There is an old apricot tree growing in the open space between Xuanhui Palace and Pili Palace, full of apricots the size of eggs.
The apricots are ripe at this time, and their yellow color is mouth-watering.
When the Queen Mother was here, Xuanhui Palace was the busiest.
Now it has been uninhabited for a long time, so even the surrounding area has become very deserted.
Several little palace ladies gathered around the tree and begged a little eunuch who could climb trees to pick it.
The little eunuch tucked the corners of his robe into his waist, climbed to the top of the tree and shook it, and the apricots fell like rain.
This caused the palace maids to laugh and curse: "Things that seek death! I asked you to pick them with your hands, why are you shaking like a monkey?!"
"You guys have so many mouths, how can I pick them up with my bare hands?" the little eunuch said with a playful smile, "I really want to use Lao Zhang again, but I also dislike Lao Zhang, and Lao Zhang refuses to help!"
"Stop farting," said the most upright little palace maid in the crowd. "The apricots are so ripe that they will rot when dropped on the stone floor. How can you eat them? I don't know that you are so frivolous! "
"Okay, okay, I'll just pick them," the little eunuch said as he quickly picked the apricots and put them in his arms. "The ones on the top of the tree are the most delicious. I'll pick them all for you."
"It doesn't take much," the maids below said, "Just a taste. If you eat too much of this stuff, you will get sick. Haven't you heard that 'peaches nourish people, apricots harm people'?"
"I've even heard of 'people are buried under pear trees'!" The little eunuch laughed and jumped down, "This sticky apricot will easily attract insects if you bite a packet of honey water."
Suddenly I caught a glimpse of someone coming, and hurriedly said hello: "It's Sister Xue, what kind of fragrant wind has brought you here?"
Xue Hengzhao smiled: "I have received orders from the Concubine Dowager to deliver tea to Concubine Xian."
As he spoke, he lifted the tea can in his hand and walked straight over without stopping.
"After all, she is a young lady. Look at her steps, she looks like a willow swaying in the wind." Xue Hengzhao walked away, and these people were still looking at her back.
"It's a pity that my life was unlucky and my home was confiscated." Someone lamented.
"That's better than us. At least we can serve the master in front of him." Someone immediately retorted.
These Xue Hengzhao also heard every word and phrase in his ears, just like the breeze blowing by, and they were completely unimportant.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has sent someone to deliver tea." Kang Guang approached and reported to Concubine Xian.
"Keep the tea leaves, and you can reward me with whatever you like." Concubine Xian said calmly.
"Empress, this is Xue Hengzhao." Kang Guang lowered his voice slightly, "I think she wants to see you."
"Then let her come in!" Concubine Xian straightened her body more and leaned on the back of the chair.
Xue Hengzhao came in and said greetings as usual: "I would like to express my greetings to the Concubine Xian. On the orders of the Concubine Xian, I bring you this jar of Xin'an tea."
"I'm sorry to have to take care of you, but I would also like to thank you for your kindness." Concubine Xian said with a smile, "Please take a seat! Give me some tea."
"No need to bother," Xue Hengzhao said, "I still have a few words to say to your Majesty."
"What's the matter? Just tell me!" Concubine Xian said, "There are no outsiders here."
The only two people accompanying Concubine Xian were Kang Guang and Shu Cong, both of whom were her confidants.
"My slave, there is a pack of halva here. It was given to me by Sister Chi Su, a good sister of Furong Palace." , I can’t eat sweets. Just bring it to the empress and keep it for others to enjoy!"
Of course Concubine Xian understood what she meant, but she still had to pretend to be confused: "Miss Xue, since this is given to you by your good sister, you don't want to eat it. You can keep it for yourself or give it to others. Why do you want to give it to me? ?”
"I came today just to make things clearer to you." Xue Hengzhao smiled, "I don't have to guess, I know there is something added to this candy. It won't kill anyone if you eat it for a while, but for someone as weak as me, Every time I go back and forth, my life is on the line."
"There is such a thing, then why don't you question Chi Su?" Concubine Xian did not panic. She knew that Xue Heng Zhaoguang was relying on speculation and could not grasp her handle at all.
Because she hasn't asked Chi Su to take action yet.
"Empress, I wish you could be more straightforward." Xue Hengzhao calmly said, "I don't have to guess to know that Sister Chi Su has taken refuge with you now. The Empress has already wanted to get rid of me, and she has turned this hot hand on me." The potato is thrown to you.
Who is willing to dirty his hands to get rid of a little palace maid? It is natural to kill someone with a borrowed knife.
That day, I did not hesitate to betray Chi Su in order to escape in front of the sixth princess. What happened next, although I haven't seen it in person, I can make a rough guess.
Chi Su returned to Furong Palace unscathed, and the scandal did not spread at all. The reason can only be that there is a new alliance between you. "
"What? Are you going to report Chi Su in front of Concubine Fu?" Concubine Xian raised her eyebrows slightly.
"If this is the case, why would I bother to come to the Queen's presence?" Xue Hengzhao smiled, "The Queen has always been shrewd, and I can't help but notice this."
"But I can't see what your purpose is in coming to me." Concubine Xian said, "You have always been on Concubine Fu's side, haven't you? Chi Su has surrendered to me, will you still let her stay? With Concubine Fu?"
"It's true that I'm helping Concubine Fu, but in the final analysis, it's for myself." Xue Hengzhao looked calm, "Now Concubine Fu and the fifth prince are being watched too closely, and they dare not act rashly. If this continues, it will inevitably be a dead end."
"So you came to me?" Concubine Xian smiled, "Are you here to surrender? I can't believe it."
"My slave, I don't need your Majesty to believe in me," Xue Hengzhao said, "There is just something urgent, and it must be done. If Concubine Fu cannot do it, you can take action."
"Why?" Concubine Xian asked with a smile, "What if I don't take action?"
"The empress will take action," Xue Hengzhao said, "I have no so-called loyalty, I only have interests in my eyes. I will help whoever can succeed in the end. In other words, I will not bet all my bets on one place."
"I wonder what Concubine Fu would think if she heard what you said?" Concubine Xian looked at Xue Hengzhao, her eyes seeming to be scrutinizing, "Since you can't be trusted, why should I believe you? What if you stab me behind the back?" , isn’t it bad?”
"Your Majesty is a smart person, and I'm not a fool." Xue Hengzhao said, "I'm just here to give you an idea. If you think it's feasible, you can adopt it. If you don't adopt it, you won't suffer any loss.
Only a few of us know what happened today. As long as people on your side don't tell anyone, I will never tell anyone. Because it is harmful to me. "
After listening to Xue Hengzhao's words, Concubine Xian lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then raised her eyes and said, "Then tell me what the plan is."
