I'm watching the gate in the jail

Although Wanda has obtained special approval, he can enter and leave the harem.

However, he also has self-knowledge, he has always only been in Zhaode Palace, and in the past two years he has been walking around in Anxi Palace.How about the other concubines in the palace, how about the princes and princesses, Wanda has never been to their palaces, and has never seen them.

Hearing Wang Zhi say that Zhu Youzhan resembles A Lan, he couldn't help being curious.

"It's like A Lan, but her temper is much quieter than him. The concubine Shao Chen is a beautiful woman from the south of the Yangtze River, with a quiet nature, so the fourth prince is also gentle...Compared to A Lan, it is said that she is more like His Majesty."

Wang Zhi said with a sigh.

"Concubine Shaochen and Concubine Guifei have always been on good terms. Although the two have different positions and ages, they are indeed friends with handkerchiefs. Not long after Concubine Shaochen gave birth to a child, Concubine Gui sent someone to send it to him. A great gift."

Wang Zhi said in embarrassment, "And Susu, you also know that His Highness the Crown Prince was influenced by the Queen Mother Zhou and the Empress Wu Abolished before. He didn't like the empress, and he had spoken hurtful words to our empress many times. The empress gave the prince a meeting The parrot that said auspicious words... was thrown to death by the crown prince. Although it may have been done accidentally..."

Wanda had only heard a little about the matter of the imperial palace before, but she never expected that Zhu Youtang and Wan Zhen'er would have such a fight.It was even more unexpected for Zhu Youtang to be so frightening when he became irritable at such a young age.

Hey, the genes of the old Zhu's family really say that the wind is the rain.

"No matter how it was back then, Ah Tang only has admiration for my sister now. My sister loves him so much and treats him like her own son. Even if he was born to a Yao girl, it doesn't prevent him from being the crown prince."

Wanda comforted.

What's more, more than two years ago, he had heard the emperor's "dream within a dream" about the emperor Daxing, and he knew the emperor's knot.The more he likes a son, the more reluctant he is to be the prince.

At this time, there was this rumor in the palace suddenly, and there was probably something strange in it.

"Where did the rumors about 'Yi Chu' come from? Does my sister know?"

Wanda asked in a low voice.

"It was passed down from the Supervisor of Ceremonies..."

Wang Zhi lowered his head and said worriedly, "Ever since the impeachment of Xichang by the cabinet last time, Eunuch Huai'en has not been favored by His Majesty. We... They are eunuchs who like to flatter the high and trample the low. Who will win?" If you don’t have power, you will cling to it. If you lose power, you will bully him.”

"Eunuch Huai'en is still under the palm of the supervisor of ceremonies. These servants dare not disobey face to face, but dare to disobey. In addition, after the last blow, father-in-law feels a little bit depressed. Therefore, whether it is Dongchang or Li Whether it's in the prison or not, it's all noisy. Susu, as you know, Eunuch Qin Chang is a carefree and careless person. So there will be rumors about Yi Chu... I'm afraid it was deliberately done by someone with a heart."

Wang Zhi analyzed.

"How are you doing?"

Seeing that he spoke clearly and logically, Wanda couldn't help wondering what he could do.

"Before, Eunuch Wynn wanted to hand over the position of admiral of Dongchang to concentrate on dealing with the affairs of His Majesty and the Supervisor of Rituals. Now he has no mind to take care of this matter. His Majesty also asked me a few days ago, Dongchang Who should be the admiral. I was thinking... I would like to recommend Shang Ming, the servant who helped us at the Donghua Gate in the case of the 'Heiyu' before."

Since the last case was over, Shang Ming had been in contact with Wang Zhiduo in the palace.Wang Zhi saw that although he was not as good as Wynn, he was capable. In addition, he was already a popular candidate for the position of admiral, so he also wanted to be a favor.But Wang Zhi didn't dare to be arbitrary, so he came to ask Wanda.

It's a pity that Wanda only handled cases outside the palace in the past, and only learned a little about the affairs of the inner court from Wang Zhi's mouth.He felt that since he was a person recognized by Wang Zhi and had helped them, he should be reliable, so he felt that there was no major problem.

Soon after, Wang Zhi recommended Shang Ming to be the admiral of the East Factory in front of Zhu Jianshen, so as to share the burden for Huai En, who was gradually unable to do what he wanted.After what happened last time, Zhu Jianshen also had some impression of this name in his mind, so he agreed.

At that time, none of them knew that their actions were truly "leading wolves into the house".

Rumors of Yi Chu melted faster than the winter snow, and soon spread from the inner court to the former court.

The most recent "Easy Chu" incident in the Ming Dynasty still happened to Zhu Jianshen.

After the "Tumu Fort Change", his uncle Jingtai ascended the throne and deprived him of the position of Prince of the East Palace.After the "Change of Seizing the Gate", with the restoration of Yingzong, the position of prince was also restored.Although the Empress Dowager Zhou preferred Zhu Qizhen to make her second son Zhu Jianze the crown prince, but it failed under the strong opposition of the first assistant Li Xian.

Wanda and Yang Xiuxian originally thought that this rumor would cause an uproar in the cabinet. No matter whether the rumor is true or not, at least someone should come forward to question or oppose it.

The result was beyond their expectations. The news spread to the former dynasty, like a bullock entering the sea, without causing any splashes.

"These cabinet ministers...are they really wood-plastic clay sculptures?"

Wanda was amazed.

Xiang Zhong and Shang Ren left, and the remaining ministers have not recovered from the impeachment incident last time.Maybe they also figured out Zhu Jianshen's temper, knowing that the emperor hated courtiers meddling his family affairs the most, so they pretended to be dead collectively this time.

As for Yang Xiuxian, since he heard about this "big secret" from Wanda in the last "black spot" incident, he already has a certain understanding of the future historical trend of Ming Dynasty.

Although it took him a long time to accept that Daming would eventually perish, he knew that Zhu Youtang's position as the crown prince was unshakable.

"Your Majesty has absolutely no intention of Yi Chu, nor is it possible that it was promoted by the previous court, and it is even more unlikely that it was the empress's intention..."

Everyone sat around the steaming mandarin duck hot pot, and Qiu Zijin asked while cooking the sliced ​​meat, "So, where did this rumor come from?"

On a rare holiday, everyone gathered at the baron's mansion for dinner.

In addition to hot pot, there is also the charcoal grill that Wanda has been particularly obsessed with recently.At this moment, Gao Hui was sitting in the middle of the courtyard with a cattail fan, grilling chicken wings for everyone.

People in Ming Dynasty also eat barbecue, but in this era, the so-called "roasted meat" is more used.

The method is a bit like the Teppanyaki in the future. The meat is placed on a large round iron sheet as big as a baking pan, and grilled with long chopsticks.There is still a big gap with Wanda's familiar barbecue method.

Wanda drew inspiration from the iron sticks used to pierce prisoners' fingernails in the torture chamber of the imperial prison, and ordered someone to order a hundred iron sticks with wooden handles and bring them back to the baron's mansion.

It made others almost think that a dungeon was built in the baron's mansion, and this evil star was going to lynch someone.

Wanda also asked people to build a tin barbecue grill in the garden, and took Alan to play honey barbecue in the yard, such as mutton, lamb loin, eggplant, and steamed bun slices.There are also rare ingredients such as venison and camel humps, which are rare for future generations.Sprinkled with cumin and his secret chili powder, it is really fragrant for half of the capital.

The nearby nobles passed by the baron's mansion, and they all drool enviously from the corners of their eyes.

Wan Lan was even more whimsical, and proposed that when his father went beyond the Great Wall, he would bring this set of things into the Forbidden City, and make barbecue with his own hands for His Majesty's mother and younger brother to eat, but was ruthlessly rejected by Wanda - he was afraid that they would spoil their stomachs if they ate it. It's a small thing, but burning down the imperial city is a big crime.

"Let me see. It depends on who can benefit from it."

Qiu Zijin chewed the sliced ​​meat covered with sesame paste and sesame oil twice, swallowed it, touched Mei Qianzhang with his elbow, and signaled him to change shifts with Gao Hui, so that Gao Hui could also come in for a bite.

"Who will benefit? Concubine Shao Huan?"

Wanda bit her chopsticks, and quickly calculated in her mind, "If this matter is settled, it will naturally benefit Mrs. Shao. But I don't think there is a word about this matter. It is said that it has angered His Majesty. Now the palace Li is currently investigating the origin of the rumors. Concubine Shao Huan can't afford to do that."

Zhu Jianshen himself had experienced ups and downs when he was the prince, so he was very sensitive to such things.Shang Ming, the newly appointed Admiral of Dongchang, has been sent to investigate the source of the rumors in the palace, and it is necessary to find the instigator behind the scenes.

However, after more than half a month of investigation, the person who spread the rumors has still not been found.

"Or, let's see who will lose in this incident."

Yang Xiuxian put the boiled mutton into Wanda's bowl, "Conversely, we should be able to find clues."

"Anyway, my sister definitely won't get any benefits. If Ah Tang didn't recognize him before, the imperial concubine might still cooperate with Concubine Huan to push the fourth prince to the throne of God. There is no need for this at all now."

Wanda shook her head.

"Ms. Shao is just pregnant, and it is the time when Sheng En is prosperous. It is impossible to take risks for this matter. Mrs. Bai does not have the third prince, so she has nothing to fight for. The other ladies are even more unable to do so."

"Where is the imperial concubine?"

Qiu Zijin asked suddenly.

"Wang Niangniang? For more than ten years, I have lived like a pool of stagnant water. How can I have such thoughts."

Wanda shook her head, "And no matter who becomes the prince, she is still the aunt, so there is no need to take the initiative to step into the muddy water."

It is said that in the past ten years, Zhu Jianshen has visited her more times than he can count on one hand.I don't know if it's because he really doesn't like the emperor, but the emperor doesn't want his wife to give birth to a son at all...so he doesn't give her this chance.

"I'm talking about another queen."

Qiu Zijin sighed, "Have you all forgotten Empress Wu?"

Empress Wu?

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

If Xiaoqiu hadn't mentioned it so much today, they would have almost forgotten about this woman.

Besides, she is an abandoned queen, whoever becomes the prince will not be able to turn her back.

"Why is it not my turn?"

Qiu Zijin sighed, "Have you all forgotten that the prince's biological mother has lived in Nei'an Letang for so many years, who is helping her all the time? It is the Wu family. If it is said that the imperial concubine raised the prince for two years, so Mrs. Wu watched the crown prince's birth and growth. You don't even think about it, why she helps Mrs. Is it because she is kind?"

Wanda nodded in a daze.

"That's right, the Wu family and the Empress Dowager Zhou spent so much effort to support the Ji family and her children to the throne. The purpose is that the crown prince will ascend the throne one day, be able to restore the Wu family, and give her back what the Empress of Ming should have. The glory...even for her to avenge my sister."

It's a pity that the two of them tried their best, but they didn't expect that the child would be subdued by Wan Zhen'er in the end, and she had already let go of her hatred for her.

Moreover, the child has the greatest forgetfulness. In two years' time, the Empress Dowager Zhou will still be fine. After all, the East Palace has to go to the Empress Dowager's palace every day to pay her respects.

But what about Mrs. Wu... Isn't what awaits her a fate of being completely forgotten again?

According to Wu's temperament, how could she be reconciled.

"Ms. Wu alone can't turn the tide in this matter. She must have her help in the palace."

Qiu Zijin said with certainty.

At this moment, Wang Zhi walked in with Feng Xue all over his body, and when he saw that everyone was eating hot pot, he immediately laughed.

"Look at me, it's really time to come. I just walked outside the baron's mansion, and I smelled the aroma of barbecue. I thought that I must have a good meal today. I didn't expect that there would be hot pot besides barbecue, haha."

He was used to being casual in Wan's house, and he didn't need to be waited on. He took off his cloak, rubbed his frozen red hands, walked to his usual seat and sat down.

Just in time, the grilled food was cooked, Mei Qianzhang and Gao Hui walked in together, and put the plate full of meat next to the hot pot.

Wang Zhi picked up a sizzling mutton kebab grilled and bit off a piece of meat with a satisfied expression on his face.

"How? How's the investigation in the palace? Is it the Queen Mother Zhou and the Wu family?"

Qiu Zijin asked impatiently.

"Lord Qiu is amazing."

Wang Zhi put down the iron stick and stared at him, "The news I just got from Shang Ming is the result of these two."

"Didn't the Supervisor of Ceremonies make a mess during this period? Mrs. Wu bribed a few young eunuchs and spread the news of Yi Chu around the palace. It was just to provoke the empress and empress Shao to turn against each other, and to arouse His Majesty's suspicion. From now on Shaw's favor."

In addition, Shao Shi is just pregnant now, maybe under the panic, the child will be lost, this is the plan of "killing three birds with one stone".Not to mention vicious.

"In addition to eunuchs, the Wu family also bought Luo Xiaoxi, a monk from Miaoying Baita Temple. Let him spread the rumor among the people that there is no such thing as an emperor in the prince's life. The place where he should be is not in the capital, but in Wuzhou .”

Wuzhou, Guangxi is Ji's hometown.

Luo Xiaoxi, whose Tibetan name is Luosang Yi.His father is Han and his mother is Uzbekistan. He studied Buddhism in the Jokhang Temple since he was a child.

During the past decade or so in the Ming Dynasty, Tibetan Buddhism was especially popular.Luo Xiaoxi came to Beijing from Lhasa in the fifth year of Chenghua. Because of the profound Buddhism and the solemn treasure, countless gentry in the capital worshiped him, and the servants in the palace even respected him as "Shangxian".Later, he was named "Chuan Feng Guan" by the emperor and enjoyed the imperial salary.

The words from his mouth are naturally more convincing than the gossip spread by the little eunuchs, so the news can quickly spread in the previous dynasty.

"No, I don't understand."

Wanda put down the bowls and chopsticks, with question marks all over her head, "If Mrs. Wu did this, I can still understand it. Why does the Queen Mother Zhou want to get involved? Didn't she take care of Azang?"

"Azhang is now raised by the imperial concubine's side, and it is beyond her control. But the fourth prince is still young, only over one year old. It is time to shape..."

Wang Zhi sighed, "Your Majesty went to Renshou Palace this morning to greet the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager has already mentioned that the Shao family is pregnant now, and the fourth prince is the most difficult time to bring up the fourth prince. Concubine Shao is not suitable for raising children anymore. She wants to take the fourth prince Enter the Renshou Palace to teach him personally..."

"Wow, this old lady is really amazing."

Wanda clapped the case and said, "What does Your Majesty say, you won't agree."

"Your Majesty didn't agree, but he didn't refuse either."

Wang Zhi said distressedly, "Your Majesty is worrying about another matter."

"What? Is something wrong in Liaodong again?"

During this time, they are all at home preparing their luggage.

I heard that Liaodong is very miserable, and even in spring it is freezing cold, so you have to take the leather materials you wear in winter with you on the road.

"It's for the repair of the Daxing Emperor Yuling."

Wang Zhi sighed, "Although it's not very good to say that, but the Queen Mother Zhou is really... hard to say..."

"One tomb with three caves as agreed, with the first emperor's coffin in the middle, Empress Dowager Qian on the left, and Empress Dowager Zhou on the right? What else can I do?"

Wanda asked.

"When Empress Dowager Qian was buried, Empress Dowager Zhou ordered people to completely block the tunnel from the left tomb to the central tomb with large stones and wood."

Wang Zhi lowered his head, "In this way, even if they share the same acupoint, the Empress Dowager Qian and the late Emperor are still 'so close to each other'."

Wanda and the others were speechless for a long time after hearing this.

This week the queen mother is really... one after another, it's really too much trouble.

"After His Majesty knows, how are you going to prepare?"

Wanda asked cautiously.

"Your Majesty naturally wants to re-open the tunnel. But now the coffins of the late emperor and Empress Dowager Qian have been placed. If the construction is started easily, firstly, I am afraid of disturbing the feng shui, and secondly, I am afraid of disturbing the ghosts of the former emperor and empress dowager. So for the time being, we can only It can be like this..."

After listening to Wang Zhi's words, Wanda looked helpless.

"His Majesty……"

In Anxi Palace, Wan Zhen'er just came back from the East Palace to comfort the prince.

Knowing that his position as the crown prince might be shaken, Zhu Youtang was so frightened that he had a high fever, and held Wan Zhen'er's hand and refused to let go.

In his sleep, he called "Mother" for a while, and "Niang Niang" for a while, and he didn't know who he was calling.

Zhu Youtang is really alone in this palace, apart from the crown prince and Wan Zhener's sympathy.

"Every time, shortly after I feel that my mother has gone too far this time... my mother will tell me with practical actions that she can really go too far."

The emperor and concubine sat on both sides of the kang screen by the window, covering the stove with their hands.

Zhu Jianshen let out a long sigh, showing the helplessness in his heart.

"The Empress Dowager Zhou...loved the late emperor deeply, and accompanied His Majesty for many years in the Nangong Palace. In the past few years, they have been isolated from the world and supported each other. Compared with the imperial concubine of the Tian family, they are more like a folk couple. So She can't bear it, it is not allowed for other women to steal His Majesty's favor, even after death."

Wan Zhen'er leaned on the Kang table and said in a low voice.

"The Empress Dowager is a woman with a strong desire to control. She wanted to bring up Azhang herself before, but because of her concubine, she couldn't do so. So she wanted to take away Concubine Shao Chen's child and raise her personally to cultivate her relationship."

At least in Zhou's eyes, the biggest reason why Zhu Jianshen and Zhou's quarreled is because Zhu Jianshen was brought up by Queen Mother Zhou's mother-in-law, Queen Mother Sun, so he was "divorced" from her.

The Zhou family wanted to personally bring up an emperor, and try the taste of the real "mother's devotion to the world".

This time the "Yi Chu" turmoil, she deliberately cooperated with Wu's because of this.

"The concubine heard that Concubine Shao Chen heard that her child might be taken away, and almost had a miscarriage in fear. I don't know what's going on now?"

When Wan Zhen'er went to comfort the little prince just now, the emperor went to visit the palace where Concubine Shao was.

"The imperial doctor has already gone to see her. Although it won't cause a miscarriage, she still needs to lie down to raise the baby. The imperial doctor let her relax and stop being frightened and troubled."

Zhu Jian frowned deeply.

If he really hurt Long Si, he would definitely not make it easier for the Wu family.

"As for Mrs. Wu, she was only 15 years old when she entered the palace. Now, she is only 27 or [-] years old. She spent the same years wasted in Xi Nei. She resented her concubine, and the concubine was not Can't understand."

No matter how much the emperor disliked her, she would never be able to step out of the Forbidden City as a deposed empress.

If one day Zhu Jianshen passed away, the other women would be either the queen mother or the concubine, and they would have a home after all.

What is she?

When she sheltered and helped the Ji family raise Zhu Youtang back then, she must have thought that after Zhu Youtang succeeded to the throne in the future, she would be able to restore her status as a queen and enshrine her as a queen mother.

But now Zhu Youtang almost forgot about this "Niang Niang" who once took her.

In a few years, wouldn't she die of old age quietly in the sheep house in Xi Nei, just like these idle flowers and weeds by the Taiye Pond, destined to be unappreciated and spend her life in a hasty life?

What's more, Wu Shi hated Wan Zhen'er, so she might not hate the current queen, Wang Shi. After all, Wang Shi could only become the lord of the Six Palaces because of her position.

If one day she can climb to the position of Empress Dowager Zhou, An Zhiqian's current fate may not be the fate of Queen Wang or Wan Zhen'er.

"Your Majesty, my concubine knows your thoughts. You want to be buried with my concubine after a hundred years..."

Wan Zhen'er turned around and looked at Zhu Jianshen.

So when the cabinet proposed the previous method of one tomb and three caves, Zhu Jianshen immediately agreed.

Now the prince's mother, the Shao family, has been buried in Xishan, and the prince is raised by Wan Zhen'er, who is equivalent to his biological mother.

Although Wan Zhen'er is not the queen, but if one tomb and three caves are created, at least he, Wan Zhen'er, and the king and queen can be buried together.Instead of being buried with Wang Shi who didn't like him at all and hadn't even met him a few times after a hundred years.

"Since I can remember, there hasn't been a day without Minister Wan by my side."

Zhu Jianshen grasped Wan Zhen'er's hand and said emotionally, "I can't imagine that one day, when I go to the cold underground, the person buried next to me is not Minister Wan, but another woman... I can't do it..."

As he spoke, he was as strong as an emperor, but his eyes turned red and he began to cry.

"Your Majesty, this concubine is much older than you, so she is destined to take the first step."

Wan Zhen'er feels that her health has become worse and worse in the past few years, and the phlegm disease and cough are also day after day, let alone pear soup, no amount of medicine can suppress it.

"Master Wan, don't talk nonsense! I still have a long time with Minister Wan."

Zhu Jianshen hastily stopped.

"Your Majesty, the concubine was fortunate enough to take care of the prince as a humble maid. Later, she married His Majesty and gave birth to such a good child as A Lan. It is already a great blessing. Even if she dies now, there is no What a pity."

"Master Wan..."

"Your Majesty, you and I cannot be a married couple in this life, nor can we be buried together after death. Instead of forcing it like the Queen Mother Zhou and causing anger and resentment, it is better to find another way."

Wan Zhen'er stretched out her plain hand and covered Zhu Jianshen's lips.

what way?

Zhu Jianshen asked with his eyes.

Wan Zhen'er got up, first asked all the palace servants to retreat, and then went to the inner bedroom.

After a while, Wan Zhen'er came out with a delicate little gold box, holding a pair of scissors with red thread behind her back.

Zhu Jianshen recognized it at a glance. This box contained the fetal hair left behind by the eldest son of the emperor, and Wan Zhener kept it all the time.

During the few days when the eldest son of the emperor was sent away, when Wan Zhen'er was thinking about her son, she often secretly took out the box at night, stroked Alan's fetal hair and wept secretly.

That is, when Alan got older, Uncle Xiao Lang brought him into the palace to pay his respects from time to time, and even stayed there for a while, so the number of times this box appeared less.

Wan Zhen'er put the gold box on the small table.

Zhu Jianshen watched her take off the beaded hairpins and hairpin rings little by little, and finally spread her long hair over her shoulders.

Wan Zhen'er is really old, and she couldn't see it when her hair was coiled up high, but now the clouds are scattered, and you can see a lot of gray hair mixed in it.

Wan Zhen'er twisted a circle of hair with the fingers of her left hand, and before Zhu Jianshen could react, she quickly twisted a bunch of hair with scissors.

"Master Wan!"

Zhu Jian was shocked.

Wan Zhen'er tied her hair from the middle with a red knot, looked up with a smile, and looked at Zhu Jianshen, "Your Majesty, would you like to be a married couple with your concubine in the next life, without doubting your love? "

Zhu Jianshen suddenly realized, and hurriedly removed the crown.

Wan Zhen'er walked up behind him, took off the good-winged crown and net scarf for him, also loosened his hair, and twisted a strand with scissors.

The emperor is a dragon body, there can be no mistakes.On weekdays, Wynn and Qin Chang combed their hair, and the hair that fell out had to be collected together and stored in special small jars.After a hundred years, this jar will be buried with Zhu Jianshen.

Now he can let Wan Zhen'er twist off such a tuft with scissors, which shows Zhu Jianshen's determination.

Wan Zhen'er did the same, and tied a knot in the middle with a red string.

Afterwards, she picked up this tuft of her hair, and tied Zhu Jianshen's together in a sympathetic knot.

"Tie hair as husband and wife..."

Wan Zhen'er raised her head, tears streaming down her face.

"There is no doubt about love and love."

Zhu Jianshen held her hand tightly.

In the end, the two of them sealed the golden box containing the hair of their husband and wife and Ah Lan with wax, and covered it with the seal that Zhu Jianshen used to paint and write on weekdays.

"After the concubine dies, I hope His Majesty will allow my younger brother to take this box outside the palace and find a place to bury it."

Wan Zhen'er said, "Zhen'er and Your Majesty have been trapped within this high scarlet wall for the rest of their lives. If there is an afterlife, I hope our family of three can be reunited. Don't be reborn in this emperor's house, but do A pair of ordinary people, born in the peaceful years, will always be a good family relationship."

"Okay, let's go to Nanjing... I've always wanted to visit the old capital of Nanjing, but I never made it. I heard from Uncle Lang that I wanted to go to Nanjing to retire, so I asked him to take this box to Nanjing and bury it here. The prosperous place of the Six Dynasties."

Zhu Jianshen stroked the patterns on the box and said with a smile.

"Regardless of the ends of the earth, my concubines will accompany Your Majesty."

Wan Zhen'er lowered her head and shed tears of happiness.