Concubine Wen pointed at the soup and signaled Dongyun to serve it, and asked Lan Qi nonchalantly: "What do you want me to care about? Should I care if Mrs. Jue Chan gives birth to a child, or if Guo Guiren hurts her?"
Lan Qi was left speechless, and Concubine Wen continued: "I can't give birth to a child for Jue Chan, and aren't the Rong concubines in charge of Guo Guiren's affairs? I am a wealthy and idle person, how can I know these things? De concubine,
Aren’t you hungry?”
"I have been with the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace, thank you very much." Lan Qi said this politely and said nothing else. Concubine Wen's attitude was very clear, she just didn't care.
Dongyun brought a cup of soup over, placed it in front of Lan Qi and said, "It's stewed with astragalus, black chicken, and Empress Debin."
Concubine Wen laughed at the side, "I didn't even come to the door even if I invited you. It's rare to come. Let's take a sip of the soup. Our Dongyun's craftsmanship is no worse than Huanchun's. You can try it." She said and picked up a chopstick herself.
Yao Zhusi soaked her in the soup and said in a good mood, "Finally someone came to eat with me. I had nothing to do in the palace, so I just studied the food with Dongyun. There is nothing else in Xianfu Palace than the imperial dining room."
There are a lot of dishes, but unfortunately there is no one to drink with. I always eat alone, which is very boring."
Lan Qi put the chopsticks dipped in the soup into her mouth. It was smooth and tender, leaving a fragrant aroma on her lips and teeth. It was indeed a delicate and delicious dish. Most of the dishes cooked in the imperial dining room were superficial, and what looked good may not be delicious.
Even Xuan Ye often came to Yonghe Palace for meals. Even if Huan Chun made a pot of vegetable porridge for Yin Zuo, he found it delicious. I want to have a dish from the imperial dining room.
If he dares to introduce the old and bring out the new, he has been eating it for twenty years. Moreover, as Concubine Wen said, it is always boring to drink with no one and eat alone.
"You must be thinking that Lord Long Live often comes to Xianfu Palace. Dongyun and I make these beautiful and delicious dishes to keep Lord Long Live, right?" Concubine Wen finished a cup of soup by herself, wondering if she felt uncomfortable or not.
Not feeling very well, he huddled up on the chair with his legs crossed without any manners, and said with a smile, "Long live the Lord, I don't usually come to Xianfu Palace for meals. At most, I occasionally have a late night snack, eat some yellow rice porridge and drink a bowl of hot milk.
Have you ever seen what I eat at the dinner table?"
The little palace maid had already brought a hand stove. Concubine Wen frowned and stuffed it into her arms. She said with an ouch, "I am very impatient. I thought that Mrs. Jue Chan must not give birth in the next few days, but she still gave birth."
Called Dongyun, "Go and ask if she has given birth?"
Only then did Lan Qi know that Concubine Wen Yue Xin was with her. No wonder the palace had stewed black chicken soup. Thinking about the days in Xianfu Palace, Concubine Wen was always complaining about being bored, but she still lived a pleasant and delicate life. She was quiet.
After drinking a few sips of soup quietly, Dongyun came back not long after and said, "Po Wen said it's still early, I'm afraid it's going to be midnight."
Concubine Wen lazily said: "Then I'll go and have a rest. Call me when the child is coming out." She stood up and held her waist, smiling apologetically at Lan Qi, "You can sit down by yourself. I really can't sit up and my back is sore.
Very.”
Lan Qi left her seat and watched Concubine Wen slowly go to the inner hall, leaving a table of dishes. Then a palace maid came to ask her if she wanted to use it. Dongyun came out quickly and politely asked Lan Qi to sit in the Nuan Pavilion and wait.
His master apologized: "My queen, she is lazy on those days of the month. Don't be offended, my dear concubine."
"I'm not surprised, I'm just wondering whether I should go back after Jue Chan Chang is born, or leave now." Lan Qi said with a smile, "I can't do anything if I stay."
But Dongyun smiled: "I beg you, please stay. Concubine Wen doesn't like to meddle in other people's affairs. In fact, it's as if Jue Chan has always lived here as if he didn't live here. The two of them never had any contact with each other.
In front of the empress, the master seems to take great care of her. He doesn't even say a word on weekdays, and even doesn't see her in person for several days."
Lan Qi thought to herself that these two people have strong personalities, and they probably felt that they were not suitable to get close to each other once or twice. There is nothing wrong with getting along peacefully like this. Just when she was thinking about it, a little palace maid came to Dongyun, and Dongyun listened slightly
Frowning, he turned around and smiled at the concubine: "Can you please move on? My master said he would like to invite you to the inner hall to talk."
Lan Qi wanted to leave, but was called by Concubine Wen to speak. She had no choice but to enter the inner hall and saw her leaning on the kang, lazy and casual. She was not at all the way a concubine should look to outsiders, but she was happy.
He smiled and motioned for Lan Qi to sit down.
"They said you won't eat. I think it's not good to leave you outside. There's no reason to treat guests like this. So I invite you in to talk. Do you want tea?" Concubine Wen said as she put the food on the Kang table.
He pushed the candied fruit to her and said, "You can do whatever you want."
But how could Lan Qi dare to be casual? She was already feeling uncomfortable all over while sitting. Then she heard Concubine Wen say: "During the first month, will anyone from your natal family come to the palace?" Seeing herself shaking her head, she continued, "No one from my natal family will come either.
, guess why?”
"I am stupid." Lan Qi managed to say these words.
Concubine Wen sat up slightly, wanting to be closer to Lan Qi, and said excitedly and proudly: "Aling'a has been tricked and suffered by me. They can no longer plan to use me in the palace, and they will probably continue to do so in the future."
I don't care whether I live or die. Unless I'm in such a desperate situation that I have no choice, I will have to think that Niu Hulu's family doesn't have a daughter like me. I feel really happy when I think about it."
Lan Qi was horrified when she heard this, but Concubine Wen was smiling. She was always so unpredictable, and continued, "Just because I said over and over again that they were still pestering me, no matter what happened last year, they came to me.
, I went to trouble Concubine Tong. Concubine Tong was always angry with me and uttered harsh words. When I made her angry, she would naturally alert her family members. What was Niu Hulu's family planning? Tong Guowei's mansion.
Everyone could hear it, and he was so angry that Aling and Abdu got sick, and he really deserved it."
Lan Qi was stunned when she heard this, "Mother, are you doing this?"
Concubine Wen smiled: "Sister asked you to take care of me. She must have said a lot of reluctant words. After three years, I can finally live for myself. No matter what people outside think of me, my heart is open and free, which is considered complete.
My sister’s regrets and last wishes will not let me down in this life.”
Lan Qi was filled with emotion when she heard this, as if her grudge against Concubine Wen was gradually disappearing, and she heard her say: "Don't worry, you don't have to bear any of my sister's last instructions. During these years in the palace, I have looked coldly at all kinds of people.
Ups and downs, everything is understood."
Lan Qi breathed a sigh of relief, nodded and said, "The Queen is well, I must be happy that the Queen is alive in heaven."
Concubine Wen smiled leisurely, "Xianfu Palace seems to specialize in people like me. I don't have much contact with the Juechan clan, but when she first came here, I asked her if she was tired from moving around like this. She said it didn't matter, she was in the palace anyway.
No matter how hard she tries, she still can't get out of the four walls of the Forbidden City. Although she is extremely boring, what she says makes sense and I like to hear it."
"Yes." Lan Qi responded softly.
Just now Dongyun said that Concubine Wen had little contact with the Juechan clan, and now she herself said that they had not much contact. Lan Qi didn't quite believe it, but seeing Concubine Wen talking so many words to her non-stop made her even more excited.
Her eyes were bright, and she really felt that she usually had no one to talk to, so she started talking to herself, as if she wanted to say everything she had been saving for a long time. She spoke happily, and her whole body looked more energetic.
But Lan Qi felt an indescribable feeling in her heart. People seemed to sincerely want to get along with her, but she refused them. Frankly speaking, she really didn't want to have anything to do with Concubine Wen, but Concubine Wen's enthusiasm remained undiminished.
, how should we deal with such a worldly situation?
Concubine Wen didn't know what the person in front of her was thinking, so she kept talking about trivial matters as if they were jokes. Lan Qi reluctantly agreed and started chatting back and forth. When she was really running out of words, Dongyun finally came to the rescue and said
Concubine Rong and Concubine Hui returned from Cining Palace.
The two entered the inner hall soon. Concubine Wen asked them to sit down too, but Concubine Hui said: "My concubines are not going to sit down anymore. They have to go to Ningshou Palace to resume their duties. The Empress Dowager will leave this matter to the Empress Dowager. Heaven."
It's getting darker and darker, so we can't delay going to Ningshou Palace, because we're still waiting for Jue Chan to give birth here, so we must come back to see it. Thank you for your hard work, empress."
Concubine Wen smiled and said, "I don't have to work hard, and it's not me who gave birth to the child. But you don't have to go to Ningshou Palace to answer questions. I want to chat with Debin here, and Juechan's place is too busy, so why don't you leave one?
, take care of me?"
Hui Bin and Rong Bin looked at each other. They were both the same age as Queen Niu Hulu. They looked at Concubine Wen as if they were a little girl. Sure enough, people have weird minds. When can we not chat and gossip at this moment? Look again.
Seeing that Concubine De also had a look of helplessness, Concubine Rong agreed: "I will stay here, and I will let Concubine Hui take care of Guo Guiren's affairs."
Concubine Hui left in a hurry again, but Lan Qi didn't want to "chat with her" any more. She just followed Concubine Rong and said, "My sister and I went over to take a look." Then she escaped from the inner hall without explanation. Concubine Rong laughed at her, "What's the matter?"
?It’s like a tiger’s den and a wolf’s den inside.”
Lan Qi smiled bitterly: "Concubine Wen is so eloquent that I really can't keep up."
Seeing this opportunity, Concubine Rong simply said to her: "Let concubine Hui handle Guo Guiren's affairs. It involves Yikun Palace. Even their sisters can't handle it. It's pointless for us to get involved. The Queen Mother can't even talk about it."
When you are angry, you just use the word 'casual'. You say that after so many years, how long has the old man been able to live casually?"
Lan Qi remained silent, and Rong Bin continued: "Those who know about Yi Bin's thoughts know it, and those who don't know don't dare to think about it. Let Hui Bin control her, and it will be good for everyone. Don't feel uncomfortable."
"I don't feel uncomfortable at all. I was just wondering if Guo Guiren would have pounced on me if I hadn't gone away. If I had known that, I would have just walked a few steps with Jue Chan." Lan Qi sighed, "Just in case.
What happened to mother and son?"
"The two places are so close. If the people in Yikun Palace are not careful, Guo Guiren will be able to go out." Concubine Rong said with profound meaning and said coldly, "Even if you pay attention to let her out, it won't be surprising. Who knows you?"
She has been here, and she is lucky to have met you. If she had not met you, she would have been beaten and kicked by crazy people, and she would have lost one or two lives."
Lan Qi shuddered and looked at Concubine Rong blankly. She smiled bitterly: "Such a thing is too common in the deep palace. Who told the Jue Chan clan to be so beautiful?"
"What are you talking about?" Concubine Wen Linlang broke the awkwardness between the two of them. She actually chased Lan Qi out again, complaining, "It's great to go in and talk, it's so cold outside." She was reaching out to pull her away. Lan Qi, a palace maid over there came and said, "Jue Chan is about to give birth, and she says the baby's head has already come out."
The three of them hurriedly waited outside the delivery room. Inside, they felt Chan's moans rising and falling. Concubine Rong and Lan Qi had both experienced the pain of birth and didn't feel anything. However, Concubine Wen's heart trembled when she was shouted at. She followed Dongyun and left, but as soon as she reached the door of the main hall, the cry of a baby came from the house. The cry was loud. Lan Qi thought it must be a son. Sure enough, a palace maid came out to report: "Jue Chan is always here." A little brother was born, and now mother and son are safe."
Lan Qi breathed a sigh of relief and heard Concubine Rong whispering to herself very softly: "She is finally lucky."
It was also at this time that Eunuch Li came over from Qianqing Palace and said that there were still ministers who could not leave before him. The emperor already knew about it and sent him to take a look. He came at the right time. The child was born earlier than expected. Li The father-in-law was about to go back to resume his duties, but Concubine Rong stopped him and told him about Guo Guiren. Manager Li smiled meaningfully: "Jue Chan is always here. Since mother and son are safe, Guo Guiren is here... What do you think I should do, my empress?"
But all she heard was Concubine Wen shouting: "Sister Rongbin, come and help me. They want to send the child to my place. What should I do?"
In this way, Mrs. Juechan suddenly gave birth without any chaos. Now she was about to send the newborn baby to Concubine Wen, but she was so anxious that she waited until the concubine Rong and the wet nurses had taken care of the baby properly. Only then did she dare to approach the cradle and murmured: "This child is the eighth prince, it's great... My sister wants me to give birth to a child for her, but I can't give birth either."
Lan Qi and Concubine Rong looked at each other and both said goodbye to leave. Concubine Wen said what would happen to the children if they left. They pushed the wet nurse and the maid in front of her and insisted on leaving, but Concubine Wen sent them to the door, as if She reluctantly said to Lan Qi: "Are you coming when the Eighth Prince is full moon?"
It wasn't until she walked out of the Xianfu Palace that Lan Qi relaxed all over. Concubine Rong was also exhausted from Concubine Wen's torment. When she was about to leave, she joked: "Concubine Wen is very close to you."
Lan Qi confessed: "It's still the same friendship we had with the queen before she died that year, but I don't dare to reach higher than that."
Concubine Rong smiled and said, "Why don't you climb high? It's hard to be alone in this palace. If you have to cut off your relationship with others, you will become a loser in the forest. You have studied, do you know what the second half of the sentence is? "
Lan Qi nodded and said nothing, and Concubine Rong didn't say anything more. When she returned to Yonghe Palace tiredly, she was so tired that she leaned on the kang motionless. Although her ears were clear, Concubine Wen's words still seemed to linger. , I became even more determined not to associate with Xianfu Palace. As for what Concubine Rong said about Mu Xiu Yu Lin, when did she, Wu Yalanqi, not show off at Lin Qi since she entered Qianqing Palace on the Lantern Festival night of that year?
After leaning for half an hour, she stood up and wanted to call Huan Chun to prepare for a bath, but Xiang Yue brought in a bowl of medicine and said with a smile: "Sister Huan Chun is preparing, let the slave bring the medicine first."
"What kind of medicine?" Lan Qi smelled good. Xiangyue put it down and she went up to smell it. It smelled like dates and honey. Xiangyue said, "While you were taking a nap, Eunuch Li was leading the hospital. The people came and said, "Long live the Lord" and gave away the soothing medicine. He said that you were frightened and tired tonight, so you should take the medicine and go to bed early. Don't go out tomorrow. Just stay at home and rest for two days. Don't worry about things outside. The imperial doctor said this medicine is sweet, I want to try it, but Sister Huanchun won't let me."
"Then you try it. If it's sweet, I'll drink it." Lan Qi actually pushed the medicine to Xiangyue, and the little girl laughed, "Sister Huanchun knows, it's time to scold this slave again. Master, drink it quickly, it's hot over there
The water is ready."
Lan Qi frowned and drank the medicine. Although it was sweet, it was still medicine after all. Then she wiped her mouth and got up to take a bath. There was a sudden noise in front of the palace gate. The door of Yonghe Palace closed with a bang. The little eunuch in front of the door ran to say
, there are guards guarding the entrance of the palace, so that the door is locked and cannot be opened at will.
"What happened?" Lan Qi felt nervous and subconsciously went to Yinzuo's house. The little eunuch followed and said, "The guard brother didn't say anything. I saw someone guarding the gate of Chengqian Palace. I'm afraid it's the palace."
Someone is escaping inside, and the guards probably won’t leave if they are caught.”
"Could it be Guo Guiren?" This thought came to her mind, and Lan Qi couldn't help but tremble. She was very frightened when she saw that crazy woman. Wasn't it the people of Rong's concubine who had imprisoned her? How could she escape?
But no matter what Lan Qi imagined, how could she know what was going on outside while sitting in the Yonghe Palace? There was such a big movement, and every palace and courtyard was guarded by guards. It took two hours before the guards were withdrawn. But what happened outside?
No one knows what happened. Although the guards have withdrawn, Ningshou Palace has issued an edict to the Sixth Palace. No one is allowed to go out tonight. All matters will be discussed at dawn. Lan Qi has been holding Yinzuo, saying that tonight
Stay with your son.
At this moment, in front of the gate of Qianqing Palace, a soft sedan stopped quietly, and Hui Bin was picked up. When she entered the door, she saw several head guards coming out. They stepped aside to let Hui Bin go first. The eunuch led Hui Bin to the study.
In the dark night, the emperor was sitting behind the desk, with candlelight flickering in front of his face. Concubine Hui knelt down and saluted, and only heard the emperor's deep voice saying: "You know everything about Yikun Palace in your heart, right?"
Concubine Hui tensed up and gritted her teeth and said, "Concubine... I don't understand what the emperor means."
"I know you understand in your heart." Xuan Ye sat behind the desk, showing no emotion or anger, and didn't even look at the people on the ground. He said quietly, "The Queen Mother does not kill, you have to execute this matter
, I will give you a favor, from now on, you will look after Yikun Palace for me."
"emperor……"
"You are the smartest person. I don't need to explain what I mean."
The expectations are very high. You are her mother-in-law. Don’t do anything that will make him bear the sin. But since you have extended your hand, I can’t pretend that nothing has happened. Then I will atone for my sins and stay in the harem from now on.
You can only do what I ask you to do. If you can't have a tacit understanding with me, the eldest brother will have no one to protect him. He will not be an adult until more than ten years later. Are you relieved?"