missing."

Ji Huan said: "Eat at my place today, what do you like?"

Qi Yunruo blinked and said, "I want sweet and sour radishes."

Ji Huan laughed, he ordered a lot of dishes, and also specially ordered a large plate of radishes.The radish strips made by the chef of the palace are sweet and sour, without too much spicy taste. Ji Huan tasted it and liked it.

Qi Yunruo drank another pot of sweet-scented osmanthus wine, and lay in Ji Huan's arms drunkenly, and Ji Huan helped him to rest in his bedroom.Qi Yunruo was not drunk, but a little dizzy and wanted to sleep.Ji Huan remembered the last time Qi Yunruo drank and went out crookedly, wondering if he could find his way.

Ji Huan was reading in the study, not paying attention to the time passing quickly, Qi Yunruo hadn't woken up, but when it was time for dinner, Li Chen came.

Ji Huan froze for a moment, subconsciously looked at the bedroom.

Sitting opposite Ji Huan, Li Chen stretched his back. The concubine wanted to add makeup. He had a delicate relationship with the Minister of the Household Department. The congratulatory gifts he gave needed to be carefully considered. This made him a little suspicious of his father's intention to let his third brother join the military department.

Concubine Ji's father has come from a small official of the eighth rank step by step to the present, and has become a servant of the third rank. Zuo Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of War, was injured in his early years. If he is allowed to stay in that position for too long, the next minister of the Ministry of War will be either Ji Hansong or Zhao Weidu, the left servant of the Ministry of War. Both of them have their own strengths and weaknesses. Ji Hansong is a literati, although some civil servants have sat in that position in the past to check and balance The gradually growing group of military generals is just not a pedantic person nowadays, he can make good use of it if he likes it, Ji Hansong's advantage is that he has a good official reputation, his performance is excellent every year, and the emperor has praised him a lot in previous years.

As for Zhao Weidu, he is still a third-rank General Huwei now, but he has a violent temper and once argued with others in the court and even fought with others. After that, the officials have not heard of his impeachment for a few months.

Zhao Wei has never been on good terms with any prince, but Li Chen still hopes that Ji Hansong will go further, but if Ji Hansong is in charge of the Ministry of War, Ji Concubine's status in the mansion also needs to be mentioned.

Li Chen put everyone in the right place, and the overturning hand silently straightened them up.

When the father gave birth to the eldest son, he was still in his twenties, and now he is nearly half a hundred years old.

Ji Huan didn't disturb Li Chen's thinking, that's how they usually get along, if Li Chen needs it, he will open his mouth to express his opinion, sometimes Li Chen treats him closer than those staff, and he will say something to himself .Sometimes Ji Huan just needs to be a companion and stay quietly.

"...Brother Ji." Qi Yunruo covered his hands and yawned, walked out sleepily, and asked, "What time is it? Did Liusu come to see me?"

Li Chen broke away from his contemplation and looked over subconsciously.

It took Qi Yunruo a while to realize that he and Ji Huan were not the only ones here.

Ji Huan said with a smile: "Xiao Qi ate too much sweet-scented osmanthus wine today, and has slept with me until now."

Li Chen nodded, and said, "I'll have something light tonight." The implication was that Qi Yunruo was going to stay after eating.Ji Huan said with a smile: "Xiao Qi can't drink any more tonight."

The kitchen sent a bowl of black japonica rice porridge with a spoonful of sugar. If Qi Yun couldn't eat anything else, he would be full after drinking the thick porridge.

Li Chen said: "I ate too little."

Ji Huan said: "Perhaps I ate too much at noon, Xiao Qi ate a lot of pickled radishes."

Li Chen smiled and said, "So you really like this."

"Well, it's delicious."

Ji Huan's eyes fluttered, he looked at Qi Yunruo, this person who nominally belongs to the prince, is 15 years old, not too old, not too young, his younger sisters are all married, and the older sisters are about to have children.

Li Chen asked, "Have you finished copying your scriptures?"

Qi Yunruo shook his head, "No, I don't want to copy anymore, no one is in charge, I will copy later when I have time."

Li Chen said: "If you don't like it, just let it go."

Qi Yunruo ate his radish sticks, but didn't speak again.

Ji Huan and Li Chen had a drink, looked at Li Chen with a smile, his eyes were full of thoughtful smiles, Li Chen smiled wryly, and said to Qi Yunruo: "I asked you to move out last time, what do you like?" What kind of place?"

Qi Yunruo thought for a while, "Anything is fine."

Li Chen took the matter to heart.

After a few days, Li Chen mentioned this to Qi Niqun.

Qi Niqun's thoughts changed instantly, and she smiled and said: "There is no rush to move out at this moment, find a yard, fix a good date, and I will prepare it right now."

Li Chen said: "Thank you, Princess."

Qi Niqun said: "The prince likes the third younger brother, it is the third younger brother's blessing."