"The crabapple was eaten by insects ten years ago. I found many gardeners to see it, and they all said they could not be saved. Later, the Duke made the decision and cut it down. He said that it was left in this garden. It was only a pain to see it, but it would be better to be clean without seeing it."

Mrs. Xiao lifted the curtain and walked out, and replied. In her tone, she was also a little emotional. The grass and trees withered and flourished, and they will decline. This has always been like this. The Duke of Ding has been rich for a hundred years. Now, this family is like the dead crabapple tree. The foundation is old and broken. One day, I am afraid that it will follow the footsteps of the crabapple tree that is just like the one in the West.

There was a woman standing in the yard, wearing the outfit of a wealthy wife, who was so ordinary. Hearing this, he turned around and smiled.

Mrs. Xiao bowed her knees and bowed down, calling her "Empress".

The person who came was not someone else, but the concubine Xian.

However, it has been more than 20 years since Concubine Xian entered the palace. It is not easy for the concubine to return to her parents' home to visit relatives. Moreover, Concubine Xian returned to the Duke of Ding without disturbing anyone. After thinking about it, she understood her purpose.

His eyes flashed slightly, and he stepped back gently, and made way out. "Empress, let's go into the house to talk. Go and invite the prince, the prince's wife and the seventh girl together." However, he was ordered to Qiutang. He turned around and looked at Xianfei hesitantly and said, "Where is Mrs. Lu in the East Courtyard..." Do you want to know?

Concubine Xian understood what Mrs. Xiao meant and smiled, "I don't want to disturb others today, so I'd better not mobilize all the troops. The prince's wife will not be seen, so I asked the wife to invite the prince and A Luan, that's it."

Mrs. Xiao lowered her head and lowered her eyes, thinking, it was true.

Qiutang leaned back.

Mrs. Xiao invited Concubine Xian to enter the flower hall where the main courtyard was entertaining guests. Madam Lin personally served tea and then left the room to serve. For a moment, there was only the sound of tea bowls covering the cups and cups in the hall, and the rest were silent.

"Second Sister-in-law." In this silence, the voice of the Xianfei concubine seemed particularly clear, but it was not "Madam", but "Second Sister-in-law".

Mrs. Xiao's almond eyes flashed slightly and she didn't reply for a while.

Concubine Xian's eyes fell on Mrs. Xiao with a smile, and she said as if she was gossiping, "When A Luan was born, did she actually ask Master Jingkong from Daxiangguo Temple to criticize her for her? I never knew about this. Even when her mother was still there, she had never heard her mention it."

Dingguo Duke was born in his generation, with three sons and one daughter. He was the first Duke of Dingguo Xie Guangfeng, and now Duke of Dingguo Xie Guangyan, and Concubine Xian, who are a compatriot. Although Concubine Xian entered the palace gate, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion had always been blessed by the royal family. The old Duke's wife always had a few times a year to meet Concubine Xian and Concubine Xian. Of course, there was nothing to hide from her daughter, the old Duke's wife, and she had always said anything, but Concubine Xian had never heard of this. When she heard it yesterday, even she was shocked and suspicious for a long time.

"The Empress must have received His Majesty's will today. I just don't know if this is what His Majesty means or what Her Majesty means?" Mrs. Xiao did not rush to answer Xianfei, but asked back.

Concubine Xian smiled and pursed her lips, "Is there any difference?"

"Of course there is a difference. Even if the Empress married into the palace, the Empress, after all, her surname is Xie, is the Xie family." Mrs. Xiao gently put the tea bowl on the table and raised her eyes. I wonder if it was because the water mist was coming, but those eyes looked even more and more foggy.

After hearing this, Concubine Xian smiled, "Second sister-in-law is still as before, and has not changed at all. At that time, my mother insisted on giving the title to my second brother. In fact, it was not just because there was no successor in the big house, but because my second brother was indeed brave and good at fighting, and my second sister-in-law was also smart and capable. My mother said at that time that the life of the Duke Ding Mansion was almost as good as before. If it weren't for being able to do it, I wouldn't be able to hold on to this stall. Now it seems that she is really smart. Over the years, my second sister-in-law has been able to support the Duke Ding Mansion, so that my second brother can have no worries. Moreover, even A Luan is very similar to her second sister-in-law, and she will definitely be able to do it in the future."

Concubine Xian praised Mrs. Xiao and smiled, "It's a pity that no matter how smart and capable she is, she will always be unable to hold on. I'm afraid that she will be ashamed of her mother and will not be ashamed to see the ancestors and ancestors below."

Mrs. Xiao's words made Concubine Xian feel a little disappointed, and her eyes darkened for a moment. Then she said, "Today, Your Majesty is allowed to come back, but she didn't tell me anything else. But... With my understanding of him, he is afraid that he will not miss this opportunity easily."

What opportunity? Concubine Xian did not explain it, but Mrs. Xiao knew it well, so it was naturally an opportunity to eliminate the power of the Duke of Dingguo.

In fact, in the past two years, Duke Ding has slowly been releasing power. Through the war, many of his confidants have withdrawn from the important position in the Northwest Army. Although Mrs. Xiao has always not agreed with this, she feels that they are already standing on the tip of the knife. If they still lose the weapons in their hands, they will be slaughtered. But Duke Ding and his son insisted on letting His Majesty see their concessions and their loyalty.

Unfortunately... Mrs. Xiao curled the corners of her lips and sneered. What women like her and Concubine Xian could see were still on their minds.

However, there is no way to deceive themselves again. But when that time comes, where should they go?

"Auntie!" At this moment, Xie Xuan pushed Xie Heng, who was sitting in the wheelchair, in. Instead of calling the queen, she called her close "Auntie", and regarded the fairy concubine as her own person.

The brother and sister entered the hall and saluted Concubine Xian and Mrs. Xiao.

"What do your majesty think? "When my aunt thought, what will your majesty do?" When outside the hall, Xie Heng and Xie Xuan happened to hear the words of Concubine Xian, so Xie Xuan didn't care much and asked directly.

Concubine Xian did not blame him. She took back the eyes that had been thrown on the chair that could leave and turned to Xie Xuan, "That day, at the Spring Festival Banquet, Your Majesty asked His Highness to give flowers. What you got was a magnolia. Who doesn't understand the true meaning? But, after all, it was just a tacit code. Now, Your Majesty has issued an order. In the past, it is no longer important whether he wants you to be Princess Yu. What is important is that at that time, at the Spring Festival Banquet, Your Majesty clearly expressed his appreciation to you in full view of everyone. Now, the candidate for Princess Yu has been decided, but there are rumors in the market that your horoscope is precious and your destiny is a phoenix. If you are Your Majesty, what will you do at this time?"

"What kind of horoscope is precious? That's just nonsense. Could it be that we have to force A Luan into the Eastern Palace because of this? Haven't your Majesty and the Crown Prince already decided on the daughter of the Shougong Yao?" Mrs. Xiao's eyebrows were almost tied into a dead knot.

"The candidate for the Crown Princess is just tacitly understood."
Chapter completed!