It was almost the Chinese New Year, and Li Luansong was even busier. Sometimes, even Shen Que couldn't see others for a few days. He would only say a few words to each other, and then they would be separated again. He saw that everyone had lost weight. , Shen Que wrote a warming prescription and gave it to Zelan:
"Let the imperial kitchen make supplements based on this for His Majesty. The weather is getting colder and colder, and he is busy until midnight every day. It is really hard."
Zelan took the order and went to do it. According to Shen Que's instructions, he also sent more supplements and snacks to the three young ladies.
Only three of the six originally selected show girls were left. In order to make them feel more at ease, Shen Que also exempted them from greetings and lived freely.
However, these three people were not happy either.
Sun Xiaoxiao is young, and since she no longer has to say hello every day, her life consists of eating and sleeping. At most, she walks in the imperial garden. Sometimes she wants to go and play with the Queen, but the Queen is too busy, and she always Not in the palace.
Chen Yirong, the younger sister of General Zhenwu Chen Naiping, was born in a family of military generals. She had a straightforward and unrestrained personality. She would practice a set of boxing and kicking exercises every morning to warm up. Seeing the palace maids and eunuchs applauding her, she started to teach the palace people around her boxing skills. Kung Fu passes the time.
In her words: "Although I have nothing to do, it won't be too long after I think about it. The Queen will not turn a blind eye to them, so just be patient and stay in the palace with good food and drink, and you can also get a monthly salary." You won’t suffer any loss in terms of money.”
She was right, but Su Wan was impatient with waiting.
She was originally arrogant and proud, believing that she was from a wealthy family and that she was not inferior to others in terms of family background, appearance, and talents. How could she end up in the situation of an old aunt like this?
The current situation really made her a little angry. When she first entered the palace, she was still a little eager to give it a try, but after half a year, she also understood many things. There was no one else in His Majesty's eyes, only the Queen.
It's not like she hasn't tried it before, but His Majesty didn't even look at her. Only the Queen treated them as sisters and took good care of them.
Su Wan was a little annoyed with the old ministers who insisted on embarrassing themselves by letting them come over, so she had already sent several letters urging her father Su Jun to find a way to take her out of the palace as soon as possible.
The letter was very clear: My daughter is still innocent, and there is only an empty palace without any title. Rather than having no name and no status here, it is better to go home and get married early. She is already eighteen and cannot wait any longer. Let her My father also advised my uncles not to waste their efforts...
The ministers quarreled all night with the letter. Some suggested giving up, but others were aggrieved.
"His Majesty has not favored the harem for half a year, no wonder they are unhappy."
"But in His Majesty's eyes, he only has the Queen and not them."
"Just spread out the branches and leaves, it doesn't matter whether you have them in your eyes or not."
"Your Majesty values friendship, and it's not you."
…
A few more people were in favor of continuing to persist, and now less than ten people took turns writing memorials, which piled up on Li Luansong's desk like snow flakes, forcing him to take care of the harem and the heirs...
The old ministers were all-pervasive in their chatter, and Li Luansong was very annoyed by it. Shen Que saw this and felt very distressed in his heart: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry about it anymore. I'd better leave this matter to my concubine."
She took over the matter again and thought of a countermeasure. She discussed it with Li Luansong and his wife and decided to just do it.
Sure enough, your majesty wanted all the rain and dew to be wet, and an oral order was sent to the harem. That night, your majesty summoned three people at the same time.
Su Wan, Chen Yirong and Sun Xiaoxiao were all stunned:...What kind of stimulation is this...
The three of them came to the Queen in fear:
"Your Majesty, save us, what can we do?" Sun Xiaoxiao cried until her eyes were swollen like walnuts.
"We don't want to, not even one of us." Chen Yirong was angry and anxious, her little face turned red from holding back.
"Is Your Majesty being driven crazy?" Su Wan asked.
Shen Que nodded: "Yes, it seems that His Majesty was driven crazy by those old ministers."
"That can't be done. I have to persuade Your Majesty." Su Wan knelt down and begged, "I would like to contact my father and ask them to persuade Mr. Chen."
Shen Que agreed, "This matter is indeed inappropriate. Since none of you are willing, let's act separately."
The old ministers had already received the news, and all of them looked horrified and couldn't believe it.
"His Majesty really gave such a decree? Tonight?"
"Three of you... together?"
"How could he do this? This is really against etiquette and law."
"I'm afraid we were forced to do so."
…
But they are foreign ministers after all, and they cannot interfere in the emperor's private affairs. At this point, several people looked at each other and sweated profusely. Su Jun, a scholar at Wenhua Palace, also came to make trouble with them because of his daughter's affairs. For a while, they were in a frenzy and the courtiers were quarreling.
This night was really not peaceful, everyone was worried, but they didn't know what was going on.
Several days have passed since this incident, but no one has mentioned it, and the three young ladies have not been rewarded. Everything remains as before, as if nothing happened.
The veterans were anxious, but it was hard to ask. They couldn't ask: "Your Majesty, how did you spend that night?"
What is this? Several people were anxious to ask around, but this time there was no news. Even the little eunuch they inserted into the harem to inquire about the news only shook his head and heard nothing.
"Could it be that His Majesty is not satisfied and is not going to cause trouble?"
"No, no, don't scare yourself. If something happens, there must be news."
"Let Lao Su go and ask what's going on with this lack of reward and no movement."
"See if Mr. Su is still willing to talk to you and me."
…
In fact, nothing happened that night.
It was a smoke bomb set off by Shen Que and Li Luansong.
The two of them had a deep talk with the three ladies. Since it was for each other, they had to work together.
Under the candlelight, Shen Que specially brought ice drinks and pastries in order to ease the atmosphere and let the ladies relax.
Li Luansong never raised his eyelids from beginning to end.
Sun Xiaoxiao stared at the plates of snacks, and the fear in his heart disappeared.
Shen Que looked at each other's tense expressions and said first, "Everyone, eat some. There are no kings and ministers today. You can speak freely if you have anything to say."
Su Wan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I want to leave the palace."
She was direct, with her eyes lowered as if she was ready to kill you.
Li Luansong said without even thinking, "That's right, I have that intention."
Sun Xiao was stunned halfway through her snack and said hurriedly: "I, I want to leave the palace too."
"That's right."
"Your Majesty, your servant Chen Yirong has also invited yourself out of the palace."
"It's all right, it's all right."
Li Luansong was relieved.
Problem solved, solved without even having time for a piece of pastry.
Shen Que laughed and said, "Your Majesty, although this matter is proposed by the ministers, but after all, it is to select concubines for your Majesty. They have also lived in the palace for half a year. If not properly arranged, it may damage the reputation of the ladies."
Everyone nodded in unison, staring at Li Luansong with burning eyes.
The queen has thought carefully. She is a daughter of a boudoir. If she leaves the palace tomorrow and is said to be a concubine that your majesty does not want to throw out, it will ruin her life.
Li Luansong said: "I have nothing to do with them. Do you have any ideas to solve this matter satisfactorily?"
Shen Que was also worried. Abu Zai had gone out on his own before; Xia Chunlan was married to the eighth prince, and the two fell in love at first sight; Cheng Yanyan was His Majesty's cousin, and it was justifiable for him to be granted the title of princess...
What should these people do? They can't all make a fuss and then be made a princess or something?
Su Wan said: "Your Majesty, I have an idea. I know that your Majesty has a lot of business. I heard that the girls' school run by your Majesty is in full swing. It has become a popular place for young ladies in the capital. I wonder what your Majesty thinks of me. My daughter has been learning etiquette, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and playing chess from her grandmother since she was a child...
I can’t say that I am proficient in all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but I can still teach some younger girls. "
"That's a good idea." Shen Que happily clapped his hands, "The girls' school is currently short of teachers. It would be great if you are willing to come."
Chen Yirong also said: "Madam, I don't know anything except horse riding and martial arts, but I want to learn, I can become a student."
Shen Que said yes, "You can also come to learn, or you can come as a teacher and teach horse riding and martial arts. The young lady also needs some self-defense skills. Wouldn't it be good to have some skills for yourself?"
Several people were talking lively, but Sun Xiaoxiao was the only one looking at this and that, and was about to cry.
Shen Que asked her what was wrong, and she said, "What should I do? I don't know anything."
Chen Yirong said that was wrong, "You know how to eat. Being able to eat is a skill."
Sun Xiaoxiao thought someone was making fun of her, and her face turned red.
Su Wan said: "That's right, eating, drinking and having diarrhea are the first priority. If you know how to eat, you have taste. You can go to the empress's food shop and pastry shop."
Shen Que said yes, "The pastry shop is in need of a young lady who knows how to eat. She specializes in criticizing, pointing out and finding faults. We also want to strive for excellence. If I can get you to say 'delicious', I will really feel relieved..."
Several women chatted lively together, leaving Li Luansong stunned.
After talking for a while, Shen Que remembered him, took his arm and said: "Your Majesty, I have helped your Majesty solve a lot of big problems. Now please call your Majesty. These ladies will accompany you in the palace." I have studied the skills for half a year, and now I can go home and join the workforce."
Look, I've thought of a high-sounding reason. I entered the palace to study skills with the Queen, so there's no such thing as drafts or concubines.
As long as those old ministers no longer hold on to him, this will come true.
Naturally, those old ministers will not hold on to him any longer.
In Li Luansong's words, this game between monarch and ministers finally ended with the complete failure of the veterans under the empress's strategizing.
"My sister-in-law is no longer a little daughter-in-law who ignores the world and is bullied by others." Li Luansong praised with a thumbs up, "My queen went crazy in my harem and left no one alive."
Shen Que rolled his eyes at him and said, "Your Majesty is wrong. I am trying to persuade others with virtue."
