Shen Dingzhu gave Mrs. Cui a letter with a simple content of only two sentences, begging her second brother to consider Mrs. Cui's request.
The Shen family now needs to move closer to the forces in the DPRK to have a chance to take a step forward in clearing their grievances.
Mrs. Cui accepted the letter, exchanged a few words with Shen Dingzhu, and then left with Cui Lianfu.
The rain carried the hot summer drizzle and blew over the slightly wet skirts of Cui Lianfu and Mrs. Cui.
The mother and daughter had not seen each other for many days, and now they were holding an umbrella and walking side by side under it.
Mrs. Cui looked back at the palace attendants who were following her from a distance. The corners of her mouth that had been raised just now in Yaoguang Palace were slightly lowered, and her pursed lips revealed a trace of seriousness.
"You said that Concubine Shen has helped you. As a mother, you are naturally grateful. However, why do you need to use such a huge favor to ask your father to meet a low-ranking official? It is simply throwing the face of our Cui family on the ground. Step on it.”
Cui Lianfu was wearing plain clothes, with a thin jade hairpin in her hair lining her black hair, and her temples were slightly damp.
"Mother, you have to take a long-term view. Now we must help Concubine Shen. Not only do we help, but we also let the emperor know that we care for Concubine Shen. In this way, our Cui family will have more and more place in the court."
Prince Ming, born to Concubine Xian, fought to the death with Xiao Langyan.
The Cui family behind Concubine Xian had not been liquidated by Xiao Langyan after Concubine Xian's death, so he was already particularly merciful.
Xiao Langyan's biological mother has passed away a long time ago. Although she was posthumously named the Queen Mother, there is really no one left in her mother's family, and she can't lift her up even if she wants to.
Now Xiao Langyan favors Shen Dingzhu, and there is a vague tendency to cultivate the Shen family into a confidant family.
Therefore, being good to the Shen family is also good to yourself!
Mrs. Cui saw that the tips of her daughter's hair were wet, so she tilted the umbrella towards her, her eyes showing her heartache: "I just pity you, you are less than twenty years old, but you have to hand over the emperor helplessly."
"Daughter, love and rights are both indispensable." Mrs. Cui sighed.
It rained so hard that they had to find a pavilion by the water to rest, with a quiet courtyard opposite.
Cui Lianfu, who focused all his attention on Mrs. Cui, did not pay attention to the courtyard.
She just shook her head and looked firmly: "Mother, my daughter is not favored in the palace, nor is she the highest-ranking concubine. However, have you ever wondered why the emperor allows you to visit the palace at this juncture?"
Mrs. Cui looked at her suspiciously, thought for a moment, and then her expression suddenly changed in surprise.
She lowered her voice: "Do you mean to say that the emperor deliberately asked you to take me to see Concubine Shen just to pave the way for the Shen family?"
The paper umbrella leaning against the pillars of the pavilion dropped droplets of water and smeared on the ground. The color was like crab shell green, with a faint coldness.
When Mrs. Cui realized this possibility, the wet skirt seemed to be stuck to her ankles, and she felt uncomfortable with the cold.
"How could it be? The emperor has a calm and indifferent personality. Even if he loves Concubine Shen, he would not do it to this extent." If this is really the case, how can her daughter succeed?
Cui Lianfu smiled calmly, her eyes were much clearer. She looked at the purple vine not far away in the swaying rain.
"That's it. The emperor loves Concubine Shen to an extent that you can't imagine, mother. If the emperor's heart is ten points, six points are given to the government, and four points are given only to Concubine Shen."
Mrs. Cui opened her lips, feeling surprised, and couldn't come back to her senses for a long time.
Cui Lianfu was afraid that her mother would be worried, so she held her hand and spoke sincerely.
"So mother must help me. Now I am in the harem, preparing to collude with the imperial concubine. You and I both know that with the current situation of the Shen family, it is absolutely impossible to help the imperial concubine Shen become the queen."
"So, she is favored, and I want power! As long as you vote for the emperor, you don't have to worry about the consequences. What's more, the power of the Du family in the court cannot be underestimated. Du Jieyu is also arrogant in the harem all day long. If her daughter wants to kill The only way to survive is to rely on Concubine Shen."
Mrs. Cui nodded silently, and couldn't help but ask: "Then..."
It's hard to say what happens next.
Cui Lianfu did not answer.
She dipped her handkerchief into the rainwater on her temples and looked up inadvertently, only to see Xiao Langyan's dragon chariot heading this way.
Cui Lianfu's heart skipped a beat and she hurriedly stood up from the stone bench: "Mother, the emperor is here and is ready to pick him up."
Mrs. Cui hurriedly stood up, and the mother and daughter held an umbrella and walked out of the pavilion.
The dragon chariot was majestic, four eunuchs carried hollow floating gauze sedan chairs, and the imperial army followed behind and behind.
Xiao Langyan was wearing a green and white dragon robe today, with a green dragon flying in the clouds and mist embroidered from the chest to the left shoulder, and the cuffs were continuous auspicious clouds of mountains and seas.
He wore a jade crown with two dragons playing with pearls, his dark and cold eyebrows slightly raised, and his thin eyes narrowed slightly when he saw Cui Lianfu and his party.
"See your Majesty." When the dragon chariot stopped beside them, Cui Lianfu and Mrs. Cui paid their respects one after another.
The mother and daughter did not dare to raise their heads. They only heard Xiao Langyan's cold and steady voice: "Where does this come from?"
Cui Lianfu said respectfully: "I took my mother to visit the imperial concubine just now. For the concubine's rescue, my mother went to personally thank her no matter what."
Xiao Langyan laughed, and no one else could tell that he was happy or angry, and the hands under Mrs. Cui's sleeves became tense.
It turns out that he was so nervous when facing Long Wei. No matter what he did, he was always afraid of offending Sheng Yan.
Cui Lianfu, on the other hand, forced herself to calm down. After a while, she heard Xiao Langyan say: "That's right. It's not in vain for Concubine Shen to ask me to be lenient to you."
Hearing these words, Mrs. Cui suddenly realized that, as her daughter said, the emperor was particularly special to Shen Dingzhu.
Just as Xiao Langyan was about to drive away, a palace maid's scream suddenly came from the pavilion opposite the stream.
Immediately afterwards, the sound of "plop" falling into the water was heard.
Xiao Langyan frowned coldly in an instant, and looked to the side with a cold black mist in his eyes.
I saw a palace maid standing on the second floor, looking down with a panicked expression: "Miss Fu! Someone, come quickly, Miss Fu committed suicide by diving into the water!"
Cui Lianfu glanced at Xiao Langyan calmly, and she saw the deep impatience in the emperor's eyes.
Despite this, Xiao Langyan still said to Chen Heng beside him: "Go get her up."
"Yes." Chen Heng immediately stepped forward, took a quick step, and in just a few moments, he pulled up the thin figure in white robes.
After that, he directly released Fu Yunqiu and let her fall on the muddy and rain-covered gravel road in front of Xiao Langyan.
Everyone saw that Fu Yunqiu was only wearing a thin outer robe, with a sea blue lotus bellyband underneath, and his skin was white and soft.
The Imperial Guards immediately lowered their heads and looked no further.
Cui Lianfu sneered secretly, this Fu Yunqiu really didn't want to give up.
She never expected that when her mother next to her saw Fu Yunqiu's deathly white face, she screamed, rolled her eyes and fainted.
Cui Lianfu finally panicked. The paper umbrella fell to the ground, and she staggered a few steps because of the wind. Cui Lianfu's cry echoed in the rain: "Mother, mother!"
When Shen Dingzhu learned the news, it was already half an hour later.
She heard that Fu Yunqiu was dishonest and committed suicide by diving into the water, which actually scared Mrs. Cui to faint.
"It's endless! I haven't settled the debt with her last time. Xiu Cui, please change my clothes." Shen Dingzhu's beautiful eyes were filled with a hint of anger.
When she rushed there, Mrs. Cui had been sent to the nearest courtyard where Fu Yunqiu lived. Doctor Cen and two other doctors were treating her.
Cui Lianfu sat beside the couch, holding Mrs. Cui's hand, her eyes red.
Shen Dingzhu turned his eyes and saw Fu Yunqiu, the culprit, kneeling on the ground, seemingly sobbing.
She hurt someone and still had the nerve to cry!
Shen Dingzhu's beautiful face was red with anger. She took two steps forward, grabbed Fu Yunqiu's lapel, and slapped her unceremoniously with her white hands.
"Bang!" A crisp sound resounded in the silent room.
The imperial doctors who were discussing treatment strategies outside the screen were stunned.
Even Cui Lianfu raised her teary eyes in confusion.
Fu Yunqiu covered her face and knelt on the ground, looking up at the domineering beauty surrounded by flowers. After a long time, she trembled with her lips: "You dare to hit me?"
"Hitting you is a minor offense. If you cause trouble in the harem again, I won't be able to forgive you for new and old debts!" Shen Dingzhu said, throwing up his sleeves, and was about to check on Mrs. Cui's condition.
Don't let this incident delay your brother's recommendation.
At this time, Fu Yunqiu behind him cried miserably: "The emperor didn't say anything here, why did you hit me!"
Shen Dingzhu's back froze, and her shoes embroidered with pink peony suddenly stopped.
Is Xiao Langyan here? She was in such a hurry when she came in just now that she only saw Fu Yunqiu who was causing trouble, and forgot to look around.
In addition, it was raining heavily and the sky was dark,
She slowly looked back and saw a tall figure sitting in the main chair not far from Fu Yunqiu.
He was holding a tea cup, his thin eyes were dark, and his eyebrows were as sharp as black knives. He had such a fierce momentum and a hint of playfulness. Who else could he be if it wasn't Xiao Langyan?
At this time, Xiao Langyan was looking at Shen Dingzhu with intriguing eyes.
Shen Dingzhu panicked and quickly lowered his figure: "I am here to see the Emperor."
Really terrible!
Why did he just sit there and keep silent?
Let him see her slapping Fu Yunqiu, ugh!
