Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Zili was completely isolated, now not only the girls from the Fang family and the Yuan family raised eyebrows at Zili, but Ning Shan from the Zhen family was also sneering at Zili.But they will not show themselves in front of the Queen Mother, if Zili wants to lower his figure to talk to them, the three girls will also talk to Zili in a pleasant manner.The three of them are all smart people, and they definitely wouldn't act like they were sneering at Zili in front of the Queen Mother and everyone else.But the way they looked at Zili was like "we don't play with you, just go away quickly".

Zili is not a person who does not wink, since she already dislikes her, she will not pay special attention to her.Anyway, Zili is not the kind of person who smiles at you but makes trouble in her heart, so she keeps those three at a respectful distance.Zili's life has become very boring, they are not serious female officials and don't have to serve the Queen Mother all day long.After all, Hangzhou is not a capital city, and there are few things in the palace, even if there is something to do, they will not ask Zili and the others to do it.Therefore, apart from hanging around in front of the queen mother every day, waiting for the old lady to chat and laugh together to relieve boredom, it will be fine.

Since the Empress Dowager and the emperor untie the knot, the relationship between mother and son has become closer.The emperor often came to pay his respects to the queen mother.In the past, Zili and the others had to serve the Empress Dowager for three meals, but when the emperor came, Zili and the others had less time to serve the Empress Dowager. Naturally, Zhen Ningshan had the Crown Princess often call her over to talk, and the Empress often called them over when she was free.It's just that the queen is not as leisurely as the queen mother.The emperor brought a lot of concubines, and along the way there were officials honoring the beauties who came up. The queen had to worry about all the trivial matters in the palace, and the queen didn't have much time to talk to the girls.

So Zili's life in the palace became very boring, and the three of them would go to the garden to play, or laugh and do needlework together.Zili was isolated by an invisible glass wall. She ate in silence and walked in the garden by herself.

This day, the Queen Mother took the four girls to the garden to relax. After waiting for lunch, the Queen Mother was a little tired, so she went to the nearest place to rest.Ning Shan said to the girl from the Yuan family: "Let's talk on the shore." So the girls from the Fang family and the Yuan family stood up and walked towards the shore together. Looking at the dominoes in front of her eyes, Shun Niang couldn't stand it any longer: "Young lady, if you don't laugh with them, there is still some time before the queen mother gets up. In fact, there is nothing difficult between the little sisters. If you want to be like enemies, the queen mother and What should the empress think of the girl when she sees it?"

Shunniang's implication is that Zili should establish a good relationship with the three of them, because this is to choose a wife for the grandson, and the present grandson will be the future prince and emperor.In the Sixth Courtyard of the Emperor's Sangong, it would be impossible for the queen to be tolerant of others. Shunniang was worried that Zili would always be isolated by other girls, so Tai Hao and the queen saw her, thinking that she couldn't get along well with others.It won't do her any good if it leaves a narrow-minded impression in the hearts of the queen and queen mother.Of course Zili knew what Shunniang meant, and she put down the dominoes with a wry smile: "Miss Shun, what you said is true, but people get along with each other. How can you repay kindness with kindness? I think I am worthy of treating anyone. I dare not say that I know everything about their thoughts, but I know a thing or two. Why don't I want to make friends with them. It's just that they have their own faults first, and they can't understand the goodness of others. Why should I lower my morals for such people Complicate with them."

Zili made it very clear that he was right when the queen mother summoned them angrily. It was the three of them who wanted to take advantage of it, but instead of stealing money, they lost face in front of the queen mother.Zili was appreciated by the empress dowager, the three of them didn't reflect on their own mistakes, and isolated Zili, clearly refusing to admit their mistakes and being narrow-minded.Zili would never get along with such a person.

Shunniang just sighed after listening to Zili's words, and stopped trying to persuade her. Zili helped Shunniang pack up her things. She sat on the edge of the waterside pavilion, looking at the water lotus on the water in a trance.She is getting more and more confused about what the future will look like, and she can't grasp the future. Every day when she opens her eyes, she is entangled in countless trivial matters.She can't cry for herself, she can't laugh for herself, she talks and walks, and she always has to look at other people's faces.She was getting tired of such days.Listening to Shunniang's implication, at least two of the four girls should be left behind. As for who will be the grandson Liangdi, it depends on the Queen Mother and the Emperor.But what's the use of being the grandson Liangdi?Now even the crown prince felt that his position was in jeopardy, and the emperor's preference for the king of Wei was particularly obvious during the southern tour.

The prince was reprimanded by the emperor in front of the officials several times, it is really pitiful to think about it, His Royal Highness is also in his forties, and he was scolded bloody by the old man.Every time the emperor scolded the crown prince, he usually praised the king of Wei once. The biological mother of the king of Wei, Dong Guifei, Zi Li, had seen it before.Although the woman had a kind face, there was always something uncomfortable in the corners of her eyes and brows.Zili dislikes Concubine Dong Gui very much, coupled with the tense brotherhood between King Wei and the Prince, Zili is very smart to keep a distance from Concubine Dong Gui.However, Concubine Dong Gui was not particularly interested in the four girls, she just acted kindly to the four girls, and said some words of encouragement according to the script, and it was fine.

Zili rested her chin, it was already noon, but she was not dozing off at all, there were countless whitebait jumping on the water surface, which dazzled the viewers.This is already so complicated in the palace. I heard that the emperor still has several favorite concubines in the capital who did not come out with him.If we wait until all the people are complete, we won't be able to perform wonderful palace fighting dramas every day.Apart from meeting the four girls together, Concubine Dong Gui also met Zili alone for a while. As for whether Concubine Dong Gui had met others alone, Zhen Ningshan and the others would not tell Zili, but Concubine Dong Gui guessed that Zili I'm sure Concubine Dong Gui must have met the girl from the Zhen family.

That day the queen mother suddenly came and wanted to take a boat tour of the palace in the rain, waiting for Zili to accompany the queen mother around and return to the queen mother's bedroom, her body was already half wet by the rain.Although the weather was getting hotter every day, Zili couldn't help but get goosebumps all over his body when he was wearing wet clothes and being blown by the wind.Just when Zili was thinking about going back to change clothes, the maid beside Concubine Dong was waiting for Zili on the way back.I saw that palace lady Li last time, and when she saw Zili approaching, she stepped forward and gave Zili a little blessing: "Miss Wang, our empress invites the girl to come over and talk." Zili looked as if she was wet. The maid looked impatient, she could only swallow the words that came to her lips, and said politely to the maid with a slight smile: "Please take me, sister."

As soon as Zili entered, the maid told her to stand and wait for the imperial concubine to come out.The bedroom was quiet, Zili quietly looked at the layout of Concubine Dong Gui's bedroom.She had to admit that she was the emperor's favorite concubine for many years, and the decoration of Concubine Dong's room was more feminine than that of the empress.Concubine Dong Gui's eyes suddenly appeared in her heart. From a man's point of view they are charming and coquettish, but from a woman's point of view they are calculating and shrewd.A gust of wind blew by, Zili couldn't help shivering.Just when Zili thought he was going to wait forever in the freezer, through the double-sided embroidered screen embroidered with lifelike goldfish, a group of people surrounded by a beauty came out indistinctly.

"Greetings to the imperial concubine and empress." Zili had been in the palace for a long time, and he was already familiar with the etiquette in the palace, and it was about to seep into his blood.Concubine Dong Gui held the maid's hand and glanced down at Zili who was squatting on the ground. She didn't say a word, and waited for the imperial concubine to sit comfortably on the throne before waving at Zili in a lazy voice: "Get up!" Oh, sorry to see you, why are you wet?" The imperial concubine didn't seem to hear the sound of the rain outside at all, unexpectedly the sun was still shining brightly outside.

"The court lady accompanied the queen mother on a boat tour of the lake, and she was slightly wet by the rain because she was greedy for the view. Just now, the imperial concubine summoned her, and the court lady hurried over. She behaved in front of the imperial concubine and empress, and asked her to forgive her." Zili With his head down, his respectful attitude was even more cautious than in front of the queen.

There was a moment of silence in the room, even though Zili lowered her head, she could still feel a bone-scraping sharp gaze scanning her from head to toe several times. "Hey, the children from Wang Changchun's family are all cautious people. You have been in the palace for a while, and when you were at home, you were also a daughter of a thousand gold, and many servants took care of you. There is no one to serve you, and you have to serve others. If you have any difficulties, just tell me. I like girls very much, but it's a pity. I don't have a daughter in this life. I look at you children coldly, seeing that you are a A smart, cute and sensible child. When you are free, you can often come to my place and talk to me, okay?"

Is this wooing?Zili was a little confused. Concubine Dong Gui's son and the crown prince were robbing the emperor's favor. It stands to reason that Concubine Dong Gui should have no affection for them, right?Why does Concubine Dong Gui want her to come and talk often?Zili was puzzled, she thought about it and replied cautiously: "I am grateful that the imperial concubine cares about the courtiers. It's just that the queen mother often summons, and the courtiers are stupid by nature, so they are afraid of disturbing the imperial concubine."

Concubine Dong Gui was not very angry at Zili's refusal, she suddenly giggled: "I am also kind, I see that you are the most outstanding among the four of you. The grandson chooses Liang Di, and the queen mother has weight in her words, but the final decision Your Majesty is the one. I want to give you a chance to show your face in front of Your Majesty. Besides, your grandfather was also the teacher of King Wei before. Speaking of you as the granddaughter of Mr. My Son, I also want to see you as a teacher and a student Take care of you in terms of friendship. Who knows—that’s all, you are a smart person, what should I do, I will wait and see." Concubine Dong Gui asked Zili to leave.

The situation of that day replayed countless times in Zili's mind. She once saw people around the imperial concubine come out of Zhen Ningshan's yard, and the next day she heard Fangfang say sourly that Zhen Ningshan was good at coaxing people and that she was rewarded by the imperial concubine or something.It seems that the imperial concubine wants to make friends with Zhen Ningshan and her to win people's hearts?But why did the noble concubine suddenly bring up the matter of their old man, Wang Changchun was the prince's teacher at that time, the emperor felt sorry for Wei Wang and asked him to study with the prince.

In fact, Wang Changchun is the prince's teacher and Wei Wang is not so close.Why did Concubine Dong Gui keep mentioning the master-student friendship between Wang Changchun and Wei Wang?Zili didn't dare to think about it any more, could it be that the king of Wei really wanted to seize his heir?Originally, Zili only wanted to hang out in the palace for a few days, so it was best not to stay in the palace.Who knows that the matter to be elected is not over yet, and the dispute between the prince and the king of Wei is entangled again?The battle for succession has always been extremely fierce. Once you stand on the wrong team, it is really doomed, and the whole family will be killed with their heads.

"What are you thinking? Doesn't it hurt your eyes to stare at the water? You're waiting to jump into the water as soon as you stand up!" Someone suddenly patted Zili on the shoulder behind her.Zili was lost in thought when he was suddenly attacked by someone and felt his eyes go dark, his body lost his balance instantly, and he was about to fall into the water.

Human instinct is strong, so Zili grabbed the person who was patting her and finally stabilized his body.There was a smiling round face in front of him, Zili suppressed the vile and violent scene in his heart, and hurriedly took a step back, greeting His Royal Highness Taisun.

Seeing Zili's well-behaved appearance, Taisun lost interest a little, he waved his hand: "Get up, I've watched you sitting here in a daze from afar, isn't it hot for you sitting here under the sun?" Zili stood up , and found that Taisun's face was a little depressed.Xiao Zhongliang, who was standing beside the grandson, gave Zili a quiet wink, she knew that the grandson was in a bad mood, so she had to be careful.

Taisun looked at Zili, pointed to the pavilion not far away, and said, "Don't get sunstroke at noon, let's sit and talk over there." Zili was a little strange listening to Taisun's words. It will change when we arrive in Hangzhou.Noon is the unshakable rest time, and His Royal Highness has always strictly followed the schedule.Why did it suddenly change today?Zili didn't want to have too much interaction with the grandson, so she advised the grandson to go back and rest.Unexpectedly, the great-grandson could hold back a sentence: "I am very depressed, no one in this palace dares to tell me what to do! My great-grandson is doing worse than a slave!" The great-grandson's face was ferocious, With deep anger in his tone, Zili was taken aback by Taisun's anger.She hurriedly knelt down to ask the grandson to appease her anger.

"Get up, this has nothing to do with you. Let it go, forget it, I don't want to talk about it." Taisun sat down dejectedly, and proud Zili also sat down.Xiao Zhongliang said from the side: "The grandson just met the people around the king of Wei in the garden. He actually didn't mean anything else, but he just asked the grandson to take a rest early when he saw the lunch break." "Hmph, you too No need to help him with the conversation. I know it must be Wei Wang and Concubine Dong Gui who communicated, and they were furious when I bumped into them. Even a servant dares to point fingers at me, it is tolerable, which is unbearable!" Taisun held tightly Fist, flushed face.

Zili wanted to understand immediately that the grandson was taught a lesson by Cao Jixiang who was next to the king of Wei. Although the grandson was the second in line to the throne, the king of Wei was the grandson's uncle, and even though Cao Jixiang was an eunuch.But the one with a big background is the confidant of Concubine Dong Gui and the great companion of King Wei.The grandson always wants to give Cao Jixiang something decent, especially now that the prince is not very popular with the emperor, and the entire Eastern Palace line seems to be in decline.There is a saying that beating a dog depends on its owner, and the dog is also fighting against the power of others.

"Why did the grandson get so angry over a small matter? Although I haven't met Wei Wang's big companion, but I heard the palace people say that Eunuch Cao was a capable person next to the noble concubine back then. His Majesty praised Eunuch Cao very much." Yes. He is an old man, so he is naturally decent. If the grandson resents a servant for a small matter, if it is spread, others will think that the grandson is too arrogant and does not pay attention to the people around the elders. In fact, this matter is careful If you think about it, you can't blame Eunuch Cao. He is an old man, and he should value the rules the most. It is his duty to persuade the grandson, but now that the grandson has grown up, how can he, a slave, know about the grandson? It's just that Xia Chong can't talk ice, so don't be as knowledgeable as him, and you will be angry. If the master and servants are angry, even if he is not good, His Majesty and His Royal Highness are aware of the details, and they naturally distinguish right from wrong in their hearts. The grandson is angry and people will make a fuss." Zili advised the grandson to bow his head under the eaves, but to bear it for now.

Taisun suddenly raised his head and looked at Zili playfully for a while, then he suddenly laughed: "Your nonsense is very reasonable. I don't want to get angry with a servant. I also want to go back to rest. Come here and greet the queen mother. Since the queen mother is resting, I will wait first. Can you play chess? How about our next game?"

Without waiting for Taisun's order, Xiao Zhongliang had already laid out the chessboard.Zili nodded and picked up Heizi.But the grandson took Heizi from Zili's hand: "How can I take advantage of a girl, how about I let you three sons?"

"The courtier has only learned chess casually from my husband for half a year. I'm afraid His Royal Highness will give me thirty chess pieces, and the courtier will be confused." Zili first declared that his chess skills are too bad, wait a minute Don't blame her for driving Taisun crazy.

"If a person like you doesn't know how to play chess, it's really a waste. It doesn't matter if you don't know how to play chess. I'll teach you. With your aptitude, you will definitely be able to learn it in no time." Taisun said and gestured to Zi Li Luozi.

The two quickly got into the chess game. Of course it was true that Zili said that she had learned to play chess with her husband for half a year, but she had learned to play chess with the old man for a year.Taisun's chess skills are not weak, he quickly restrained his laughing attitude, and did not dare to underestimate Zili.The two people come and go, and the black and white pieces on the chessboard quickly stick together, and it is difficult to tell the winner for a while.

After several confrontations, the grandson still had the upper hand, and Zili was worried secretly when he saw that he was about to be eaten.Suddenly a girl's voice came: "Sister Zili, you can write a word here and everything will be alive." Zili raised her head and found that Ning Shan was standing behind Zili at some point, and she motioned for Zili to be there. The place is settled.

Zili saw that it was true that the authorities were bewildered by the onlookers. She picked up the white letter and landed on a key point. Although she lost a lot of chess pieces, she still narrowly won a few pieces overall.

Taisun smiled and threw down the chess pieces in his hands: "You are only talking modesty, last time I played chess with you, why did you lose so badly? Now you have become smarter. Why did you have to be so clumsy when you knew this earlier? Zili was a little surprised when he heard the tone and content of Taisun and Ning Shan's words, and then he smiled and hurriedly stood up: "So the master is here. I just thanked sister Ning for helping me, so I don't have to be too embarrassed. The ready-made master, I So I won't show my ugliness anymore, let's invite sister Ning to play chess with His Highness Taisun, and I'll take care of you."

Speaking of which, Zili stood up and sat Ning Shan on the chair she had just been sitting on, and expressed that she was very happy to hear that the grandson and Ning Shan were familiar with each other.It's best for Taisun to forget her completely so that she can go home.

Ning Shan looked at his grandson and sat down accordingly.Unexpectedly, Taisun stopped Zili who took the opportunity to serve tea and fruits: "Don't run away, let's sit and talk lively."

Hearing what the grandson said, Zili couldn't help looking at Ning Shan, who had a stiff smile on his face, before waiting for Zili to speak, Ning Shan smiled first: "That's right, sister, don't go, it's natural if you want tea or something. Someone will do it."

With one more person, the atmosphere became more subtle. For some reason, Ning Shan, who had always been reticent in front of others, suddenly became knowledgeable and eloquent.Whatever the grandson said, she could quote a lot of scriptures.Taisun didn't seem to be very interested in Ning Shan's endless chatter, but took care of Zili very much. Zili realized that Ning Shan wanted to suppress his intentions, so he became a saw-jawed gourd. cut in.

I am very satisfied with Zili's low-key Ning Shan. After a long speech, she will pull up Zili from time to time and ask her, "What do you think of Zili? Grandson, don't bother to hear about me. Zili has never said a word." What?" Yunyun reminded Taisun to notice that there is still Zili.

"I haven't climbed up to Grandson Liang Di, but I'm about to show my virtue." Zili muttered in her heart, why did she feel that the three of them were like a master chatting with his wife and concubine.

"His Majesty, Your Majesty has asked His Highness to come over." A small eunuch ran over and whispered something in Xiao Zhongliang's ear.He immediately went to Taisun's side and lowered his voice and said, "It seems to be the battle report from Liaodong. Mr. Li was defeated, and I heard that he died in the chaos. Your Majesty told Taisun to go over quickly."