Xue Baochai, the belly of the Red Chamber

The news that Xue Baochai was summoned into the palace by the empress not only spread quickly throughout the Xue family and the Wang family.Even the Jia family got the news from nowhere. In a short time, Wang Xifeng, Lian's second grandmother, was the housekeeper.Xue Baochai's eldest cousin arrived at Xue's house in a carriage.

"Auntie, why did the empress summon her cousin for no reason? But do you know why?" Wang Xifeng asked immediately after getting off the carriage.

If it was someone else, they would immediately know why Wang Xifeng came here.But Aunt Xue is weak-tempered, timid and simple-minded.Now without any preconditions, the daughter was summoned by the queen, and she was brought into the palace without any explanation. Although there was constant comfort from the maid, Aunt Xue's heart was already in a mess.Hearing Wang Xifeng's question now, why would he think too much, and replied: "We just got the news. Two female officials came over suddenly, saying that the empress had summoned them. They didn't ask too many questions, so they took Chai'er away. Feng Brother, do you think that Chai'er will be fine?" If something happened to her Chai'er, what would she do?

Wang Xifeng looked at Aunt Xue who was in a panic, and when she rolled her eyes, she knew that she probably didn't know anything.There was two points of disappointment in my heart, and a bit of doubt in my heart, but I still said comfortingly: "Auntie, don't panic. Cousin is smart, decent and dignified, so she entered the palace. It’s okay to see the empress, maybe there will be another good luck.” The Xue family had always been in Jinling before, and they only arrived in the capital for a few days, so how could they have anything to do with the empress? What about the intersection?

What the hell happened?How could Cousin Xue be summoned by the empress when she was so well behaved?

Turning around, he didn't see Xue Pan, so he was a little puzzled and asked, "Why don't you see my cousin? But you're not at home?"

With Wang Xifeng's comfort, Aunt Xue's expression was finally less flustered, and she said, "Pan'er was called over by your uncle early this morning, saying that he wanted to test his kung fu. He hasn't come back yet."

"Did the aunt send someone to notify? It's a big deal for the empress to summon her, and I have to let my cousin know about it." Wang Xifeng said so.

Aunt Xue replied: "I have already sent someone there, but I haven't come back yet." After saying this, a gleam of light flashed in Aunt Xue's mind, "By the way, maybe my brother will know something. Feng, why don't we go over and ask." Without waiting for Wang Xifeng to answer, he asked Jixiang Ruyi to prepare the carriage.

Wang Xifeng also felt that instead of staying here and not knowing why, it would be better to go to his uncle's side. Naturally, there is no room for disagreement.If there is no news from my uncle, then we can only wait for cousin Xue to come back to discuss the specific matters.

But don't know why?She had a bad feeling.

Xue Baochai's carriage has already arrived at the gate of the palace.

Entering from the Xuande Gate, there will be guards armed with knives and swords coming up to interrogate. Naturally, Xue Baochai doesn't need to get out of the carriage here, and there must be a female official who came over to come forward.

The carriage went straight in, the wheels rolled on the stone road, making a rumbling sound, Xue Baochai lifted the corner of the curtain, and only saw the solemn-looking guards on both sides of the carriage and the high red wall.

Although I know that I am no longer in the same time and space.The places her eyes can see are also very limited, but the scene touched by her eyes still gives her a sense of familiarity.

It's been a long time!

Putting down the curtains, the corners of Xue Baochai's mouth twitched slightly, and a trace of emotion quickly slipped through his closed eyes.

The carriage drove in the palace for about two sticks of incense before entering the harem. The female officer reported that she would change to a soft sedan before leaving.It was only here that Xue Baochai got out of the carriage with the support of the maid, and got into the soft sedan, when he heard the sound of clapping.

The soft sedan chair that had just been lifted was put down again.

The two female officers who picked up Xue Baochai didn't expect to meet other people here, and they were stunned for a while, but they are also people who have seen the world after all.He also recovered quickly, and instructed the maid who carried the sedan chair to move the sedan chair to the side.Immediately, a female official walked to the curtain of the soft sedan chair, opened a corner, and reminded in a low voice: "Miss Xue, the imperial concubine's chauffeur is here."

As soon as Xue Baochai heard this, she also knew that it was the female officer reminding herself, so she responded softly, helped the ganoderma lucidum bamboo pattern jade hairpin in her bun, opened the sedan chair curtain, and supported the female officer's men the sedan chair.

"Zhilan, what happened? Why did you stop?" Concubine Wu Guifei noticed that the driving speed had slowed down, so she opened the curtain on one side curiously and asked.After finishing the words, I saw a certain soft sedan parked not far ahead, and a girl in a pink skirt and a rose-colored shawl was standing not far from the soft sedan.But because the distance is not close, and the other party keeps his head down.She could only see the jade hairpin with ganoderma lucidum and bamboo pattern on the other party's bun, but she didn't see her face clearly.Then he asked again: "Whose family is this girl?" Looking at her hair bun, it should be the daughter's family who has not left the cabinet.The person standing beside her should be a female officer in the Queen's Empress Palace.Was it the empress who called her niece into the palace?But in the queen's natal family, it seems that there is no such an older girl's family.

Zhilan respectfully blessed Fushen and replied: "Returning to your empress, today the empress has sent a decree to summon the girl from the imperial merchant's Xue family, so it must be this one."

"Imperial Merchant Xue's family?" Concubine Wu Gui was a little puzzled.

Zhilan said again: "It's the Xue family who is in charge of the money and food procurement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Only then did Concubine Wu realize: "It's his family. The Empress summoned his girl, but what important matter can't be done?" How could she summon Miss Xue into the palace for no reason.

Zhilan said: "I don't know about this servant. You should ask your servant to inquire about it."

"En." Concubine Wu Gui nodded, then put down the curtain again, and stopped talking.

It was not until Xue Baochai drove the car away that she was helped by the female officer into the soft sedan chair again.But when she sat in the soft sedan chair, a complex look appeared on her face, and a gloomy look flashed in her eyes.But after all, she was not an ordinary person, and she quickly calmed down her expression and became stable.

The soft sedan chair carried by the rough envoy's maid walked for about a stick of incense, and then arrived at Fengyi Palace, the middle palace where Empress Cui lived.

Fengyi Palace is the queen's bedroom. Generally speaking, people stop at the gate of the palace. Xue Baochai was still supported by a female official to get out of the soft sedan chair.Looking around from the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Fengyi Palace was more rigorous than what he saw just now, and his words and deeds were also very measured.There is absolutely no way to stare at her after seeing her.

As the middle palace where the empress lives, it goes without saying that the layout here is all right.Empress Cui is said to be a descendant of the Cui family in Qinghe, and she is also a member of the direct branch. Therefore, although the layout of the palace is rich and noble, it is definitely not luxurious. On the contrary, the details are elegant. Empress Cui's character.

Xue Baochai is not someone who has never met the queen. In fact, in his previous life, even the queen would avoid her by three points when she saw her.

But seeing Empress Cui now, Xue Baochai's eyes flashed a hint of surprise.Empress Cui's facial features can only be considered delicate, but her temperament is like a blooming peony, rich and noble, making people dare not look directly at her.

"You must be Miss Baochai from the Xue family, right?" Empress Cui looked her up and down after Xue Baochai came in.I have to admire in my heart, this girl from the Xue family is indeed a full-fledged beauty, although she is still young and looks a little green, but she is even more beautiful.

Xue Baochai performed the great ceremony of kneeling and worshiping at once, and said at the same time: "Minister Xue's Baochai, I have seen the empress, and I am a thousand years old."

"There is no need to perform such a great ceremony. Get up quickly." Empress Cui was also surprised when she saw Xue Baochai's perfect etiquette.This Miss Xue is just a business girl, but her etiquette is better than those noble girls who have received strict upbringing since childhood, and her every move is exactly the same.

Xue Baochai replied, "Thank you, Empress."

As for the reason why Emperor Zhengde wanted to summon Xue Baochai in her name, Empress Cui, as Emperor Zhengde's first wife, naturally knew something inside.But now that he met the real person, and asked Xue Baochai some homely things, he found that Xue Baochai's answers were impeccable, without the slightest loophole. From this point alone, he knew that Xue Baochai might not be a simple person.

She contributed such a large amount of money to the emperor, if the emperor really wants to reward something?Some are famous, but now they insist on seeing each other. Could it be that Xue Baochai has known for a long time that he has such a good appearance and wants to be included in the harem?

Thinking of this, Empress Cui couldn't help feeling a little sour in her heart.

At this time, I heard eunuchs outside singing that the emperor had arrived.

Prince Yu's Mansion

Xiao Qiyu put down the scripture in his hand, tilted his head, and asked, "A'nan, what time is it?"

"It will be noon in a moment." The head of the guard, Si Nan, replied respectfully.

"It's already noon." Xiao Qiyu said in a low voice as if he had thought of something.

Si Nan paused for a moment before saying, "My lord, do you want someone to prepare a meal?"

Prince Yu Xiao Qiyu had congenital deficiencies since he was born, his body was delicate, and he needed good health care. The imperial physician once said that he tended to eat less and eat more.

Xiao Qiyu gave Sinan a slanted look, and then said, "No need. I was just thinking, did the empress summon Xue Baochai into the palace today?" Although Xue Baochai never voluntarily mentioned her name, she did not. prevent him from knowing.

"Yes, my lord." A trace of surprise flashed across Si Nan's face, but he replied quickly.

On Xiao Qiyu's slightly pale face, a faint smile was outlined, and his voice was slightly weird: "I'm really looking forward to this scene where Miss Xue and the emperor confront each other? It must be very interesting."

Si Nan: "..." What does the inexplicable pity in his master's tone mean?