Yongning Palace.
Zhen'er read the little book, pinching a candied fruit from time to time, leisurely.
It is true that she was favored, but her popularity in the harem... was indeed a mess; on the one hand, it was due to the jealousy of other concubines, and on the other hand, it was because of the Zhou family.
Of course, the age gap also accounts for a small part of the reason.
However, the most important thing is that the evil mother-in-law took the lead in isolating her.
The daily life of a concubine is plain, boring, and boring, and Zhen'er is no exception. Even if the emperor is obsessed with her, she is alone for much of the day.
Fortunately, the serving slaves were loyal and the emperor loved her. When she was really bored, she could go shopping outside the palace. In comparison, Zhen'er was much more comfortable than the other concubines.
At this time, a palace maid came in from the outer hall and said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Wang wants to see you."
"The little guy is here?" Zhen'er put down the little book, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, "Let him come in quickly."
"Yes," the palace maid bowed slightly and retreated. After a while, she led Wang Zhi in.
"My slave pays homage to the noble concubine."
"Get up, it's been just a few days since I last saw you, and now you're out like this?" Zhen'er said with a smile, "Sit down, it's the same as before."
As he said that, he pushed the snacks on the table and said, "Eat something first."
"Hey, thank you, empress." Wang Zhi sat down, feeling deeply moved.
Over the years, the imperial concubine has treated him very well, almost like... raising a son. This is also the reason why Wang Zhi has such a character.
It can be said that Zhen'er single-handedly contributed to Wang Zhi's aloof temper.
——She’s used to it!
Zhen'er handed him a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake and asked, "Are you still used to being in the Royal Horse Prison?"
"Hmm...it's okay," Wang Zhi took a bite of the sweet-scented osmanthus cake and nodded. "I'm quite used to it. It's much more comfortable than in the ceremonial department."
"You..." Zhen'er hates the fact that iron cannot be made into steel. "Although the Royal Horse Prison is not bad, after all, it is inferior to the Secretary of Ceremony. He really has no foresight at all."
"Uh-huh... Your Majesty taught me a lesson." Wang Zhiqian smiled and apologized, "It's because I didn't know what to do and failed my Majesty."
"Okay, okay, as long as you are happy." Zhen'er shook her head in amusement, and then began to lecture, "You have to control your temper in the future. I can protect you here, but outside of here, you have to rely more on yourself..."
Wang listened and nodded from time to time.
"To get along with people, you need to be humane and sophisticated," Zhen'er opened the drawer and took out a fist-sized cloth bag, "You can use these scraps of silver and tell me when you're done."
"No, ma'am, I haven't used up what you gave me last time."
Zhen'er was not happy, "You can just take it if I ask you to, why don't you meet me outside the palace?"
"Uh...yes, Miss Xie." Wang Zhi put down the sweet-scented osmanthus cake and took it with both hands, feeling inexplicably moved.
He hesitated for a moment and said, "My dear, I have something to say. I don't know... whether I should say it or not."
As he spoke, he glanced at the maid not far away.
The maid knew what was going on and retreated without leaving a trace.
Zhen'er asked curiously: "What's going on?"
Wang Zhi licked his lips and whispered: "Your Majesty... he often goes out of the palace incognito recently. Sometimes he doesn't come back at noon. When he comes back, he is in a happy mood, just like... just like..."
Wang Zhi said bravely: "It's almost like when I left the empress' place..."
Zhen'er's gentle expression gradually faded away, becoming cold, and her eyes gradually became cold...
Seeing her like this, Wang Zhi's voice became softer and quieter, and gradually became silent.
After a long while, Zhen'er said coldly: "Wang Zhi, you are so brave."
"Slave, slave... I know you are guilty." Wang Zhi quickly stood up and bowed, "Slave, your words are inappropriate, please punish me."
"Improper words?" Zhen'er sneered, "Is it just inappropriate words?
How did I teach you before, ah? Have you forgotten all about it? "
"Your Majesty..." Wang Zhi trembled, "Your Majesty said that you must be loyal to the Emperor. I am not disloyal, I am just afraid of Your Majesty..."
"How dare you talk back?"
"My slave is wrong..."
Wang Zhi kowtowed, feeling extremely frightened. At this moment, he was no longer aloof and arrogant. He was just an ordinary child of eleven or twelve years old, a child...who was scolded by his elders.
"Okay, get up." Zhen'er felt distressed after all. After all, she was raised as a son. She said coldly: "I won't do this next time. Otherwise, don't come to see me."
"Yes, yes... this slave has remembered." Wang Zhi kowtowed twice more, then stood up tremblingly, his little face full of panic.
Zhen'er hummed: "Remember, you can only be loyal to the emperor, and I can only be ranked behind the emperor, do you understand?"
"I know, slave, remember." Wang Zhi was so frightened that he cried, wiping his tears he kept nodding.
"Huh~" Zhen'er breathed a long sigh of relief and said angrily: "Sit down, stop crying."
"Yes." Wang Zhi sat down and stopped crying.
Zhen'er knew that he was afraid that she would fall out of favor, and the reason why he was doing this was more for the purpose of beating her, as long as the goal was achieved.
"I recommend you to the Emperor because I want you to be able to share the Emperor's worries one day, instead of laying a chess piece beside the Emperor!" Zhen'er said lightly, "I have never regarded you as a chess piece, even if you are a chess piece. It can only be the emperor’s chess piece, understand?”
"I understand, I understand."
"Okay, wipe your tears. How old are you to cry?"
"Well..." Wang Zhi raised his arm and wiped it on his face, lowering his head, not daring to look at Zhen'er.
After this fuss, it was impossible to continue the conversation. Zhen'er waved her hand and said, "Go and do your work. Come back another day when you are free."
"Yes, please leave." Wang Zhi saluted, lowered his head and walked out.
"etc."
Wang Zhi turned his head and said, "Empress..."
"Bring the money."
"Oh." Wang Zhi didn't dare to refuse, stepped forward, picked up the bag, and put it into his arms.
Before taking two steps, I was stopped again.
"Bring the sweet-scented osmanthus cake."
"Well..." Wang Zhi's tears flowed out again. He was afraid that the empress would tell him, so he buried his head lower...
~
"This kid...sigh."
Zhen'er shook her head and smiled bitterly, no longer in the mood to read the little book.
Frankly speaking, she was not jealous. Her family knew about her family affairs. She was now in her forties, how could she compare to a young woman.
Any man would be disgusted by this, but he didn't.
The Ming Emperor, the king of a country, still dotes on her, a woman in her forties. Is it really because of her age?
Not really!
He just likes her.
She knows, so she won't interfere, because... she has gotten enough, and she is content.
But... Zhen'er is very curious, wondering what kind of woman can make her emperor husband fall in love.
She didn't worry about gains or losses, nor did she have a sense of crisis. She understood him and would have changed her mind long ago. She would never wait until now.
And, it’s not necessary!
After all...he is the emperor and there is no need to look at her face.
What kind of woman is she? Zhen'er held her chin, thinking intently...
…
after lunch,
Zhen'er was bored and was about to take a nap to pass the time. Unexpectedly, the emperor's husband came as soon as she lay down.
She was no longer sleepy immediately, looked Zhu Jianshen up and down, and nodded frequently.
Sure enough, just like what the little guy said, this little ancestor really went out to do bad things... Zhen'er secretly curled her lips: Ha, man!
Over the years of their marriage, she had gotten to know this annoying little brother so well that she knew at a glance... that it was something that happened after the fact.
"Zhen'er, you, why do you look at me like this?" Zhu Jianshen felt guilty and had a stern look on his face.
After teasing my son today, he got into the mood again, and he was indeed a little confused, but... he was young, so there was no harm in trying it again.
If you have confidence, your waist will be strong.
Zhu Jianshen said with a bad smile, "How about we take a nap together?"
"Your Majesty seems very happy today?"
"Yes, yes?"
Zhen'er curled her lips, "Why don't you look in the mirror and see how crooked your mouth is?"
"...Ahem, that's it. The matter of Duzhangman has made progress." Zhu Jianshen cleared his throat and said with a smile, "Everything is difficult at the beginning. The army only needs to follow the gap opened by Li Hong's army and rush up. , No matter how tough Du Zhangman is, he won’t be able to survive for long.”
"Li Hong?" Zhen'er frowned slightly, "Why is this name so familiar?"
"He is Li Qingqian's son," Zhu Jianshen explained, "and he is also my brother-in-law."
"It's him, no wonder..." Zhen'er suddenly realized, "They say a tiger's father has no son. Congratulations to the emperor on having a general."
After a pause, the conversation changed: "Is the emperor's official duties very heavy today?"
"No."
"Then why did you come to my concubine?"
"...I went out for a walk." Zhu Jianshen said.
"Where did you go for a walk?" Zhen'er enjoyed his embarrassment, a bit like a cat playing with a mouse after catching it but not eating it. gòйЪ.ōΓg
"No, I didn't go anywhere..." Zhu Jianshen tilted his head, not looking at her, looking very casual, "Just walking around to relax."
Zhen'er curled her lips and said: "There is scenery outside the palace, but the emperor can also bring the scenery outside the palace into the palace."
"Ahaha...how do you say this?"
"...What does the Emperor say?"
Zhu Jianshen didn't seem to understand, but he felt panicked as if he had been caught stealing something. He laughed dryly and said, "Zhen'er, why can't I understand what you are saying?"
"My concubine is talking nonsense." Zhen'er blinked, half-smiling.
Zhu Jianshen: "..."
Does she know? It shouldn't be... Zhu Jianshen felt uneasy.
After feeling uneasy for a while, Zhu Jianshen simply stopped thinking about it. So what if he knew it? What did he, the king of a country, have to be afraid of? Besides, Sister Zhen'er is not a jealous woman.
However, Zhu Jianshen did not want to expose the illegitimate child. The death of the crown prince was a thorn in his heart, and he was also a little suspicious.
At least... he doesn't want to be exposed at this stage. His son is still too young. After experiencing the pain of losing his son twice, he has become cautious.
Of course Sister Zhen'er can be trusted, but...it's always better to have one less person know. Also, since his eldest son died in infancy, he tried his best to avoid mentioning the child in front of her.
It would be more appropriate to let her know when it is made public.
Zhu Jianshen pretended not to be happy, concealed his guilty conscience, and hummed: "Okay, if you dare to talk nonsense to me, I will punish you."
"No, Your Majesty, aren't you tired after walking around..."
"Hehe...not tired."
…
'Squeak~squeak...'
Under the tassel tent, laughter cannot stop crying; flowers are crushed to pieces, bees are obsessed with butterflies...
~
"emperor."
"Hmm~"
"Concubine, are you getting old?" Zhen'er has a low self-esteem and is always afraid of comparison in everything.
"No," Zhu Jianshen joked, "It's so charmingly tight..."
"Don't make trouble."
"No trouble, I'm serious..." Zhu Jianshen's eyes were full of love and he was very serious.
Zhen'er looked at it longingly and smiled brightly...
