"My servants pay homage to the Queen. May the Queen be blessed with peace and prosperity..." Zhen'er knelt down and kowtowed, showing the utmost respect.
She was quite scared, everything had a shelf life, and she was not yet confident enough for the emperor to pamper her all the time.
Even if the emperor's love for her continued unabated, he couldn't be presumptuous. After all... the emperor couldn't tie her up and take her with him wherever he went.
After all, this harem is still the domain of the Queen Mother and the Empress.
After staying in the palace for thirty years, she has a good reputation, not to mention... she also feels guilty!
Although she knew Zhu Jianshen earlier, this was not a capital. On the contrary, the Wu family was the main palace that the matchmaker was marrying. Even in an ordinary family, she was just a concubine and she had to be respectful to her main wife.
In this era, if a concubine was dissolute and rude, the principal wife would not be severely punished even if she killed her.
Not to mention the harem, a place that eats people without spitting out their bones.
Zhen'er grabbed the ground with her head, not even daring to breathe.
"Get up." Wu said calmly. She was emotional, but due to her status as a queen, it was difficult for her to express herself.
Being jealous of an old palace maid is really too cheap.
"Thank you, empress." Zhen'er stood up and stood respectfully aside, bowing her head in silence.
Wu didn't know what to say. To be honest, she was quite speechless. She still can't believe it until now.
After a long time, she asked: "When did you and the Emperor... happen?"
"Going back to the empress...it's just a matter of these few days." Zhen'er said nonchalantly, always ready to face Wu's attack.
However, Wu did not attack, but just nodded and said: "The emperor is still young, and he is at the age of pleasure. Don't serve others with sex just to be favored. The emperor has all the people in the world tied to him."
"Yes, your Majesty, please remember this." Zhen'er obeyed her words and was very obedient.
Wu sighed softly and said, "You look ugly, but are you sick?"
"Your Majesty, your eyes are as bright as a torch, this servant... is indeed a little uncomfortable." Zhen'er lowered her head and said.
"Then rest." Madam Wu stood up and said, "You don't need to worry. I'm not as knowledgeable as you. It's your blessing to be favored by the emperor, but... if you rely on favor and become arrogant, you will be dissolute. , I will definitely not spare you."
"Yes, I don't dare."
Zhen'er lowered her head a little more.
Mrs. Wu said "Hmm" and walked out of the inner hall.
"My slave, I would like to send my congratulations to the Queen..." Zhen'er bowed down again. She didn't dare to raise her head until she was sure that the Queen was gone.
After being frightened like this, she broke out in a sweat and was no longer so cold.
Just thinking about the difficulties she would face in the future made her uneasy. The little queen was okay, she didn't have a big say. The ones who were more difficult were the queen mother and the civil and military officials of the outer court.
Zhen'er didn't dare to think about how these people would criticize her if they knew about it.
"Oh... let's take it one step at a time." Zhen'er said to herself, "I hope... everything goes well."
At this time, two palace maids came in with hot water and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, it's time to take a bath."
"Well..." Zhen'er came back to her senses, and her mood suddenly improved a lot. She had always served others, and now being served by others felt very wonderful.
~
"No, absolutely no. Isn't this nonsense?" Mrs. Zhou rarely got angry: "Last night, I felt that the maid looked familiar. I didn't expect it to be her. How brave..."
"Mother, can you calm down?" Zhu Jianshen smiled bitterly, "I am just a concubine, do you need to be so high-ranking?"
"Of course!" Zhou's stance was firm, even a little defensive: "How old is she? If this spreads... Where is the royal family's face?"
Empress Dowager Zhou hummed: "If I want to make her my concubine, I will have to die."
"Queen mother... Ke Erchen really likes her." Zhu Jianshen played the emotional card.
But it's no use!
Empress Dowager Zhou said angrily: "You're worthless, what kind of ecstasy soup did you drink from her?"
"No, I just like her." Zhu Jianshen said, "Mother, Grandma Huang was once a palace maid, you know this."
"What? You still want her to be the queen?"
"That's not true. I just want to give her a status." Zhu Jianshen shook his head, "I like her, but I won't lose my mind. I love beauty, and I love the country even more."
"..." Mrs. Zhou was completely speechless and said angrily: "I don't care about this, it's just not allowed anyway."
"My son likes her!"
"Do you like it?" Empress Dowager Zhou held her forehead, "Son, you are sick and you need to be cured!"
"Queen mother..."
"It really won't work this time!" Empress Dowager Zhou still refused to let go and said earnestly: "I know you have just ascended the throne not long ago and all the officials have not returned to their hearts. If you do such a ridiculous thing, what will you make all the officials think?"
Zhu Jianshen disagreed: "Why don't you just accept a palace maid as your concubine? What's the big deal?"
"It's not a big deal to accept a palace maid as your concubine, but it's too important to accept a palace maid as old as your mother." Empress Dowager Zhou was furious, "You, you, what do you want your mother to say about you... "
"My mother asked you, is it important for a woman to have a country, or to be supported by hundreds of officials?"
Zhu Jianshen was silent for a long time, and then nodded lightly: "Then I won't confer the title for now. I'll wait until the situation is completely stabilized and all the officials have returned to their homes before conferring the title. Is that okay?"
Queen Mother Zhou: "...Does it have to be registered?"óΠъ.oяＧ
"Mother, I like her, I really like her." Zhu Jianshen said seriously.
Zhou's Qi was bitter, but more of an anger.
In the past, Zhu Qizhen was also affectionate, but the object was not her; now, his son is like this again, and he does not hesitate to contradict her repeatedly.
She... feels very uncomfortable!
"It's up to you. You are the emperor anyway, and I can't persuade you." She said lonely.
"Mother... I know I was wrong." Zhu Jianshen hurriedly said something nice, pulled Mrs. Zhou to sit down, squeezed her shoulders and beat her legs, looking like a filial son, which actually soothed the old mother's hurt heart.
…
In the small courtyard, when Li Qing arrived home, Li Hong was chopping dumpling fillings.
Over the years, he has learned a lot about Li Qing's craftsmanship.
After being scolded by Li Qing, the little girl calmed down and rolled out dumpling wrappers. When she saw Li Qing, she just called out: "Uncle Li."
I don’t even dare to ask for red envelopes.
Li Qing stopped the two of them, "Today is the Chinese New Year. My godfather promised to prepare delicious food for you. Keep your word, let's go and have fun."
As he said that, he took out the tattooed silver from his two sleeves and said, "I haven't even warmed it up yet. Take it from the emperor."
"Thank you, Uncle Li."
"Thank you godfather."
The two received the lucky money, knelt down and kowtowed, and wished Li Qing a happy new year.
"Okay, okay, let's all go play." Li Qing walked to the water tank, scooped up a ladle of water and washed his hands, "Just wait and eat something delicious."
"Daddy, let me help you cook the pot."
"No need, go ahead."
Li Qing sent them away, rolled up his sleeves, and got busy.
In the past few years, every New Year's Day was his busiest day. Looking back now, he can only sigh...
The Chinese New Year is always a happy time. Every household in Lianjiatun is filled with the aroma of rice and meat. During the Chinese New Year, you must have a good meal.
After lunch, Li Qing fried some meatballs, steamed steamed buns, and then led the donkey out.
The donkey was getting older, but he was still in good spirits and his hoofs and feet were nimble. He followed Li Qing for a walk, listening to Li Qing's chatter and saying "um~ah~" from time to time...
Nowadays, Li Qing can only confide his thoughts to the donkey. After all... it can't speak.
But it seems to understand. When Li Qing feels sad, it will cup Li Qing's palm and exhale warm breath...
~
In the blink of an eye, the annual vacation passed and it was time to go to court again. However, Li Qing was not affected and still lived a comfortable life.
But he knew that he wouldn't be comfortable for long.
The situation on the grassland will probably be sent back around the Lantern Festival. No matter what the outcome is, he will not be able to stay at home.
Both sides of the grassland have been holding back for these years, and now they are erupting in a concentrated manner, which will inevitably have a profound impact on the future pattern, and Ming Dynasty must pay attention to it.
Li Qing was a little worried. He calculated the time and found that the honest and honest Choros Boyantemur was already old. He estimated that he was only here in the past two years.
If this friendly and loyal leader of Wala disappears, the Ming Dynasty's control over Wala will also be deeply affected. What will be the future path?
It is foreseeable that after the shock of the war, many tribes will come to seek refuge with the Ming Dynasty. The reason is very simple. They have been severely affected and have no ability to gain a foothold in the grasslands. Therefore, seeking refuge with the Ming Dynasty is their best choice.
But this is time-limited. In short, you can only eat this wave.
"You still have to make some plans in advance..." Li Qing said to himself.
~
Imperial Palace, inner hall of Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Jianshen said seriously: "Don't worry, Zhen'er. Once I have stabilized the court situation and settled all the officials, I will make you my concubine."
Zhen'er nodded, then shook her head: "Your Majesty, actually this is good, slave..."
Zhu Jianshen stretched out his index finger and pressed it on her lips, "I call you my concubine."
"I...I am very contented now." Zhen'er said: "It's just an identity. I don't care about this. If it's really open to the public..."
"I don't care." Zhu Jianshen said, "Anyway, you don't have to worry about anything. I will give you your status when the time is right."
Zhen'er wanted to say more, but her lips were blocked...
…
Ever since she moved into the inner palace, Zhen'er has been favored by her alone. She also advised Zhu Jianshen to get the rain and dew equally, but Zhu Jianshen didn't listen, so he pampered her, just pampered her...
While Zhen'er was happy, she was also a little uneasy. After all...the Queen and the Queen Mother both knew of her existence. If this continued, she would have nothing to gain.
"Your Majesty, the empress, the noble concubine, and the virtuous concubine are all rare beauties." Zhen'er advised, "If the dragon son can be born earlier, all the officials will be more able to return to their hearts. The slave... I will always be... As you get older, there is nothing better than wasting your energy on your concubines.”
Her eyes were moist: "The emperor is thinking of me, and I am very happy, but you are also the husband of the empress and the queen, and the queen mother is still anxious to hold her grandson."
"I know it well." Zhu Jianshen smiled: "My mother is anxious to have her grandson, but what if you give me a baby first?"
"I...I gave birth to..."
"What, do you have no confidence in yourself or in me?"
"I..." Zhen'er's heart skipped a beat, and she began to look forward to...
However, she soon calmed down: "Just let nature take its course. Your Majesty, please don't neglect the Queen. You should let her first..."
'Dang Dang Dang~' There was a knock on the door. The emperor was not in a hurry, but the eunuch was. "Your Majesty, the time has come."
Zhen'er blushed with embarrassment and pushed him, "Your Majesty, get up quickly."
Zhu Jianshen had no choice but to get up and put on his clothes. As soon as he left the inner hall, Xiao Hengzi came forward and added in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is looking for you. It seems... she is very dissatisfied with the Emperor."
"Well...I understand." Zhu Jian sighed deeply, "The Queen Mother is in Kunning Palace, right?"
Xiao Hengzi said yes.
"What a headache..." Zhu Jianshen muttered and set off to Kunning Palace to prepare for the storm...
