Tang Ning suddenly raised his head, almost suppressing the ugly look on his face.
She thought that the Queen Mother was after the daughter of the Xu family, and wanted to win over the Fu family and the Cao family, but she didn't expect that she actually wanted the Qian family, and mentioned the election in public, and even asked Qian Qi by name. Yue stayed with her in the palace, which clearly meant that Qian Qiyue was "hand-picked" to stay in the palace.
Concubine Zhaogui turned around and said with a smile: "Why did the Queen Mother suddenly think of the election?"
The Queen Mother said: "Everything in the palace has been complicated recently. The Ai family has not seen any happy events for a long time. Fengqi Palace cannot remain empty. The Crown Prince cannot be the only one in the East Palace. There are several princes who are also old enough to choose concubines." ”
"The Ai family hopes that while they are still alive, they can hold the emperor's eyes for them."
Everyone in the palace was astonished. According to what the Empress Dowager meant, this election was not only about selecting concubines for the prince and crown prince, but also filling the harem, and even selecting new people from outside to enter Fengqi Palace and select a new queen for Emperor An?
After the death of Empress Lu, there have been speculations about the candidate for the new queen. Several high-ranking concubines in the palace were among the candidates. The Xian concubine was implicated by the Cui family and lost hope. She had high expectations, not to mention Concubine Shu, Concubine Yu, and several concubines with children, but the Queen Mother actually planned to choose a new queen directly from outside.
After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she looked at Emperor An: "What does the emperor think of the Aijia's idea?"
Emperor An said: "Fengqi Palace cannot remain without an owner. There should be someone in the harem to share the worries of the queen and me. Since the queen likes Miss Qian, let her stay in the palace to accompany you. You can see about the election. All we have to do is..."
"Father!"
The prince never expected that the first thing Emperor An would do after regaining power was to want an election.
If a girl is just sent to the palace to serve the emperor, given Emperor An's age and the situation in the court, many ministers will probably find a way to refuse. If they are forcibly recruited, they will even feel resentful. But once they are promised the position of queen, the situation will be completely different. .
After the previous hoarding of grain, Xiao Yan was extremely cold towards him, and many of the courtiers who originally followed him began to sway. If Emperor An was allowed to win over several important ministers in the name of post-election, then his position as the crown prince of the East Palace would be lost. How can you sit still?
The prince suddenly spoke from the side: "My father has filled the harem, and my sons and ministers are naturally happy for my father. However, the war in the south is currently stalemate and the treasury is empty. If we mobilize troops to hold a general election, I am afraid it will lead to impeachment by officials and discussion among the people. "
"If my father is just for the master of Fengqi Palace, and all the mothers and concubines in the palace are virtuous people, and they have served my father for many years to bear children for you, why should my father abandon the near and seek the far away?"
Before Emperor An could speak, the Queen Mother's face darkened: "The Ai family said that this election is not only to fill the harem, but also to choose concubines for you and your brothers..."
The prince did not hesitate: "My grandson appreciates the kindness of the imperial grandmother, but every day the war in the south becomes unjust, my grandson becomes more and more worried. My grandson really has no interest in male and female affairs. I believe that my younger brothers are the same as me. We will not put private interests at the expense of public affairs, but will put military and national affairs and the country and the country first."
"My grandson is offended. To put it bluntly, the national treasury is already empty now, and the election is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Instead of spending money on it, it is better to give more to the southern generals, so that they can be more brave in the battle. Contribute to the Wei Dynasty's efforts to suppress the rebellion."
"Presumptuous!" the Queen Mother shouted.
Emperor An also had a cold face: "Prince, how did you talk to the Queen Mother?!"
The prince quickly stood up and knelt on the ground: "Grandmother, please calm down."
Rong Yue saw the emperor and his son arguing, and the Queen Mother was so angry that she looked ugly. She said: "The Queen Mother, what Her Highness the Crown Prince said is true. The war in the south is at a stalemate. Many people in the capital are staring at Pingyang County. I hope that Marquis Wenxin and the others can return victorious as soon as possible."
"It's the time when everyone is united. If we suddenly choose a concubine for the palace with great fanfare at this time, it will inevitably be offended. Please think twice, the Queen Mother."
Mrs. Fu was already excited when she heard that the queen was to be selected. She also had a beautiful niece who was not married. Although the Xu family was of a lower status, there were still Cao and Fu families. Qiao Qing might not be able to compete. She opened her mouth and thought To refute Rongyue's words, she only said the word "I" when Mrs. Cao pinched her arm hard.
Mrs. Cao knew her temper well, so she glanced at her and said before Mrs. Fu could speak: "Mrs. Rong Guo is right. I also think it is really not appropriate to run an election at this time."
"Yes, the general election is not a trivial matter. It will waste people and money. Please think twice."
"The Queen Mother, please think again."
The ladies from those families who were friendly with Jiuyun Lane or the Qian family spoke one after another, and even Prince Ji's concubine gave a soft word of advice.
"If the Queen Mother wants to fill the harem for Your Majesty and choose concubines for the princes, it is better to wait until next year. The weather is freezing right now, and the war in the south is uneven. It is indeed not appropriate to hold an election. When the government is stable next year, there will be no such thing as King Pingshan. When the rebels start a rebellion, no one will discuss the election."
The Queen Mother's face looked a little ugly, as if someone had refuted her face. She looked up directly at Qian Qiyue: "Girl Qian, the Ai family likes you very much. What do you say about this?"
Qian Qiyue almost rolled her eyes and rolled her eyes.
What did she say?
She wanted to say why this old pious woman didn't die, half of her feet were in the ground, and she was still thinking of spoiling the little girl for her old son. Is choosing a teenage queen to enter the palace to be the granddaughter of the dog emperor? !
Qian Qiyue pinched her palms to hold back the curse, and put on a fake smile on her face: "The Queen Mother is joking. How dare I interfere in palace affairs? Besides, even if there is an election, I am not qualified."
"I have a wild temper, and I rarely get into trouble with others once or twice. Not to mention that Princess Huan always says I have no rules. Even Miss Xuan laughs at me as a dominatrix. Everyone in the capital knows that I am not a big deal. You lady, even my mother-in-law can’t do anything to me.”
"If I enter the palace, there are not enough empresses in the palace to cause trouble to me. If the Queen Mother is kind-hearted, don't embarrass those empresses."
When the Queen Mother heard Qian Qiyue's words that seemed to be self-deprecating but actually rejected, her face became darker and darker: "Are you unwilling to enter the palace?"
Qian Qiyue raised her eyes: "Is the Queen Mother asking my daughter's wishes, or is she issuing an edict?"
The Queen Mother paused.
Qian Qiyue said: "If you ask me what I want, I won't."
"My daughter has nothing but awe for Your Majesty. My father often mentions His Majesty's wisdom to my daughter, saying that Your Majesty is equal to my father but far wiser than him. To my daughter, Your Majesty is a powerful and tall elder like my father. I am truly honest. I can’t change my mind.”
"If the Queen Mother issued the decree, then I have nothing to say."
