Fake concubine, real queen

Xu Shi has been working under the hands of the young master for the past year. Apart from asking Lan Xiao to take care of the business of the bookstore and silk shop, He Gu has no other requirements. Now, even if she didn't make any money in the first two years, she is not to blame. Lan Xiao's life is better than before in the palace and in front of all the noble masters.Relying on people's breath, being cautious, I don't know where to go to be comfortable and happy.

Although Lan Xiao also knew that the young master said so, but after all, it was the family's property, it was He Gu's mother's dowry, and it was not caused by the strong wind. Well, although the little duke won't blame her, but most of the shop will be replaced by capable people, Lan Xiao naturally doesn't want to——

It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, and it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Once you have a good life where you can say everything, who would want to go back to the days of serving people as slaves, serving tea and pouring water, and watching the face of the master?

Lan Xiao not only likes the errand entrusted to her by the young master, but also does not want to hand over the hard work that has been taken care of for almost a year, so she works more diligently. Lan Xiao also confirmed that He Gu would not embarrass himself because of trivial matters, the boss who didn't stick to small details and treated her like a sheep all day long. Naturally, his courage grew day by day, and his words were not as cautious as before. What to say, I heard what the third prince said just now, and immediately explained without much thought: "Naturally, every time such a big event as printing and selling a new book, you have to ask Lord Hou first, and he has to read it personally. .”

Pei Zhaoheng said: "...he has read all these books?"

Lan Xiao said: "I've read it, especially the unprinted one, Yan...uh, the gentleman who wrote the book has revised it many times, and Master Hou has also read it many times, but every time he said no, so when I went to It's not printed yet."

Pei Zhaoheng didn't speak any more, just looked at the thin book thoughtfully, picked it up, flipped through two pages, and quickly put it back.

"Chengwei, help the girl move the books and come back."

Cheng Wei quickly nodded and said yes, and waited for the prince to turn around and leave before he took over the large stack of books in Lan Xiao's hand. Without saying anything, Cheng Wei also tasted something, and said to Lan Xiao while walking, "Uh...Miss Xiao, these books are in a set, can you also send a set to Prince Ke's Mansion?"

Lan Xiao was startled when he heard the words, and said, "What?"

Cheng Wei gave a dry cough, and quickly lowered his voice: "Cough... this, it's like this, Prince Ke's Mansion also has a few sisters, they really like the scriptures of Wensheng Bookstore, but there is no complete set, I see a few sisters are always thinking about it Now that I have the opportunity, I want to brazenly ask the girl for a deal, of course! The books will be given as much as I want, not a single penny!"

After a pause, he added, "...it has nothing to do with our lord!"

Lan Xiao sized him up. These days, His Royal Highness King Ke often runs to the Princess Mansion. Although the Third Prince and the son-in-law are brothers-in-law, it is not unusual for them to be close, but even if others don't think much about it, Lan Xiao's However, she has been dealing with the Longyang dialect book for a year, and she just feels that the more she looks at it, the more something is wrong... But the two masters are both masters, and although she has some guesses in her heart, she dare not speak out.

If it hadn't been for seeing how affectionate and affectionate the young master was to the departed eldest princess, Lan Xiao would almost have felt that the son-in-law and His Royal Highness King Ke must have had an affair, after all——

The pretty brother-in-law is a widower in his prime of life, and the brother-in-law stays with her all night long to comfort her heartbroken...

...What, the more I think about it, the more "Mr. Yi Gu" haha, the two of them are really suspicious.

Lan Xiao didn't really believe it. Brother Chengwei bought this book back for the girls to read, but he didn't puncture the face. He just took out the book that Sister Yan taught her when she was entertaining guests in the shop this year. With a perfectly curved smile, he nodded and said: "So that's the case, what I said is worth telling Brother Chengwei specifically, since it's what the prince's mansion wants, I'll ask my buddy to send it later, there won't be any delay." .”

Cheng Wei didn't know, but maybe he was a guilty conscience. Looking at the smile on Miss Xiao's face, the more she looked at it, the more meaningful it became. She thought that she had said something wrong unintentionally, and betrayed the prince. perturbed.

The day passed like this, and at dawn on the second day, Pei Zhaoheng took Chengwei into the palace.

It's just that it's still early, although Pei Zhaoheng came, he didn't expect to see Empress Chen, but he had to go to the court meeting soon, so he stopped by to have a look. Yang Gong will also prepare an extra meal for His Highness the Third Highness, if he comes, it is better to use it before leaving.

As for the Empress—

When Empress Chen was in her natal family and was raised under Mrs. Chen's knees, she was very much loved. After all, she was just a concubine raised by Mrs. Chen's knees. If you spoil her, no one will make things difficult for her and set up rules for her, so when she is in her boudoir, she can have whatever she wants, and Mrs. Chen is willing to teach her anything she wants to learn, and she can live as she pleases, wanton and lively.

Do whatever you want, including sleeping late. Generally, at such an early hour, Empress Chen is probably still asleep and not awake.

It's just that I don't know what happened today, when Pei Zhaoheng went, Empress Chen had already woken up, she was covered with a blanket, leaning in front of the beauty, holding a booklet in her hand, looking serious, frowning slightly.

It was His Highness the Third Highness who came to see the empress, and the servants in Zhiyang Palace didn't announce it loudly, they only shouted a few words, the empress didn't agree, and didn't continue to communicate, and let the Third Highness go in directly.

Pei Zhaoheng lifted the hem of his robe, knelt down on one knee and said, "My son, please greet the queen."

Empress Chen came back to her senses when she heard his greeting, but her expression froze slightly, and she quickly moved the book in her hand to her back, sat up and said, "Get up quickly... why is Heng'er so early?" Is it coming?"

Pei Zhaoheng took a look at Empress Chen's bloodshot eyes and the two faint black spots under her eyes. He already guessed in his heart what her mother was doing last night, but he only said: This matter needs to be reported to the Queen Mother, and I thought it would be later, but I didn't know that the Queen Mother had woken up."

Empress Chen said: "What's the matter, tell me. There's still a court meeting today, isn't it? Heng'er came so early in the morning, can you spend the court meal?"

He said again: "Qingzhu, quickly ask Mother Li to tell the small kitchen to prepare to go."

Qing Zhu replied yes, and quickly turned around to pass the message.

Empress Chen was about to get up, but Pei Zhaoheng stopped her when she saw this, and said: "Let's talk about it in the inner hall, it's not easy to leak this matter for now."

Empress Chen was stunned for a moment, but she didn't say much, she just turned her head and said to the palace maid: "Daizhu, you can take them down first."

Dai Zhu nodded, she led the little maids who were waiting in the inner hall to retreat quietly.

After they left, Empress Chen said, "What's the matter?"

Pei Zhaoheng then told Empress Chen about what He Gu told him that day, that Jun's father seemed to be ill and was taking elixir.

After listening to Empress Chen, she was obviously stunned, and after a while she came back to her senses, her face changed, but she didn't ask any more questions, she just grabbed the blanket on her body without saying a word, her expression was thoughtful, and she didn't know what to think. What.

Pei Zhaoheng said: "Although the elixir can temporarily revive the spirit, if you take it for a long time and accumulate the erysipelas, it will inevitably be hindered by the emperor's holy body. It is inconvenient for me to say more about this matter, so I can only ask the queen mother..." Empress Chen suddenly lowered her voice With a low sigh, he said: "...I have already spared this matter, when your father is free, I will go and tell him, Heng'er don't worry about it anymore."

Hearing what she said, Pei Zhaoheng didn't say any more, just in time, Nanny Li in the outer hall had already served the meal, and asked the palace servants to pass it on, and the mother and son went out to eat the meal together.

At the dinner table, Empress Chen asked, "Is Gu'er leaving soon?"

Pei Zhaoheng replied with a "hmm" and didn't say any more.

Empress Chen took a look at her son who still had a calm expression, paused, and then added a sentence after a long time, saying: "...Since Gu'er is leaving, before leaving, you should also go see him and see him off. , It's cold in the north, when the time comes, I'll ask Nanny Li to pack some clothes for your hair, you go back later and let Gu'er take them before leaving."

Pei Zhaoheng stood up and said: "Yes, my son thanked the queen mother on behalf of the son-in-law."

Empress Chen saw that he looked business-like, as if she really had no other thoughts about the son-in-law in her mind, and she was just trying to be polite. After being smashed by Qingzhu, Gu'er came to see her alone, and sat opposite her, with an embarrassed and panicked look——

Empress Chen was silent for a while, then suddenly dismissed the servants who were serving food, and when they had left, she asked straightforwardly, "Heng'er, what is your relationship with Gu'er now... What's going on again?"

Empress Chen was puzzled, and it was not without reason. Qingzhu saw them making love by the river earlier, and told her when she came back. Most likely because of soft-heartedness, she just couldn't bear to reject him for a while, but after hearing Miss Yan explain to her that the son-in-law was sane and there was nothing wrong with it, she was also a little puzzled——

...Since he is sane and knows that Heng'er is also a man, how could he have such an idea?

It's not that Empress Chen is unkind. She read one or two volumes of Longyang Huaben when she was a lady in the boudoir in the early years, but most of them were written sadly and sadly, and the affection between the two people was also different. The writing is cloudy and foggy, seemingly non-existent, and the ending is also very aggrieved. Always after a spring breeze, the two will forget each other in the rivers and lakes, and the dust returns to the dust. For those who give birth to a child, it seems that the previous relationship was just looking at the moon in the water, looking at the flowers in the fog, just a beautiful past in a long life, an unbearable romantic history.

Empress Chen didn't appreciate this kind of love very much, or she didn't quite understand it.

Since it is possible to let go in this way, just let go, and you can live without any relationship in the future, which means that there was no real affection at the beginning. Even if the book writer is brilliant, no matter how fragrant or dreamlike the writing is, Empress Chen can't understand it.

Since they didn't like each other enough, why bother to delay each other?

However, most of the authors of the Longyang dialect books at that time were literati and poets who either really liked this way or were arty, so writing like this also reflected their true thoughts——

Breaking off the sleeves with a man is just a momentary thought of getting sidetracked, going the wrong way, and then always going back to the right way, marrying a wife and prolonging heirs.

Empress Chen was influenced by these old Longyang scripts, subconsciously thought that the broken sleeves were like this, she said she liked it, but in fact it was a novelty, and sooner or later she would like to return to women.

But when Gu'er saw her at that time, because of Heng'er, he was trembling and walking on thin ice. The usually carefree young man also became cautious. Empress Chen could see that no matter what He Gu thought in the future, at least at that moment, he She is truly sincere towards Heng'er, and there will be no falsehood. It is actually very different from the superficial so-called "sleeve-breaking addiction" written in the book.

That's why she didn't have the heart to blame Gu'er at that time.

Gu'er became a "son-in-law" because of private affairs in the palace and the court, which made him suffer. Even if he really became a broken sleeve, it was actually not his fault.

But Empress Chen understood Gu'er's thoughts, and when she looked back, she found out that these days somehow happened, maybe it was because of her contact with political affairs, maybe it was because she finally recovered her true identity, and she didn't have to be wronged to be a "woman". But something has changed.

This change is very subtle, but after all, it is Empress Chen's own son, how could she not notice it?

If something is really wrong, the recent Heng'er inexplicably reminded Empress Chen how she felt when she saw the emperor again after he was canonized as the crown prince.

It seemed that there was a layer of separation suddenly, and they could no longer clearly see what they were thinking, what was going on under that polite, gentle and gentle shell.

Then last night, I read those Newspapers that Ms. Yan recommended to her——

Although it was all fabricated and not true, the foolishness of the people in the book reminded Empress Chen of the look in the eyes of He Gu Qiji when he looked at her that day——

...She suddenly couldn't bear it.

Empress Chen didn't speak, she just looked at her son without saying a word, and sighed inwardly.

Pei Zhaoheng put down the bowl and chopsticks, and said: "Zihuan has told the queen mother, and the minister and him are just as the queen mother saw."

Empress Chen was silent for a while, with a three-point smile on her face, and said in a deep voice: "Gu'er is not playing around for a while, I can tell that this child really loves you. After all, you are two men, even if you are If it is higher, it is inevitable that people will gossip about it in the future, he is prepared for this, but what about you, Heng'er?"

"You've been smart since you were young, so you must have seen his thoughts, but the queen mother doesn't seem to like Gu'er very much when she sees you like this now? You... If you just find it interesting right now and don't reject him, it's better to be early Break up with him... Otherwise, he will be more and more trapped in the future, and you already have the position of prince, and your father may propose marriage to you at some point, how sad will Gu'er be at that time?"

When Empress Chen said this, her expression was already very solemn, she raised her hand to touch her son's shoulder, and sighed: "My mother is sorry for Heng'er, originally what you want, my mother should give you, but Gu'er is a big job. Man, he didn't do anything wrong, let alone being unfaithful to you, Heng'er shouldn't take other people's sincerity seriously just because it's new for a while, because it's interesting right now, and play around like this, it's detrimental. "

Pei Zhaoheng: "..."

"...Erchen didn't play with Zihuan, nor did he have such thoughts."

Empress Chen stared at him and asked, "...Really?"

"Don't dare to lie to the queen mother."

Empress Chen was silent for a while, and said: "If that's the case, why haven't Heng'er mentioned him a word?"

Pei Zhaoheng said: "Masculinity is not the way to go. If it is mentioned all the time, the son-in-law will be afraid to scare the queen mother."

Empress Chen said: "That's not necessary. Gu'er told me in person, what I should know and what I shouldn't know, Heng'er thought I didn't know everything? If I couldn't accept it, I would have stopped listening. Still coming to ask you? If there is anything going on in the future, don’t hide it from me like this.”

Pei Zhaoheng nodded in agreement.

The hour was almost up, he stood up and was about to leave, but the voice of the palace maid came from outside.

"The imperial concubine is here—"

Concubine Wen Gui didn't see her, so she heard her voice first, her voice was mature and hearty, she came in and met Empress Chen and saluted, "I've seen the Empress, I'm really sorry to disturb you so early in the morning, just Right now, the concubine really has no idea, there is no other way but to come to beg you."

Seeing that Pei Zhaoheng was also there, he said again: "The third prince is also here, it seems that the concubine's visit is unlucky."

Empress Chen said: "It's okay, Heng'er should also go to the court meeting, the imperial concubine is looking for this palace today, but is there anything you want?"

Concubine Wen Gui sighed for a long time, and said: "What else can happen, isn't it all because of Lin'er, a debt collector? If he hadn't been born, the concubine would have been eating and sleeping in the palace all day long. Since I lived my fairy life as a concubine, why should I worry about him?"

Empress Chen smiled and said, "Which parents in the world are not like this? What is it that makes you so anxious?"

Concubine Wen Gui took the tea handed over by the court lady, she obviously came in a hurry, she was very thirsty, and she didn't put on a show, she just lifted the lid of the cup and took a big sip, then she said: "Don't lie to the empress, After all, isn't it for Lin'er's marriage?"

--------------

When He Gu went to Yan's house this time, he finally didn't get rejected again.

Maybe it's because the anger of the two elders of the Yan family has finally dissipated, or maybe it's because the grandma finally couldn't bear to reject him several times in a row, or maybe it's because the Ministry of War has transferred documents, and Yan Dingye is also on the list. He must have got a share, after all, he is about to leave Beijing soon, no matter how angry the two elders are, they don't have time to continue venting.

Sure enough, as soon as they entered the main hall, they saw the two elders of the Yan family sitting at the head with expressionless faces, as well as Uncle Yan Song and Aunt Lu who were able to get out of bed and looked much better.

... even Yan Dingye was there, but the kid looked at him hesitantly, Yan Dingye was always so cowardly in front of his elders, he didn't dare to fart.

He Gu didn't bother to analyze the meaning of Yan Dingye's desperately looking at him, he just knelt down and said hello, "Grandson greets grandpa and grandma."

Madam Yan said: "There is no need to be so polite, just sit down."

He Gu stood up, sat down at the bottom as promised, took the tea handed over by the servant, and before he had time to take a sip, the old lady said, "Since you are still willing to pay your respects before you leave, you are still willing to acknowledge the tea." Your grandfather and I, two old things, why did you make such a big decision without asking us? Do you know that your impulsiveness will harm you for the rest of your life!"

He Gu's heart skipped a beat, and the secret path really came. Before he left Beijing to help the spirit half a year ago, he went to ask His Majesty not to propose marriage to him again, and voluntarily refused to marry him for life. The two elders of the Yan family were still angry...

But he would have done so at that time, and what he had to guard against was today.

Mrs. He Gu understands that the two elders of the Yan family are old. If they hadn't promised the emperor that they would not marry in this life, they would definitely not watch themselves being single in the future. Instead, they would send people to his house every day to ask him to see another lady. Girl, urge him to continue. Although the old man has good intentions, the two elders of the Yan family are hard-tempered. If they get really stubborn and want to marry him a new wife, it doesn't make sense if the ghost comes. At that time, ten lives won't be enough for him to listen to their nagging.

He Gudao: "Sun'er has already made up his mind on this matter, and he thought it over carefully at the beginning, it was not a whim."

Old General Yan shook his head, and said: "At the beginning when you married His Royal Highness the eldest princess, your grandmother and I could tell that you liked the princess, but things are unpredictable, and now the princess has been gone for more than half a year. The yin and yang are separated, so it's fine for you to wear mourning for her, but you are only seventeen or eighteen years old now, and if you want to stay unmarried for the rest of your life, you are delaying yourself, under the nine springs, the eldest princess may not be able to comfort you knowing that you treat yourself so harshly."

Mrs. Yan said: "That's the reason, you are still so young now, you don't realize what it's like to have no wife and no children when you get older, then people will be confused, no matter how rich the family is, how rich and honored the sky is, If you don’t make it happen, no one will see it, and the servants who wait for the sweeper will dare to bully you.”

He Gu smiled and said: "Where is it so exaggerated, even if I don't marry, don't I still have Rong'er and Cheng'er, but when they marry wives, they marry wives, and they marry people, and I also have nephews and nephews." , hold one to raise, why not?"

Mrs. Yan glared at her and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? You just hugged him? What if Cheng'er and his wife don't like it? Even if they are brothers, father and son are the same. Why are they pregnant?" The child born on the moon will be given to you for nothing, and I will just open my mouth and talk nonsense without even thinking about it!"

He Gu shrank his neck, and said in a low voice: "It's not like I'm robbing, I would have asked brother Cheng and his wife..."

Madam Yan said: "Yes, you did ask, Cheng'er has such a good temper, even if he doesn't want to, will he refuse you as a big brother with his mouth? At other times he agreed, what if his wife doesn't want to? At that time, your younger brother and daughter-in-law will be at odds, and it is you, the big brother, who did a good job!"

He Gu was so dizzy from the training, he thought to himself, good guy, he just didn't want to continue, the height of his grandmother's rise, he has become the chief culprit who persecuted the relationship between his brother and sister-in-law, and said quickly: "Okay, okay, okay, okay. Then I won't hug them anymore, they can raise them by themselves, can they raise the head office by themselves?"

Mrs. Yan didn't give up, and said like a cannonball: "You also know that your younger brother and younger sister are going to get married, marry wives, start a family and have children. At that time, they will have their own places to go. Now that you have an heir, what about you? You are all alone, and you will be an old widower when you get old?"

He Gu laughed and said: "Grandmother is too worried, there is no such exaggeration, brother Cheng and sister Rong are good children, and they will definitely come back to accompany me during the holidays."

He added: "And I have made a promise with His Majesty, and now the whole capital knows it, so it is not easy to break my promise."

Old General Yan said: "As long as Gu'er doesn't push himself into the horns and is willing to marry again, the emperor will speak for you. His majesty is so kind and gentle, and he will definitely allow it."

He Gu didn't expect his grandfather, General Yan, who had never talked much, to get involved, and was willing to beg the emperor for his sake. General Yan is already very old now...

It can be seen how anxious they were in the past six months, and how much they didn't want him to be a bachelor for the rest of their lives.

It's just that it's not easy to tell the two elders of the Yan family about the matter between him and the Third Highness. Regardless of whether they accept it or not, as long as they can accept it, it's better for fewer people to know about him and the Third Highness...

Even if you want to say it, you should wait until the overall situation is settled and the world is at peace before thinking about it.

He Gu was about to refute again, he didn't want the second elder of the Yan family to come prepared today, this hall was full of family members, it was not without reason, the second elder of the Yan family urged him to finish, and then there was him Uncles, aunts, and cousins, stalking and stalking each other.

Although Yan Song was able to get out of bed now under Yan Zhiya's care, his complexion was still not very good. Even so, he had to talk to him long and quoting from sources.

It was so easy to finish talking, but unexpectedly, his aunt Lu, who was always cautious and submissive, seemed to have something to say when she saw him hesitate to speak.

The old lady Yan said in the hall: "Brother Song and daughter-in-law, you also have a good talk with Gu'er, persuade him, didn't you talk about it yesterday, do you have something to tell him?"

Mrs. Lu hesitated for a while, and finally said: "Two days ago, I went to the Guanyin Temple by Guangting Lake to worship incense, and prayed for Gu'er. The hexagram said that Gu'er is not alone In the future, there will be relatives within one or two years at most!"

As Lu said, he clasped his hands together and recited the words of Infinite Heavenly Venerable, with a very devout expression, and said: "It can be seen that if Gu'er is willing to marry a wife, it will only take a year or two, and he will have heirs, and live a peaceful life by then. How nice it is to be beautiful, if you miss your fate in vain, won't you regret it in the future?"

He Gu: "..."

For a moment, he didn't know where to start to correct Lu's outrageous persuasion.

In order to get him to continue, the whole family of Yanfu really racked their brains.

He Gudao: "Since it is the Guanyin Temple to worship, how can the Buddhist sect ask for hexagrams? Besides, Wuliang Tianzun is not the empress of sending children, so how do you know if I have relatives..."

Speaking of this, he suddenly stopped, and suddenly thought of a person in his mind——

There is a street stall at the entrance of the Buddhist temple, and Taoist amulets are sold outside the Guanyin Temple.

...Could it be that my aunt ran into that yellow-faced Taoist priest? ?

However, Mrs. Lu was so frightened by his words just now that he kept babbling a few times, and hurriedly muttered: "Infinite Heavenly Venerable, Gu'er is ignorant, these words are careless words, gods should never take offense, don't take offense!"

Then he said to He Gu: "You silly boy, how can you talk nonsense about immortals and Bodhisattvas? Be careful that you will end up in bad luck!"

He Gu suddenly asked, "Did Aunt meet a yellow-faced Taoist priest outside the Guanyin Temple?"

Mrs. Lu was startled when she heard the words, and said, "...how does Gu'er know?"