"Of course I know that you are more reliable than your father, but it's just a useless reminder."
Geng Xingshuang's heart moved, "What did my father do again?"
Ruan hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "It's nothing, your father and the others are going together tomorrow. Recently, he always goes to Zhuangzi. I don't know how much Zhuangzi's output can be increased this year. If the increase is less, it won't be worth it." He spent so much money on carriages and horses.”
Ruan complained helplessly.
Daning Palace, Zhongyu Palace
"Tell me, what did the emperor mean by what he just said? Is he blaming us, mother and son?"
Sitting on the side of the big bed near the window is a beautiful woman with exquisite makeup and grace. She is leaning on a large pillow embroidered with a sea of snow-covered bamboos behind her. She frowns slightly, as if she is asking someone. , and seemed to be talking to himself.
The little palace maid, who was kneeling beside the kang and beating her legs rhythmically, even breathed a little lighter, but the hands beating her legs did not dare to disrupt the rhythm.
"I wonder if the concubine Yao said something in front of the emperor yesterday..."
Before Fu's mother finished speaking, she saw the imperial concubine gently shaking her head.
"Although the emperor went to Yao's concubine yesterday, this was not the first time the emperor mentioned it. Do you still remember that the emperor said something on the day of Duanyang?"
Fu’s mother thought for a moment and asked tentatively: “Is that right? The weather during the Dragon Boat Festival this year is really hot. I wonder if the snow in Yuyao Mountain has melted?”
Concubine Zhong nodded. When she heard Emperor Sheng Ning's words, her heart tightened and she was thinking about how to answer. Fortunately, the emperor's voice was not loud and he seemed to be just sighing secretly. Then she was interrupted by Concubine Jie's words.
"Speaking of which, I have to thank Concubine Jie that night."
Concubine Zhong said slowly, with a careless laziness.
"Concubine Jie probably did it unintentionally. She seemed not to have heard the emperor's words."
Mother Fu recalled the scene at that time and guessed.
Concubine Zhong said: "Although Concubine Jie usually talks a little irrationally, she is very smart. That is to say, Concubine Min, that fool, will believe whatever she says."
"Then Concubine Xin..."
"Concubine Xin? She is just pretending. She has no son. If she had a son, we would have another powerful enemy."
Concubine Zhong sighed, "On the day of Dragon Boat Festival, Concubine Jie made a joke. She helped me this time, and she will definitely get it back in the future. I'm not afraid of this, but what the emperor just meant...I'm afraid I can't pretend not to understand anymore." .”
Tonight, Emperor Shengning, who had not stayed overnight in Zhongyu Palace for more than a month, came directly to Zhongyu Palace with only his confidant, the eunuch Gulai Shou, without anyone communicating.
Concubine Zhong admitted in her heart that she was pleasantly surprised at the time, but soon her rationality came back. Creating surprises was not like the way Emperor Sheng Ning usually acted.
Sure enough, after a peaceful dinner, Emperor Shengning asked Ke'er how he was doing these days and whether his cough had improved.
Ever since Ke'er got this cough when she was eight years old when she saved Wei Jin from falling into the water, the imperial doctor would personally report Ke'er's physical condition to Emperor Shengning every ten days. Emperor Shengning didn't need to ask her at all.
Emperor Shengning naturally asked, there must be his intention.
Before Concubine Zhong could give her thoughtful answer, she heard Emperor Sheng Ning say again: "Two days ago, the imperial doctor told me that although Ke'er's cough cannot be cured, after so many years of nursing, he has recovered. My health has improved a lot, and the issue of heirs... Ke'er is still young, so there is no need to worry too much."
"Your Majesty, Ke'er is not young anymore. In fact, Ke'er himself is not too anxious. Although there are three types of unfilial piety, the worst is not having an offspring, but we all understand that Your Majesty, you will not blame Ke'er for this matter. Although I want to have a grandson. , but I also know that this matter cannot be rushed, so I can only continue to wait."
Emperor Shengning glanced at Concubine Zhong and nodded in agreement.
"What you are saying is that the issue of heirs cannot be forced. Naturally, I will not blame Ke'er for this. It is a good thing that his health is getting better now... It's just that in my dreams these past few days, I always dream of a vast expanse of white, biting. The cold wind hit me from all directions. I felt so cold that my bones ached. Every time I woke up, I felt a little empty in my heart. Alas... I am getting old. As long as my children are far away, I will always feel uneasy. , besides, Yuyao Mountain is a place of narrow escape, alas..."
Emperor Shengning abruptly changed the topic from Wei Ke to the fifth prince Wei Jin, and sighed for a long time in Zhongyu Palace. Finally, he took a deep look at Concubine Zhong, and left as quietly as he came. .
I only had a tasteless meal in this palace.
Emperor Shengning's words were quite obvious. Concubine Zhong asked what they meant. Aunt Fu knew in her heart that it was not that the concubine did not hear it, but that she did not want to understand.
Emperor Shengning was blaming the imperial concubine and the third prince's mother and son.
Although it was said that the fifth prince went to Yuyao Mountain to pick the magic medicine Yuyao flower that only bloomed once every three years and only three flowers at a time. It was the Yao concubine who suggested that the fifth prince take the initiative, but after all, the fifth prince did it for the third prince's cough. Just went.
And how did Yao Concubine think of letting the fifth prince go to Yuyao Mountain? Yao Concubine herself is probably still confused, but the emperor may not know it.
"The reason why our Highness the Third Prince has a cough is to save the Fifth Prince. Now that the Fifth Prince has grown up, in order to repay his brother's life-saving grace, he took the risk to go to Yuyao Mountain to collect medicine. This is the same as the Empress and His Highness the Third Prince. What does it matter, empress, the emperor is a father, and it is normal for him to miss his son when he is not around."
Aunt Fu comforted Concubine Zhong.
Concubine Zhong suddenly sat up straight and her expression suddenly became serious.
"Mommy, don't say vague words to comfort me. The emperor's attitude is not a trivial matter. If it is allowed to develop, it will not only affect Ke'er's future, but maybe even your and my lives will only be affected in an instant. Time, I am telling you this because I want to hear your opinion on what we should do now to dispel the emperor’s dissatisfaction.”
Aunt Fu immediately apologized, "It was my fault, please forgive me!"
Aunt Fu knew that Concubine Zhong was not a patient person. After she finished her apology, she immediately said: "Your Majesty, since the emperor is worried about the safety of the fifth prince, why not go to the temple to pray for the fifth prince! In this way, the emperor will at least be satisfied with our attitude. .”
"Go to the temple to pray to gods and Buddhas? Pray for the fifth prince?"
Concubine Zhong stood up and walked slowly around the room. When she sat down again, she had already made up her mind.
"Okay, let's do it! I can't think of a better way now. If Yao Concubine is not so weak, let everyone in this palace, from the emperor to the little maid, know that she listens to me in everything, otherwise let her Go to the emperor and say something nice for Ke'er, and make it clear that Wei Jin's trip to Yuyao Mountain was entirely the mother and son's own initiative. I and Ke'er only learned about it after Wei Jin left. This will also make the emperor suspicious. But if Zhong Yao really said these words in front of the emperor, the emperor would definitely think that I had ordered her to say that.
Therefore, it is not entirely a good thing that Zhong Yao was raised so weakly by them. "
"Your Majesty, don't worry too much. Although Your Majesty loves the Fifth Prince, it remains to be seen whether the Fifth Prince will come back this time. Even if he is lucky enough to come back, with the temperament of the Yao Concubine, I will definitely urge the Fifth Prince to assist our Highness at all times."
In fact, Nanny Zhong felt that the imperial concubine and the third prince made a wrong move, or made it too hastily.
(End of chapter)
