The Qing army suffered successive defeats, and the emperor fell ill again. On that day, he went on a majestic military expedition, but ended up with such a decadent result before facing off against the rebels. While the government and the public were panicking, some quick-thinking people in the clan who were dissatisfied with the emperor couldn't help but laugh at his current incompetence.
Some unpleasant remarks were faintly spread, which made the concubines in the harem even more nervous.
Because the emperor fell ill, an imperial edict came from the front, ordering the crown prince to visit the palace. As soon as the news spread, many palace concubines secretly cried in the palace. In their opinion, what kind of critical moment had this reached? Even the prince
I was called, could it be that I wanted to explain the funeral arrangements?
Moreover, at present, Prince Yu and Prince Gong both hold military power, but the prince does not have any real power. If he goes to the camp this time, it is just to visit the emperor's condition. In case the emperor's illness is any good, the prince will be alone.
If you go there, you can't guarantee that you won't be plotted by others. The two princes hold military power. As long as one of them changes sides or colludes with Galdan, the prince may never return. And what kind of situation is ahead now, the palace can only listen to news, news
How accurate it is, no one knows.
The prince was about to leave, and the Queen Mother hurriedly summoned Lan Qi and others to Ningshou Palace to discuss matters. Finally, they made a decision and asked the third elder brother Yinzhi to accompany the prince. Although they were all princes with no power, with one more person, the prince might think that
Can be more at ease. Concubine Rong didn't want her parents and children to be involved in danger, but then she thought about it, something big happened. Their wives were in the palace, and they would be in trouble sooner or later. It would be better for her son to go ahead and take a look. She hoped most.
What's more, the emperor is only slightly ill, and there is no chance that any prince will defect. What's more, the Queen Mother cannot tolerate the decision she made.
It was decided that the third elder brother would go to the palace with the prince. The fourth elder brother immediately ran back to Lan Qi and said that he also wanted to accompany the prince to visit his father. Lan Qi did not explain anything to him, but said seriously: "If you listen, eh
Mother, just go back and read your book and stay well in Chengqian Palace, otherwise, we don’t have to talk."
It was rare for his mother to be strong. The fourth elder brother was in awe and did not dare to pester him any more. He sent the prince and the third elder brother away the next day. The fourth elder brother stood alone under the city gate. He suddenly realized that he was the oldest among all the elder brothers who stayed in the palace.
The prince.
The eldest elder brother had gone on an expedition with the army before. The second elder brother and the third elder brother went to the palace to visit the sick. The situation outside was chaotic. Several older princes had left the palace. Among the remaining princes, the fourth elder brother was the eldest and even the best. Here
You can understand things, but you can never express them verbally.
The night before the prince's departure, Lan Qi went to Ningshou Palace again after nightfall. The queen mother said to her helplessly: "If something happens, I'm afraid I won't have the momentum and ability to turn the tide like the empress, but I will try my best to persevere.
At the last moment, I have done something extraordinary in my life."
These were extremely sad and negative words. No one wanted this to happen. After calming down for a while, the Queen Mother asked: "Do you want to go to the front line and take care of the Emperor?"
At that time, Lan Qi was staring at the Queen Mother. Her heart had already flown to Xuan Ye's side, but she promised Xuan Ye that no matter what news came from the front line, she would not panic and lose her position. She would stay here firmly.
, waiting for his return. If she can do everything she promised Xuan Ye, Xuan Ye will definitely do what he promised and return safely.
Without waiting for her answer, the Queen Mother said: "If there is any danger ahead, we have to suppress them here first. To put it unluckily, if something happens to the emperor, something happens to the eldest brother and the prince as well."
Well, among the princes, the only one who can inherit the throne is the fourth elder brother. We must confirm the throne earlier than them, so that we can preserve the bloodline of the emperor and prevent villains from getting their way."
Once such words were spoken, it became a big deal. She knelt down and begged the Queen Mother not to think nonsense, but the Queen Mother continued: "That's why I can't let you go to the front line to see the Emperor. If anything happens, you won't even be able to go."
Come back, Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui are still in the palace. I'm afraid that I can't control them. You have to stay with Si Age. We, the two of us, will do everything we can to turn the tide. The emperor was just the concubine of Yongfu Palace that day. You
It can be done.”
At that time, Lan Qi only said: "Queen Mother, I don't want that day to come. I just hope that the emperor will return safely."
The Queen Mother sighed: "I don't think so, but we must be prepared for the current situation. The Queen's Mother told me in the past that no matter what happens in the future, we must not disrupt the imperial family or the bloodline. Only sons can inherit their father's legacy."
It is the long-lasting right path. If it is passed down from brother to brother, we will be following the same old path as before."
That whole night, Lan Qi was thinking about the Queen Mother's words, but she didn't shed a single tear even though she was carrying someone else's back. She was thinking about the worst thing that could happen, thinking about everything she might have to face, and she was filled with tears from the bottom of her heart.
Her strength may be the most powerful belief in her life. No matter what, she must protect the blood inheritance for Xuan Ye. Even if it is not her fourth elder brother, she must not let the throne fall into the hands of others.
After the prince and the third elder brother left the capital, the palace was still gloomy two days later. At this moment, news came from the eldest elder brother's house that Dafu Jin was pregnant. It was originally a good thing that the royal family was most happy about, but now no one cares about it.
For everyone, there is nothing better than the end of the war and the return of the Holy Spirit.
After Concubine Hui came out from Ningshou Palace to announce the blessing of Jin, she took the road to Jingyang Palace. When she entered the palace, it was quiet. The eunuch in front of the door told Concubine Hui that her master, princess and Wan Chang were in the small Buddhist hall.
While chanting the sutra, Concubine Hui smiled bitterly in her heart. People often entrust their faith to gods and Buddhas when they are most helpless. The same was true for herself. After receiving the news that Dafu Jin was pregnant, the first thing she did was to pray to Buddha for a child.
The daughter-in-law can give birth to the emperor’s eldest grandson with this pregnancy.
At this moment, I walked slowly to the small Buddhist hall and saw Concubine Rong kneeling in front of the Buddhist niche. Princess Rongxian and Wan Chang saw that Concubine Hui was coming. They stood up and bowed to make way. Concubine Hui then told Rongxian: "You can rest, I will go with you."
Your mother-in-law, please tell me."
Concubine Rong glanced back at her. After her daughter and Wan Changzai had left, she sighed: "I'm used to living a comfortable life. I never thought that this day would happen. During the San Francisco Rebellion, no matter what, the Empress Dowager was still there.
, the emperor is also by his side, and now..."
Concubine Hui kowtowed to the Buddha statue and offered incense. Then she sat cross-legged next to Concubine Rong and said softly: "Isn't the Queen Mother still here?"
Concubine Rong glanced at her: "Queen Mother?"
"Don't look at the Queen Mother's warmth and weakness. This time, I can see how powerful she is. After all, she has been following the Queen Mother for decades." Concubine Hui said coldly, "You see, the Emperor just let
The prince went to the front line, but the queen mother sent your third elder brother also, why?"
Concubine Rong also had calculations in her heart, but she didn't want to say it out loud. She turned away and never looked at Concubine Hui. She only heard her whispering beside her: "Once the emperor has something to do, and there is a turmoil ahead, the Queen Mother will issue an edict in the palace to establish Si'a."
If I become the new emperor, the overall situation of the world will be decided."
"Sister, you are thinking too much. If you leave the gate of this Buddhist hall, your words will be treasonous, but you will be beheaded." Concubine Rong's eyes were condensed, her heart had sunk into the abyss, and she said with strength, "Your big brother
My brother is still ahead. You should hope for their well-being, hope that the emperor will return soon, and hope that all these brothers will be safe and sound. What's the point of saying these things?"
Concubine Hui sneered: "Does it mean that in your heart, sister, you don't even want to know that the Queen Mother insists on having the third elder brother to accompany the prince, and you are really willing to do so? Or does it mean that sister understands in her heart that even if the third elder brother stays in the palace, she can't compete with the fourth elder brother, what will happen to my sister?
Do you feel that you are inferior to the Wu Ya family, or that the third elder brother is not as good as the fourth elder brother? Why should all the benefits be left to her?"
"In the eyes of Concubine Hui, what is a benefit?" Lan Qi's voice suddenly sounded. Concubine Hui turned pale with shock. She and Concubine Rong turned around to look, but saw Lan Qi standing in front of the door. They were talking too much.
She was so invested that she didn't even know when Lan Qi came. Concubine Rong's heart was pounding. Fortunately, what Concubine Hui said was worthy of herself and her conscience.
Lan Qi slowly walked in, looked at Concubine Hui seriously and said, "Sister Hui Concubine thinks too much. Thinking about it is harmful to your health. Sister, you have to take care of yourself. Don't dare let us plot these unnecessary things."
Concubine Hui said coldly: "You know better than anyone else, why bother pretending to be confused? Now is the time when something important has come. Don't you have any plans for yourself in your heart?"
"What are you planning?" Lan Qi knelt down and worshiped devoutly in front of the Buddhist altar. After the ceremony, she said slowly, "I just wait for the emperor to come back and don't think about anything else. It's best for Sister Hui Fei not to think wildly, or be careful of the disaster that comes from her mouth.
My elder brother is still on the front line, don’t you want my eldest brother to retreat unharmed?”
"You're talking nonsense!" Concubine Hui's face turned pale, and the panic in her heart could no longer be concealed. Now Mingzhu is not as powerful as before, and she is not the one who has the final say on the front line. Suo'etu is also at the front, so he will definitely try to protect the prince.
And because the eldest brother is the deputy general and follows Prince Yu, he is probably not with the emperor now. If something happens, his son will be almost isolated. Prince Yu has always been close to the prince's faction. Her son is in front of Prince Yu.
No benefit at all.
"Nothing has happened on the front line yet. Let's make a mess here first. Not to mention how heartbroken the emperor is, isn't Sister Hui Fei heartbroken?" Lan Qi looked at each other angrily. She used to be subordinate to them and listen to them teach her how to fight in the depths.
Gong's way of life, time has changed, and they have long been on equal terms, but they never thought that one day they would have this conversation, and Lan Qi didn't feel that she was superior to any of them.
"We rely on the Emperor for everything." Lan Qi said resolutely and solemnly, "But if he comes back victorious, he will only see the harem in disarray and distraught, how heartbroken he will be? Everyone in the clan is watching.
, even if we are just pretending, we still have to prevent them from using any crooked ideas, right? The only thing we can do is to guard this home and wait for the emperor to come back."
With tears in Concubine Hui's eyes, she calmed down and said coldly: "Your son is by your side, of course you are not afraid."