[Qing wear] Harem promotion expert

After hearing Jiang Heng's question about the two people sent by Concubine Xi'an in Yonghe Palace, Qiu Wu hurriedly took out a few purses from his sleeves, took out the red one, and took the gold handle from the nearby fruit plate after pleading guilty. The small silver knife carefully opened the suture and took out a piece of paper.

"This is the communication between those two people and Concubine Xi's palace these years, please take a look at it."

Qiu Ju and Qiu Xing are the second batch of old people who entered Yonghe Palace.When Jiang Heng was concubine, the staff in the respect room were filled in according to the rule.

After all, six years have passed.

But Jiang Heng still clearly remembered that it was in the twelfth lunar month, and Zhang Yuzhu was wearing a padded jacket with red stripes on the back of a turtle, very much like a big colorful Brazilian turtle tied with a red ribbon.

time flies.

Jiang Heng even smiled when he thought of Zhang Yuzhu's appearance, and then took a closer look at this piece of paper: "Speaking of which, the two of them have also taken our Yonghe Palace's six-year quota, and I don't know if it is enough to pay them back when Concubine Xi subsidized them." accounts."

A thin smile floated on the corner of Qiu Wu's mouth: "Miss Yinqiao met her servants last time and said that the Department of Punishment has always reserved rooms for them."

The clock in the house struck twelve.

The light in the study room on the side of Jingren Palace was still on.

Concubine Xi sat in front of the desk, holding her breath and copying.

In the palace that pays attention to going to bed early and getting up early, it is considered a long night.Seeing Concubine Xi's haggard face, Dongqing couldn't help persuading her: "Your Majesty, go to bed earlier, I have to get up early tomorrow to say hello to Empress Empress."

Concubine Xi shook her head: "Since the noble concubine said to copy the Medicine Master's Sutra 99 times, I will copy it out as soon as possible."

Dongqing held back what she didn't dare to say for a long time, and finally she broke her defenses at night, and persuaded in a mournful voice: "Why do you have to suffer so much? You are a concubine, even if you don't flatter your concubine, she can't do anything to you Yes. I have never seen Concubine Yu holding the imperial concubine like you."

Concubine Xi shook her head: "Why am I the same as Concubine Yu? Hong Zhou will not threaten her sixth elder brother."

Even though Dongqing was her confidant, Concubine Xi did not tell Dongqing the meaning behind her actions - even the people around her thought that she was afraid of the imperial concubine and was just begging for perfection, and the wives outside must think so.

Dongqing came up to take away the page that Concubine Xi had finished copying, and put it on another table to dry, and said sadly: "I just feel sorry for you, when is your highness like this? Originally, the concubine was quite polite to her, but recently she has become more and more polite. Take your mother's respect for granted."

"At this time, the imperial concubine's mother's family was promoted again, and no one got up in the eyes. The empress kindly copied the Buddhist scriptures ten times for the fourth princess to pray for blessings. She didn't say thank you, but actually asked her to copy the full 99 times! The empress does this again Let it go on, how is the imperial concubine's insult to you different from that of the noble concubine back then?"

Concubine Xi lowered her head: This is the best.

It doesn't matter whether the imperial concubine is overwhelmed by her respect, or angry and loses her temper because of her 'praise', it's a good thing.

It is best to become no different from the concubine of the year.

When Concubine Xi finally finished copying the scriptures in her tonight plan, she only felt her neck and wrists were sore, she took a hot towel to cover it, and asked Dongqing: "The two people didn't move?"

Dongqing knew who the master was asking, so she said: "The one named Qiu Xing always doesn't want to associate with our palace, as if he wants to clear the relationship. But that one named Qiu Ju, who is greedy for money and a bit cautious, this In the past few years, I have also taken the initiative to spread the news twice.”

Up to now, Concubine Xi still laments that she has the foresight.

The Guerjia family is very skillful in managing internal affairs, and now no one in the palace can put eyeliner in the Yonghe Palace.Only she, when the Guerjia family was still a concubine, when the weather was not ready, she settled the two of them first.

At that time, Zhang Yuzhu in the respect room was a little flattering to Yonghe Palace, but he was not to the point of wholeheartedly picking palaces for Yonghe Palace. He just selected some court ladies who could read according to the emperor's instructions, and then bribed him according to these court ladies. The amount of money is sent to the Yonghe Palace.

Concubine Xi invested in two court ladies at that time.

But for a matter of tens of taels of silver, I gave Zhang Yuzhu the money to bribe Zhang Yuzhu to the two literate but shy maids, and gave them a chance to be candidates in the letter concubine palace.It doesn't matter if it is a loss, if it becomes a small investment that may be of great use in the future.

It has to be said that Concubine Xi has a good vision. She took a fancy to the two little maids who were 'funded', and after being sent to Yonghe Palace by Zhang Yuzhu, they were also taken by Jiang Heng to stay.

Even now she has become a second-class court lady.

However, even though the two court ladies were sponsored by her and entered the Yonghe Palace, they had completely different ideas.

Qiu Xing obviously wanted to change jobs, she wanted to get rid of Jingren Palace and focus on her career in Yonghe Palace.It's just that she received Concubine Xi's funding back then, and Concubine Xi didn't do good deeds without leaving her name, of course she kept the handle in her hands. In recent years, Qiu Xing would only reveal something when Concubine Xi's people explicitly approached her. The news is still insignificant news such as how much sugar the Yonghe Palace has used recently.

On the other hand, Qiuju obviously wants to jump sideways.

Probably thinking that while working as an official in Yonghe Palace, she will keep in touch with Jingren Palace. In the future, no matter which empress's son finally ascends to the throne, she will be a sure winner. Her mentality is as beautiful as if both palaces are for her. Average part-time job.

Yonghe Palace.

"Which one do you want to choose to 'tip the news' to Concubine Xi?"

Qiuwu asked the empress to make up her mind so that she could do it.

Jiang Heng circled the names with a pen.Qiu Wu couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty, Qiu Xing never took the initiative to contact Concubine Xi before."

"That's good, it's her."

"Sister Qiu Xing, Aunt Qiu Xue asked me to send you the money for the five-day settlement." Qiu Xing took two slings of money from Xiu Xiu, and said gently, "Come in."

Xiuxiu followed her into the door, handed over a form to be signed, and asked Qiu Xing to sign to confirm that she had received the money and that there was no problem with the amount of money received.

While signing, Qiu Xing said, "Eat some snacks before leaving."

Xiuxiu held the small basket on her elbow: "Thank you sister Qiuxing, but I still have three sisters' money to give, so I'm leaving now."

Qiu Xing smiled and stroked her braids: "You are diligent and not lazy. It's strange that everyone from your empress to Qiu Xue's sister likes you." Then said: "Seeing that you have grown a lot taller after following your empress, and your face is also round. gone."

Xiuxiu's face was blushing because she was running back and forth to give money, and immediately nodded vigorously when she heard this: "Since I arrived at Yonghe Palace, I have a good life!" She waved her hand before running away with a small basket.

Qiu Xing looked at her back, envious.

Although Xiuxiu is still young, and her current level is not as good as hers, she came to this palace cleanly.

But I am not.

Back then, she had a hard time in the Needlework Bureau, and the nurse who took her was notoriously mean-spirited, often withholding her monthly payment, and poking her with a needle every now and then to show her anger.

Her own father was considered a scholar, and she knew a hundred or so characters before entering the palace.So after hearing that the favored nobleman was promoted to concubine Xinxin, the palace wanted to make up for someone, and the news came out from the respect room that the Yonghe Palace only wanted people who could read and write, Qiu Xing was moved.

It's just that she doesn't have the money to bribe the head manager of the respect room Zhang, who has a big pocket and doesn't care for two or three taels of silver.

Until an aunt named Dongqing came to look for her and gave her a pack of silver ladles, a full 30 taels of which she asked her to use first and then return later.At that time, Qiu Xing only thought that Dongqing was one of the big maids in the palace who lent money privately, so she wrote an IOU and pledged it according to Dongqing's words.Thinking that if she entered the empress palace, she would always be able to earn back the dozens of taels of silver.Even if you can't, it is said that the Yonghe Palace has the best food and drink, at least you don't have to starve to work or be poked by needles.

She entered the Yonghe Palace as she wished, because she believed that the concubine was pregnant and gave birth to a princess, and there were constant rewards in the Yonghe Palace. In less than two years, she had saved enough 30 taels.

That day Qiu Xing happily took 35 taels of silver and went to look for Dongqing in private, thinking that the interest of five taels of silver would be enough.

However, she discovered that what Dongqing wanted was not money.

She was just holding on to the IOU that she had pledged, and asked her to return to Yonghe Palace to work as an errand.

Only then did Qiu Xing suddenly realize that the betting on her paintings back then was not borrowing money, it was simply working hard!

These years, Qiu Xing is the person in the palace who most looks forward to the friendship between Yonghe Palace and Jingren Palace. She naively thought that if the two palaces were on good terms, she would not have to do anything.

However, contrary to expectations, everyone in the palace now knows the barrier between Yonghe Palace and Jingren Palace.Qiu Xing was in so much pain: Why can't the Imperial Concubine and Concubine Xi get along like they do with Concubine Yu?

Of course, she also knew the answer in her heart, probably from the very beginning, Empress Concubine Yu would not do the act of planting nails in Yonghe Palace, so her own empress would get closer to her.

That's right, my own wife.

Qiu Xing regards Yonghe Palace as her home, just like Xiuxiu now.

And now she has stayed in Yonghe Palace for six years, and she is outstanding among the second-class court ladies. The empress knows that she came out of the needlework bureau, and she also entrusted the Yonghe Palace's satin warehouse to her.Clothes are another form of silver in the palace. The empress is willing to let her take care of the satin warehouse, and even the quarterly distribution of clothing materials issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is hers to collect and inspect. It can be seen that she is optimistic about her.

She wanted to stay in Yonghe Palace forever.

But the closer she got to the imperial concubine, the more painful Qiu Xing found out. Although the empress is a master who has a good temper and never beats and scolds palace people, she is also a person with a strong sense of boundaries. The empress regards her Yonghe Palace as a A home that cannot be violated.

But Qiu Xing knew that she was an outlier in this family.

Over the past year, as the discord between the imperial concubine and concubine Xi became more and more obvious, the frequency of Qiu Xing's nightmares doubled.She dreamed of her empress' disappointed and disgusted look, and also dreamed of the dark room of the Department of Punishment...

Qiu Xing watched Xiuxiu disappear, and when she came back, she put two slings of money into the box.

Now she has more than 30 taels of money, but what is the use of it.

The next day, Qiu Xing was busy all day, busy registering the clothing materials for delivery: the empress needs to make more winter clothes for the princess and elder brother, children grow up fast, and the empress needs to make more larger clothes every season. with.

It wasn't until she had eaten the dinner that others had left for her that Qiu Xing walked back to her room under the moonlight: tonight, the maid in her room is on duty, and she lives alone, so she might be able to sleep well.

People who have secrets in their hearts are always afraid that they will be revealed in their sleep.

The moment she entered the room, she saw the candles on the table lit up.

After seeing the person who lit the candle, Qiu Xing's teeth chattered immediately, and she almost turned around and ran away.

I saw Yinqiao, the deputy head of the Punishment Department, sitting beside her table, with a smile on his face, and holding a silver hairpin for picking up the wick in his hand.

Yinqiao gently blew on the silver hairpin that had been pulled out, then casually inserted it back into her hair, and said to Qiu Xing: "Close the door and come in, we have a whole night to chat."

Qiu Xing couldn't move her arms and legs to bolt the door, she just said in a trembling voice, "Miss Yinqiao..."

When outsiders see Yinqiao now, they want to address the vice-principal, but Yonghe Palace always follows Qiu Xue as Miss Yinqiao.

"Talk about... talk about what..."

Yinqiao got up and closed the door for her: "How about we start with 30 taels of silver?"

Qiu Xing's last line of psychological defense completely collapsed.

Still under the night lights.

Concubine Xi unconsciously copied the Medicine Master's Sutra with a murderous look.

Copying books is too tiring.

Speaking of which, although she had done respectful gestures before, the imperial concubine usually just ignored it.After all, she is the biological mother of the fourth elder brother, and her attitude is already so humble, it will be difficult for the imperial concubine to "make progress".

This is the first time that the imperial concubine directly followed her words to embarrass her.

After copying scriptures 99 times and spreading them to the ears of the emperor and empress dowager, I am afraid that the noble concubine is treating concubine Xi harshly.

So Concubine Xi tried it out this morning, and said to the noble concubine: "The concubine only copied it twice when I got it yesterday. I originally wanted to copy it all night and write it out as soon as possible to pray for the princess. I'm just afraid that my handwriting will be bad at night. God and Buddha, just stopped. In this way, I am afraid that it will take a month or two to copy 99 times, and I wonder if I will miss the matter of the imperial concubine or empress?"

Speaking of which, if the imperial concubine gave a step, it would be fine to say that there is no need to copy it, and both sides will take a step back.

Who would have guessed...

When Jiang Heng heard that Concubine Xi didn't want to copy books and found it tiring, he almost didn't laugh: This hasn't been a slap in the face, at best it's just a little hard work.

So she listened carefully to Concubine Xi's words, and then replied: "It's okay, Concubine Xi don't need to be impatient, so as not to miss this palace's business - just copy it and burn it in front of the Buddha before Min Min's birthday. "

Not only did Concubine Xi continue to copy, but she also set a deadline for the manuscript to be delivered.

Concubine Xi: ...

After Concubine Xi held back her anger and copied Buddhist scriptures for two days, Dongqing came in this day and rubbed her ink while replying: "Today, I met Qiu Xing in the House of Internal Affairs. She said she wanted to return the document that was painted."

Concubine Xi couldn't help but stop writing.

A few years ago, Qiu Xing took the money and thought that she could redeem her painting pledge, she was naive, but now she suddenly made this request, what is the reason?

Sure enough, Dongqing said: "She said that she heard a very important sentence from the Lord Long Live and the Imperial Concubine. She would only tell the news if the servants agreed to give her the receipt for the painting at the same time."

"Alright." Concubine Xi quickly made a decision.

Qiu Xing didn't care about her secrets, and she didn't take the initiative to spread a word for six years. If she was really pushed into a hurry, she might not be able to go all out and surrender herself to the imperial concubine. At that time, Jingren Palace was passive.

It's better to exchange a useful message while she is still afraid.

Soon, Concubine Xi felt that this was the most valuable 30 taels of silver she had ever used.

Qiu Xing heard a word from the emperor: Lord Long Live wanted to make a noble concubine the imperial concubine, but the empress suddenly fell ill.

Concubine Xi couldn't help but immediately asked Dongqing: "What about the future, how will the emperor decide in the future? There will be no imperial concubine, or should we wait for the empress to recover?"

Dongqing shook her head in embarrassment and said, "The servant has repeatedly questioned Qiu Xing, but she only heard this sentence by chance."

Concubine Xi couldn't help pacing on the spot, she couldn't tell what it was like, the emperor, no matter how strict the rules he said, he couldn't help but make exceptions and preferences.The position of imperial concubine is like this, maybe the position of crown prince should be like this!

Thinking of the queen falling ill twice, the noble concubine taking charge of the harem, thinking of the noble concubine ordering herself to copy a large number of scriptures casually.

No, the noble concubine cannot be the imperial concubine!

The emperor said this to the concubine in private, it should be to appease the concubine not to worry, wait for a year or a half, and wait for the queen to recover from her illness.

If this matter leaks out now, the emperor must suspect that the noble concubine can't wait, and is anxious to get the honor of the imperial concubine.Not only would the emperor be suspicious of the Yonghe Palace, but the empress would be taboo and angry: I have been ill for more than a month, and the noble concubine just took over the palace affairs and wants to be the imperial concubine. Isn't this cursing the palace to die?

When Dongqing heard that the empress said that she would employ someone to spread the word, she couldn't help being startled: "Empress, a few years ago, the rumors about the imperial concubine empress when she was pregnant with her sixth elder brother... the Department of Punishment has been ordered by the emperor to investigate for so long. , kicked out many people from the palace..." Fortunately, Jingren Palace was not hurt much in the end, but this time the empress wants to do it herself?

Concubine Xi shook her head: "That's a rumor, this time it's the truth, how can it be the same."

The emperor naturally felt that someone wanted to harm his noble concubine in the past rumors, but this time it was the private rumors between the emperor and the noble concubine that were spread.

The emperor would definitely consider that it was the imperial concubine who had a problem, probably because she was anxious to become an imperial imperial concubine, otherwise how would other people know such exact whispers?

But Dongqing's words also made Concubine Xi calm down a little.She couldn't help but think of the only time she had a bird game with a noble concubine.

One of her wrong cards happened to be sent to the imperial concubine, who pushed the card down and played the whole game.

Just like that rumor, not only did it not hurt the noble concubine, but it made the palace people see more clearly that the Yonghe Palace is not easy to provoke and has the protection of the emperor.

This time, she can no longer give cards to the imperial concubine.

Concubine Xi thought about it for a long time before asking Dongqing to find a chance to give Qiuju some money and ask her if she knew about it.

When Dongqing came back from asking, she said: "The maid asked sideways, I'm afraid Qiuju didn't know anything. It only said that the emperor entered the Yonghe Palace, and often sent all the palace people out, even Qiu Xue didn't always come to serve. The servant asked again How the noble concubine is feeling recently, Qiu Ju said, the fourth princess has been promoted to the title of Shun's mother's family, and the noble concubine has rewarded the palace people, obviously in a very good mood."

Concubine Xi lowered her eyes, copying scriptures while listening to Dongqing's reply.

Qiuju talked a lot, Dongqing recounted it for a while, and then remembered something: "Qiuju also mentioned that the imperial concubine ordered some maids who could settle accounts to help her calculate the accounts in the palace, and specially opened the east hall to set up tables and chairs. .” Qiuju said this out of jealousy, because she was not selected for the accounting team.

Concubine Xi paused: "Where is Qiu Xing?"

Dongqing said: "Speaking of Ju Qiuju, Qiuxing often goes to the east hall to help settle accounts."

Concubine Xi had already made a clear decision in her mind who to believe.Qiuju's character of being greedy for petty gains and being very cautious and thoughtful is not valued in Yonghe Palace. Even if she is a second-class court lady, she is only a marginal person.

No better than Qiu Xing, who devoted herself to serving in the Yonghe Palace, but she was somewhat famous.

As for the noble concubine, they even opened a side hall specially to train court ladies who can settle accounts. It seems that they are really planning to be the imperial concubine who will be in charge of the six palaces.

Concubine Xi continued to write and copy the scriptures: Since the imperial concubine entered the palace, her status has been promoted quickly and smoothly.But this time, she will not let the noble concubine go smoothly and become the imperial concubine.

A gossip soon spread in the palace.

The emperor wants to make the Empress of Yonghe Palace the imperial concubine!

It is also rumored that there is a nose and an eye, and it is only said that there is no decree temporarily because the empress is still ill, and there will be an imperial decree when the empress recovers.

This is heavy news, and within two days all the palace masters will know about it.

It wasn't until the Empress Dowager came forward to put an end to the rumors, and said with a final word: "The empress ordered De Kequan and Huixia to bow down. They have been in the palace for ten years and have never made mistakes in handling palace affairs. With such a master of the six palaces, there is no need for the position of imperial concubine in the harem." He also strictly ordered the concubines: "If you hear any palace people chewing their tongues again, you should send them to the Punishment Department directly. There is no mercy! Ai's family is just sick, and all the ghosts and snakes in the palace have come out!"

All the concubines stood up, and Concubine Xi couldn't help but regret: it's a pity that the concubine is standing in front of her now, so I can't appreciate the concubine's expression.

The queen mother's words can certainly suppress the rumors, but it also cuts off the way for the imperial concubine to be promoted to the imperial concubine!

As long as the queen is alive, the noble concubine can only be a noble concubine, I don't know how uncomfortable she feels now.

So this day when Concubine Xi copied the scriptures, even if she didn't show it on her face, her handwriting was flying.It's worth it to exchange 30 taels of silver for the position of imperial concubine.

Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Su Momo knelt in front of the imperial court and replied: "The few little maids who are spreading rumors that have been detained for the time being, all said that they heard this from the mouths of noble concubines and empresses." The maids are all dressed in the same clothes, and these poor little court ladies might not be able to tell the difference."

The emperor wrote coldly and said: "Is it really unclear, the Department of Punishment will investigate carefully!"

He knew that the rumors would not come from Yonghe Palace, she had just resigned from the position of imperial concubine, so why spread these useless rumors.

Su Momo replied: "This servant will definitely find out about the emperor's return."

The emperor expressed some dissatisfaction: "If it's like last time, and the concubine is involved too much in the end, and the truth is not found out, I will change your Punishment Department!"

Su Momo hurriedly promised to do her job with all her heart, and then she withdrew.

After going out, I thought to myself: I won't do it this time, but this time the injustice has its head and the debt has its owner.

Rumors of the 'imperial concubine' swept through the palace like a gust of wind, and soon no one mentioned it.

The queen mother's words are one reason, and another more important reason is that the third elder brother Hongshi's Fujin diagnosed a happy pulse!As soon as the wind in the palace turned, everyone was discussing the happy event.

Although the third elder brother is obviously not liked by the emperor, but this is also the first grandchild of the emperor, but it is a major event in the palace.

The empress dowager was very happy that she was going to have a grandson, so she specially organized a family banquet to celebrate this event.

Concubine Xi carefully prepared a congratulatory gift.

Now the third elder brother is not a threat to Hongli, and he is the elder brother, so he is a good candidate for Hongli to be a brother and friend.After Concubine Xi knew her son's thoughts, of course she would not hold her son back, and carefully prepared generous gifts before going to this family banquet.

What surprised Concubine Xi was that there was a long-lost face at this family banquet.

Concubine Qi actually returned to the palace!

The queen mother said to Hongshi who was equally excited and shocked: "A few years ago, your mother was in poor health, so she had to be raised in a quiet place with plenty of water. Now that she has been raised well, seeing that she is going to hold her grandchildren again, she naturally wants to come back to the palace."

Hongshi had practiced with the Twelfth Lord for a few years, and became more sensible, so he quickly kowtowed and thanked Huang Ama: This is Huang Ama's pardon for Xu Eniang's return to the Forbidden City after finally calming down.

Hongshi couldn't sit still at the banquet, he just wanted to hurry to pay his respects to Er Niang, and then told Er Niang in every possible way, so that Er Niang could only live in peace from now on and never make trouble again.

In fact, without Hongshi's instructions, these years of living in isolation from the world have already smoothed Concubine Qi.

Now I can go out and walk around, I can see people and communicate with them, I can see my son in the future, and I can even hold my grandson in my arms after more than half a year. For Concubine Qi, she has already returned to the world, and it is the most precious thing she feels after losing it It's time.

Concubine Xi looked at Concubine Qi who was so unfamiliar that she stammered greetings with them, she couldn't help feeling a little bit emotional, Concubine Qi was really a different person.

As she was feeling emotional, she only heard the emperor put down the cup and called her name: "Concubine Xi."

Concubine Xi hurriedly got up.

The emperor didn't say anything to her, he just turned his head and said to the queen mother: "I see that Concubine Qi has indeed raised her body back in Yuanmingyuan for a few years, which shows that Xiyuan Fengshui nourishes people."

"Over the past year, I feel that Concubine Xi is much more thoughtful and sick than in previous years. It is better to let Concubine Xi go to the Old Summer Palace to raise her for a few years. What does the Queen think?"

After listening to the Queen Mother, she showed a loving smile: "Alright."