The queen and Princess Fengrong, who was a concubine at the time, found out they were pregnant at almost the same time, and even the expected date of delivery was similar.
In order to compete for favor and consolidate her status, the queen always hoped to give birth to a legitimate son before the concubine.
But in the end, Concubine Rong took the opportunity and gave birth to the second prince Li Weitao, who is now Prince Rui.
The late emperor was so delighted that the queen was about to give birth.
Not only was Concubine Rong promoted to Concubine Rong on the spot, but she also issued a general amnesty to the world. She even stayed in Concubine Rong's palace for several days without even seeing the queen.
Just three days after Concubine Rong gave birth to the second prince, the queen suddenly suffered from abdominal pain while worshiping the Buddha. Within half an hour, she gave birth to the third prince, who is now the Holy Emperor Li Weiheng.
Aunt Dong recalled: "Mrs. Xu came to the palace early that morning and accompanied her master to the small Buddhist hall in the palace to worship Buddha and said she wanted to pray for the fetus in her belly.
"So the master dismissed all the servants and only stayed in the Buddhist hall with Mrs. Xu.
"The old slave didn't follow at all at that time, but was sent by his master to find a pair of plum vases in the warehouse, saying that he would give them to Mrs. Xu to take home.
"The old slave searched the warehouse for a long time, almost turning the warehouse upside down, but he still couldn't find the pair of plum vases that the master mentioned.
"The old slave was worried when he suddenly heard the commotion outside. When he went out and asked, he found out that his master was suffering from abdominal pain and was about to give birth.
"The old slave immediately didn't care about looking for any more plum bottles and hurriedly led people to the small Buddhist hall.
"But when the old slave arrived, the master had successfully given birth to the prince, and Mrs. Xu wrapped him in clothes and carried him out."
Concubine Fengrong had just given birth to a baby that year and was in confinement, so she didn't know the details of the queen's birth process. She only knew that she was born accompanied by her natal sister-in-law.
At that time, in order to please her, the servants even said that when the queen gave birth, the emperor was not present, which showed that the emperor still loved her more.
This also caused her to miss many details of the time.
"Your master gave birth to his first child in less than half an hour?"
Princess Fengrong still remembered that she had given birth for almost a day and a night. Although she was guarded by Po Wen and the imperial doctor, she almost lost half her life.
Did the queen give birth so smoothly back then?
"Mrs. Xu said it was because the master devoted himself to worshiping Buddha, so he was blessed by Buddha..."
Aunt Dong suddenly stopped when she said this, and she struggled for a while before continuing: "But when the old slave was serving the master during confinement, he found that the master was not close to the prince at all, and he was left to the wet nurse all day long. Taking care of it without even bothering to look at it.
"At that time, the old slave thought that the master was heartbroken because of the emperor's attitude, but he didn't think much about it.
"But in hindsight, I realize that everything is strange."
"Then when did you know about this?" Princess Fengrong asked.
"I wonder if you still remember that when the third prince was five years old, my master had a serious illness." Aunt Dong lowered her head slightly uncomfortably when she said this.
Princess Fengrong thought for a long time before she remembered.
At that time, the queen suddenly had a high fever and almost put the blame on herself, trying to frame herself for practicing witchcraft in the palace.
But it had been so many years, and if Aunt Dong didn't mention it, she wouldn't even be able to remember it.
Seeing her like this, Aunt Dong couldn't help but sigh. It could be seen that Princess Fengrong must have lived a very comfortable life after leaving the palace, so she forgot all the things that happened in the palace before.
She continued: "At that time, the master had a fever that was so high that he was confused, so he said some things that he shouldn't have said.
"Fortunately, only the old slave was guarding the bedside at that time, and no one else heard. Afterwards, the master recovered from his illness and never mentioned the matter again. He probably didn't know what he had said."
When Mother Dong said this, she smiled bitterly and said, "If this were not the case, it would be impossible for me to leave the palace safely. Isn't it possible that I have lived an peaceful life outside for so many years?"
Concubine Fengrong nodded when she heard this, and then asked: "Then your master will embroider the screen to appreciate it."
Did you tell me anything when I gave it to you? "
After hearing this, Grandma Liu looked confused and said, "This embroidered screen was not given to the old slave by the master.
"At that time, the late emperor passed away and the Holy Emperor ascended the throne. During that time, my master was still a little distracted.
"So Your Majesty invites Mrs. Xu to come to the palace to accompany the master.
"At that time, because Jin Shang ascended the throne, he was specially gracious and released a large number of elderly nuns and maids over twenty-five years old in the palace.
"The old slave took several palace maids to kowtow to the master and say goodbye. Mrs. Xu told the master that the old slave had served in the palace for so many years and now that he was leaving the palace, he should give him something as a thought.
"The master nodded, and Mrs. Xu handed the embroidered screen on the table to the old slave.
"My master didn't say anything at the time, and the embroidered screen itself wasn't a very expensive thing.
"The old slave took the embroidered screen just for a thought. He didn't even know there was any secret purpose in it!"
After listening to Aunt Dong's words, Princess Fengrong fell into deep thought.
These words answered a lot of her doubts, but made the whole thing even more confusing.
According to Aunt Dong, the secret decree in the embroidered screen should have nothing to do with the Queen Mother.
This does explain what Princess Fengrong always felt was unreasonable.
If the Queen Mother knew of the existence of the secret edict, she would definitely choose to destroy it, whether for her own status or reputation, rather than risk the biggest secret in her life being exposed and give it to her old slaves to take out. Go to the palace.
If Aunt Dong had not lied, Mrs. Xu, the Queen Mother's natal sister-in-law, was more suspicious.
From the time when the Empress Dowager gave birth to her current enthronement, to when Aunt Dong left the palace with her embroidered screen, Mrs. Xu's shadow was present at all key points.
Back then, Mrs. Xu often visited the palace and had a very close relationship with the Queen Mother.
But because she had never directly participated in the battle between the former Queen Mother and Concubine Fengrong, Concubine Fengrong did not have a deep impression of her.
Concubine Fengrong asked someone to take Aunt Dong down to settle down and rest, and then told Cheng Lan: "Ask someone to check on the Queen Mother's natal family, focusing on Mrs. Xu.
"I just remember that she often went to the palace to accompany the Queen Mother. Now that I think about it, she is really not a simple person.
"I don't even have a deep impression of her. It shows that she is very good at eliminating her own presence."
As Princess Fengrong spoke, she raised her head and asked, "What do you know about her?"
Hearing this, the female officer Cheng Lan said: "Your Majesty, I only remember that Mrs. Xu's surname is Yun, and that she and Princess Ren are from the same family. I don't know much about the others."
