ordinary people's house

Mrs. Du didn't hear what she said, and the nearby wives stared at Xiao Yuan to see how she would react, but Xiao Yuan was drinking and eating on his own, as if he didn't hear it, and wanted to see The lively few felt disappointed.

Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Hou of Yongcheng, said calmly: "I see, whether it is the queen or the queen's family hosting the palace banquet, it is not a big deal. Even a small family like ours is the most important inheritance. If the queen has Son, his position is considered stable."

Wang's family background is not high, her conversation is vulgar, and she usually doesn't have a high status among these noble ladies. She said this today, but she won a lot of approval. Madam Du also heard what she said, and looked sideways. Turning a blind eye with your back bent, men have difficulty in giving birth, so what if you become a queen?It can't be said that if you have no children in your life, you will die of old age and die in limbo.

Mrs. Wang is not the only one who has this meaning, Mrs. Liao's previous words were not answered, she rolled her eyes, and sighed vaguely: "The concubines have all given birth to children, the queen probably doesn't understand After a few years, the empress will be able to sympathize with the concubines after a few years of pain in childbirth and child rearing."

This is almost saying that the new empress is unfilial, but Mrs. Du didn't care, she just smiled lightly, just as Mrs. Yuan was about to speak, Mrs. Wu Dinghou rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "Mrs. Liao, we don't want to discuss matters in the palace. The emperor and empress just got married a few days ago, and the empress will give birth to Lin'er in the future, which is the greatest joy in the world, and then we will congratulate together again."

This "marriage only a few days ago" woke up a group of people. It is uncertain whether there will be children or not. It is impossible to say that the queen will have children in a few months. That would be a slap in the face.

Seeing that no one responded to her anymore, Mrs. Wang curled her lips and stopped talking. Mrs. Wang also has a daughter, who is just in her youth. Mrs. Wang picked left and right, but she couldn't find a young talent who was worthy of her. The daughter's appearance is suitable for entering the palace, and it is no problem to be a noble concubine.

The ministers in the Baohe Hall of the previous court were drinking a few cups, Yuan Ruheng turned to Zhu Xian and said, "Your elder brother and I should say a few words."

"it is good."

Not long after Yuan Ruheng left, a little eunuch led Yuan Ruyu to the side hall. The two brothers sat facing each other. Yuan Ruyu looked at his younger brother's gentle face, and finally couldn't help but smile and said, "I see you are living in the palace like this." Not too bad."

"It's very good. I feel like I've gained weight in just a few days." Yuan Ruheng said with a smile as he tugged on his clothes.

Holding a cup of hot tea, Yuan Ruyu said: "Since you are doing well, I am relieved. I was outside just now and saw King Qi and King Qin there. I heard that these two have been under house arrest in the palace for the past few days. "

"Yes." Yuan Ruheng admitted frankly.

"Why is that?" Yuan Ruyu frowned. In just a few days, rumors of bad things in Beijing spread all over the place.

Yuan Ruheng smiled and said, "Brother, you don't have to worry about us, I have my own measure."

"It's nothing more than King Qi, don't you know that King Qin..."

Yuan Ruheng interrupted him and said: "I just entered the palace, and the concubines didn't know my depth, so they didn't dare to act rashly, but after these few days of waiting and watching, they are about to make a move. I hold King Qi in my hand to restrain me Concubine Wan, as for King Qin... I'm just playing around."

Yuan Ruyu said helplessly, "What's this called?"

Yuan Ruheng looked at him with a smile, "Brother told my mother and grandmother that I am very comfortable in the palace and told them not to worry."

The two of them couldn't leave the table for too long, Yuan Ruyu nodded and said, "I understand."

Yuan Ruheng lived in the Zichen Palace, and spent a few days leisurely. What he did every day was to reward things. The Xiao family, the Yuan family and other officials and noble families all had a share. He was still in the treasury. I found a few exquisite longevity locks and gave them to Yunlang, leaving them for my future nephew.

When Concubine Wan came to ask for an interview again, Yuan Ruheng thought about it, and said with a smile: "I said that I would visit the concubines in a few days, so you ask Concubine Wan to go back, and I will visit her palace in person tomorrow morning."

Yue Chan's heart skipped a beat, and she said, "Your maidservant knows."

Yuan Ruheng had a confrontation with the concubines because of matters in the practice palace, and this was the second time. When he walked in, seven or eight concubines were still sitting and joking, while Concubine Wan and Concubine Qiu were absent-minded. With Concubine Mu as the head, she got up first and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is coming, why are you sisters still sitting?"

Probably no concubines of the previous dynasty were so arrogant in front of the empress. After all, the late emperor spoiled them too much, and left a will before his death to ask Zhu Xian to take good care of the concubines. Yuan Ruheng was a man, and they did not Put him in your eyes.

These concubines have not bowed their heads to others for a long time, and they have long forgotten etiquette. Yuan Ruheng watched them stand up and salute sparsely, and said with a smile: "You are all elders, I dare not be so."

This is in Concubine Wan's palace, and Concubine Wan was a little flustered. When she asked the queen to take the seat, the other concubines were not very happy to move their seats, and only moved half a place down. After Yuan Ruheng sat down, he glanced at the posture The different concubines asked, "What were the empresses talking about just now?"

Concubine Wan said: "I'm talking about the queen's housekeeping in just a few days after she entered the palace. Yesterday, the palace received the jade ruyi from the queen, and I want to thank you."

Concubine Wan is usually domineering. After the second prince was imprisoned, she felt ashamed, and she simply broke the can and smashed it, relying on the former emperor's will to embarrass Zhu Xian many times. This time, King Qi came into the palace, but it gave her hope all of a sudden. , told her to put all her temper away.The rest of the concubines have never seen her humbled like this, but when they think about King Qi's situation, they understand it a little bit.

Yuan Ruheng smiled. Concubine Qiu remained calm. Although she had the same thoughts as Concubine Wan, she would not take the initiative to show affection to this male queen. After all, King Qin is a serious prince, even if he is a queen, it will be a while. I can't move him either.

Concubine Mu's eyes were full of disapproval, and she even mocked Concubine Wan. She coughed lightly and said, "I have something to ask the Queen for instructions."

Yuan Ruheng looked at her and said, "Concubine Mu, please tell me."

Concubine Mu smiled lightly and said: "Usually, my palace invites family members to enter the palace, just to report to the chief manager. A few days ago, the Japanese palace sisters came to pay their respects, but the papers they handed over were rejected by the queen. I don't know what the rules are."

Another Tian Tai concubine also said: "The papers of my family members have also been refuted by the queen. Now is the time for Chinese New Year reunion. I am in this palace, but I am not allowed to see my relatives. There are no such rules."

Concubine Yu took a sip of her tea, with self-mockery in her eyes, she said: "A few days ago, the mother of the Japanese palace came to the palace for a banquet. She wanted to see me once, but the mother and daughter were talking, but they were stopped by the palace people. Just now, I jokingly joked with my sisters, why did the queen arrest us as soon as she entered the palace?"

There was a needle in the words of these people, and the timid concubines felt anxious, Yuan Ruheng smiled calmly: "So that's what the concubines are talking about, it's very simple to say, I checked it out The palace record book, when the first queen was here, every [-]th day of the lunar new year, if the concubines and concubines’ family members wanted to enter the palace, they would report to her. The harem... seems to be run by four concubines."

The eyes of the four concubines Wan, Qiu, Mu, and Yu all flickered.

Yuan Ruheng smiled, "Speaking of which, the four empresses worked together to manage the harem in an orderly manner. I looked at the account books of the previous years, but found that the accounts were chaotic, and the palace rules were also changed from day to day. Today, I would like to ask, ladies, do you think it is better for the concubines and concubines of the harem to enter the palace at will, or to follow the ancestral system and enter the palace according to the rules to pay their respects?"

Concubine Mu's heart trembled, although the other concubines were used to being at ease, they were unwilling to be restrained, and it was difficult for them to say that it was good for their family members to enter the palace at will, but if they were to accept the new rules willingly, they felt very uncomfortable sharp.

Yuan Ruheng said indifferently: "This is what I mean. In the future, it will still be the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. The relatives of the ladies will hand over the papers to Zichen Palace. If I think it is appropriate, I will allow them to visit the palace."

Concubine Mu suppressed the anger in her chest and asked: "Then dare to ask the queen, what is suitable?"

Yuan Ruheng glanced at her, and said with deep meaning: "Naturally, ladies who keep their duty, so that the emperor doesn't have to worry about the harem, can see their families more."

Concubine Mu's face was livid, and she said coldly: "What does your queen mean?"

Yuan Ruheng smiled lightly and said, "I already understand what I mean."

Concubine Mu sneered and said: "Your queen has been in the palace for more than ten days, and she will give us people a big blow. Even when the emperor ascended the throne, he treated us with respect. The empress is really very majestic."

Yuan Ruheng didn't take it seriously, and continued, "Not only that."

The concubines were all taken aback, and Concubine Mu was even more angry. Concubine Yu patted her hand lightly, and asked with a smile: "What else is there? Let's talk about it together with the queen."

"Since Concubine Mu talked about the emperor's respect for the concubines, I have something to say. The emperor's biological mother is the mother of the country, with a noble status, and the other concubines cannot compare with her. It stands to reason that the emperor should not be too filial to the concubines. , but our emperor is the most benevolent and filial person in the world. For the sake of the late emperor, he supported the concubines well. After he ascended the throne, he gave up more than half of the harem for you to live and play, and he was in a small area Daily life, Concubine Yu, you are familiar with classics and history, which dynasty do you think the emperor treated his concubine like this?"

Concubine Yu was speechless, her face was red and white, and she was very lively.

Yuan Ruheng continued: "Although I am wronged, the emperor will not speak out to make the concubines feel uncomfortable. Originally, I don't care about the narrow living place, but I just thought about it. We are both young men. It is also inconvenient to live with concubines, and I am afraid that some ignorant historian will say that although the concubines are widowed for the late emperor, they can't let go of comfort, and let the concubines be attacked by the officials to damage their reputation. A few palaces were set aside in the harem for the concubines, and the outer walls separated them. In the future, the emperor and the palace would only pay their respects outside the walls. The concubines lived together, so they could talk affectionately every day, and also kept the peace of mind. The concubines said, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”