Ever since Mrs. Pinglanhou left, the imperial concubine's eyelids have been twitching. She first sat on the couch for a while, wanting to read a book, but she was too restless to read, so she simply got up and walked around the palace. , Pearl hurried in, "Mother, your Majesty is here!"
The imperial concubine's eyelids twitched again, she quickly arranged her jewelry and clothes and asked, "Is there anything wrong with me?"
Pearl shook her head, "No."
"That's good."
The imperial concubine turned around and was about to go out. When she reached the door, she was about to step over. She suddenly thought of something and raised her hand to pull out the hairpin and gold hairpin on her head. She also picked off the big flowers, leaving only a few scattered pearl flowers. , looks very plain, sober doesn’t even look like her.
Pearl was surprised, "What are you doing?"
The imperial concubine had no time to explain, so she stuffed the thing into her arms and whispered: "Put it away quickly!"
"yes."
Although Pearl was puzzled, she was obedient and received all the jewelry in the box in the blink of an eye. She followed the imperial concubine out and knelt in the atrium.
As soon as they knelt down, Emperor Hui'an came over with someone.
The time card is just right.
“I respectfully welcome your Majesty, long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty—”
Emperor Hui'an stepped forward quickly, his eyelashes were lowered, and his eyes could not be seen clearly. After a while, he leaned over to help the concubine, without embarrassing her in public, and said warmly: "Get up, it's cold, kneel down." What are you doing here?”
The concubine's eyes were slightly red and she hesitated to speak.
Only then did Emperor Hui'an notice that she had almost no jewelry on her head and was very plain.
He paused, took the concubine's hand, patted it and said, "Go in and say, the wind is strong, don't hurt your face."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After entering, Emperor Hui'an sat down on the couch. The imperial concubine personally served tea and said warmly: "This is your majesty's favorite tea, but I can't make it well. Your majesty, don't dislike it."
When Emperor Hui'an heard this, he couldn't help but think of the time when the imperial concubine first entered the palace.
At that time, the old Marquis was still there, and she was well-fed and pampered at home. She didn't know anything, but she always clumsily tried to please him. He liked her beauty and naivety, but he also hated her willfulness and helplessness. present.
Later, the old marquis and his eldest son died unjustly, and the Jin family fell into decline for a time. She could not afford to kneel in front of the imperial study, begging him to thoroughly investigate the corruption case, and firmly believed that her father and brother were innocent. It rained heavily that day, and her slender The body seemed to be broken by the wind and rain at any time.
Fortunately, it was found out that the old Marquis had nothing to do with corruption and was innocently implicated.
He restored the status of the Jin family and made Jin Yuan, the imperial concubine's younger brother Xijue, the current Marquis of Pinglan. It happened that the imperial concubine was found to be pregnant after a serious illness, so he promoted her to her position to appease her. .
From then on, she changed and became calm and gentle. Although she occasionally showed a bit of arrogance in front of the palace people, she was always submissive when facing him. She occasionally showed some coquettishness, but she was not annoying.
Since then, he has come to her palace often. Her tea-making skills have not improved, but he likes the smell that cannot be found anywhere else.
Emperor Hui'an picked up the tea cup and before he could speak, the imperial concubine knelt down.
Emperor Hui'an paused, "What are you doing?"
There was no emotion or anger in his tone, and he was even a little gentle.
The imperial concubine was well aware of this man's temperament. She said in a trembling voice: "I am apologizing for my younger brother. It is a serious crime for the noble Lord to break into the imperial prison without an order. Previously, my younger brother and sister came to the palace and asked me to help them talk to me. Concubine Although I feel sorry for my nephew, I also know that Jin Yiwei is on an errand under the emperor's orders, how can I interfere with them because of my concubine's selfish desires?"
"I asked them to go back and wait for the news from the imperial prison. I didn't expect that my brother would be so reckless. He broke into the imperial prison and took the people away. It was my concubine who failed to discipline them well and failed to share your worries. Instead, I ruined your majesty's affairs. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
After she finished speaking, she knocked deeply.
Emperor Hui'an looked at her long black hair and said in silence for a moment: "It is human nature to be anxious when a child is in prison, but taking the person away from the prison indiscriminately not only destroys the majesty of the Jinyiwei, but also makes the I have no face left."
The imperial concubine's heart thumped. The emperor was indeed angry!
She secretly thought that Pinglanhou's family was either successful or failed, but she only had a younger brother, so what could she do?
"Your Majesty wants to be beaten and punished, and none of my concubines have any complaints. It's just——"
She grabbed a corner of the emperor's robe and begged: "I only have one younger brother left. The Jin family has only one brother. I beg your majesty to spare his life because of the hard work and hard work that I have served you for so many years." !”
Emperor Hui'an sighed, leaned over and held her hand, "I didn't say I wanted his life, why did you do this?"
The imperial concubine burst into tears and was speechless.
"I have ordered people to take Jin Jianyun back. He is involved in a major case and cannot be let go casually. If it is found out that he has nothing to do with him, he will naturally be let go. If he cannot be separated from him..."
The imperial concubine was chilled by his pause, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "If it really has something to do with him, then it will be done according to the law, and I will never interfere!"
Emperor Hui'an nodded, "I know you are the most sensible and understand the importance."
He pulled the imperial concubine up with force, patted the back of her hand and said: "Pinglan Marquis is excusable for breaking into the imperial prison, but it will be difficult to convince the public if he is not punished. I will punish him by facing the wall for half a year. What do you think about deducting one year's salary?"
It was a bit uncomfortable to face the wall for half a year, but compared to his crime, it was less serious. As for the fine, the Jin family had plenty of money, so it was not short of this amount.
The imperial concubine said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty——"
Emperor Hui'an nodded, let go of her, picked up the tea cup and drank the tea.
The imperial concubine did not dare to say anything when she saw this. The emperor did not let her sit down, so she could only stand.
After standing in silence for a cup of tea, Emperor Hui'an put down the cup of tea, stood up and walked out, "I haven't finished reading the memorial yet, so I'm leaving now. I'll see you another day."
The imperial concubine followed him to see him off, but Emperor Hui'an waved his hand, walked to the door and stamped his feet and said: "Lao Wu has been busy with government affairs recently and has been really hard. Please let him come to the palace to spend more time with you."
After saying that, he left without looking back.
The imperial concubine stood there, chilled to the bone.
At first glance, these words sounded like he was caring about her, but in fact he was telling her that he wanted to reduce the power of the fifth prince.
She sat down on the table in a daze, and laughed to herself for a while, "After all, there is still a rift."
*
Sure enough, after Emperor Hui'an returned to the imperial study, he ordered Cheng Jin to call the seventh prince and hand him over several matters that the fifth prince was responsible for.
Cheng Jin called his apprentice Cheng Jia and gave some instructions in a low voice.
Cheng Jia was puzzled, "His Majesty said before that His Highness the Seventh Prince was still young, so why is he entrusted with such a heavy responsibility today?"
Cheng Jin looked around, and when he was sure there was no one there, he whispered: "The king's heart is unpredictable, do you still need me to teach you this word?"
Cheng Jia pursed his lips and said aggrievedly: "Then this is too unpredictable, right?"
Cheng Jin slapped him on the forehead, "You idiot, can't you see His Majesty's intentions?"
Cheng Jia shook his head.
