The eldest brother was the first to return to Beijing in late September. After entering the palace, he was ordered by the emperor to meet his grandmother and mother first. After Yinti came out of Ningshou Palace, he went to his mother-in-law. Concubine Hui was waiting directly there. Outside the gate of Changchun Palace, the mother burst into tears when she saw her dark-faced son. But Concubine Hui took her son's hand into the house and closed the door. I don't know what she said. There seemed to be a huge conflict between mother and son. My brother actually slammed the door and walked out, frightening everyone in Changchun Palace.
However, when the eldest brother went to Qianqing Palace, the father and son had a good talk. The emperor did not issue any instructions to hold the eldest brother accountable. It seemed that Prince Yu's delay in military flight had nothing to do with the eldest brother. The eldest brother left the palace directly after bidding farewell to his father. , it was not until the evening that there was news that the emperor had invited the Queen Mother to hold a banquet in Ningshou Palace, and that she would greet the eldest brother tomorrow.
None of the other brothers saw their elder brother. When the eighth elder brother came back from the study, Ben excitedly asked Bao Yun how the elder brother was doing. Bao Yun described how the elder brother was tanned and stronger, and told the eighth elder brother. : "There was a conflict between the empress and the eldest brother, and the mother and son separated on bad terms. Everyone in the Changchun Palace was watching today. The eighth elder brother, please be careful when you go to talk to the empress."
"It's so easy to meet her, why should we quarrel?" Brother Ba couldn't understand. When he came to see his adoptive mother again, he didn't see any displeasure from Concubine Hui. It was as if Bao Yun had lied, and her adoptive mother was as gentle to him as ever. , exchanged greetings and greetings for a long time, and then they parted ways after having dinner together.
When the Eighth Prince said good night to Concubine Hui and wanted to say goodbye, he asked casually: "The emperor will hold a banquet at Ningshou Palace tomorrow to greet the eldest brother. Is it better for you to go directly from the study? It's better to come back first and let E Niang go." Change my clothes?"
Concubine Hui then showed a bit of embarrassment, but she managed to gather her energy and replied to her adopted son: "You brothers are having a lot of fun, go on your own." The implication was that Concubine Hui seemed not to attend the celebration banquet tomorrow, but the next day Brother Tianba followed the brothers to Ningshou Palace, and his adoptive mother was already there.
The Empress Dowager held a banquet and invited only the concubines in the palace, several elders of the clan, young and old Fujin, Prince Yu, Prince Gong, Prince Fujin and several side Fujins. However, they all looked tense and did not dare to say anything. After all, the emperor can forgive Sons may not be able to forgive their husbands. For this defeat of Galdan, the court has not celebrated or rewarded in a real sense. On the contrary, more and more comments have been made about the delay of military flights by the two princes. Anyone who has been around the royal family for decades knows the importance of it.
Among the concubines, in addition to the noble concubine, the four concubines gathered together. Not all the concubines came, but some who were friends with the four concubines were present. There was also Ping Guiren, Zhang promised, they were all at home to have their babies and did not come together. lively.
The emperor came just after the banquet started and had been talking to the queen mother and elder brother. Concubine Rong on Lan Qi's side was pushing her and motioning to look towards Concubine Hui. He saw Concubine Yi chatting next to Concubine Hui. Whatever happened, I thought the two of them were getting together again, but Concubine Hui suddenly glared at Concubine Yi with a cold face. Concubine Yi was startled, and she ducked away with a disdainful laugh.
Concubine Rong sneered: "Concubine Yi, who spends her days entertaining cats and dogs, does she still think she is a teenager?"
Before Lan Qi could answer, a loud laugh came from above. Everyone looked over and saw the Queen Mother turning to Concubine Rong and saying, "Concubine Rong, why don't you bring your third brother over to express your gratitude?"
Concubine Rong was puzzled. Seeing the emperor's face full of smiles, the eldest brother also smiled and stepped aside. She couldn't guess what happened involving her and the third brother. The queen mother continued to smile and said: "The emperor just told me that we will win the battle this time."
, there are many meritorious deeds in the army, Gong Pengchun is brave and diligent, he has great military exploits, just now the eldest brother praised him for his bravery and invincibility, he has a beautiful little daughter at home waiting to be married, our wives are together, the third brother is also the eldest brother
No, he is the best match for our third elder brother.
Concubine Rong listened blankly and was pushed forward by Lan Qi. The third elder brother had already walked out from the brothers. The gentle and elegant child was smiling shyly. After saluting with his mother, he was called by the Queen Mother.
He came up and held hands and said, "The girls in Dong E's family are all stunning beauties. When they get married, they must love them well, just like your eldest brother and the prince brother."
The third elder brother's face turned red, and then Concubine Rong stepped forward to listen to a few more words. When she returned to the seat, the concubines and other concubines congratulated her one after another. Concubine Rong herself was still confused and didn't know what was going on. She could only hear one sentence.
It is clear that the prospective daughter-in-law comes from a famous family, the brave and diligent Gong Pengchun holds a high position in the court, and the Dong E family is a big family that is as famous as several other big families.
When the excitement subsided and the banquet continued as usual, Concubine Rong seemed to take a breath. Lan Qi brought warm tea to her to relax. Concubine Rong covered her heart and said, "Why is it so sudden? I was still thinking,
I don’t know when the emperor will think of our third elder brother’s marriage. Looking at the age of the eldest elder brother and the prince, it is almost time to at least mention it, but he is so busy..." After a pause, he added, "I also want to know where I am from.
"Weihan, my future daughter-in-law is probably not as good as my two sisters-in-law. I didn't expect that the emperor would be so interested in finding a daughter from such a wealthy family. As my future mother-in-law, I feel a little inferior to her."
Lan Qi smiled and said: "Sister, what are you talking about? Where did our brother come from? You are the emperor's concubine, one of the most noble women in the Qing Dynasty, but you are not enough to be the mother-in-law of the father-in-law's daughter? Sister, feel at ease,
Let’s wait for the daughter-in-law’s tea.”
Concubine Rong smiled and said, "The date hasn't been set yet, it's early." As she said that, her heart suddenly tightened, and she grabbed Lan Qi's hand and said, "Is it Rong Xian too?"
Lan Qi didn't expect this at all. She was a little reluctant to see Rong Xian chatting and joking with her sisters across from her. She could only comfort Concubine Rong: "It will happen sooner or later. Sister, don't worry. Your Majesty can do this for the three of us."
My elder brother said that it was a good marriage, how could he treat his own eldest daughter badly?"
Concubine Rong sighed: "This time the battle in Mobei is full of smoke, and the emperor wants to appease people's hearts, I guess it is probably one of the tribes. Chunxi just married a Taiji, our Rongxian, I hope she can marry a
Prince."
Lan Qi just smiled without saying a word. During the dinner, she occasionally looked up. When she and Xuan Ye looked at each other, the tacit understanding between the two of them could always be exchanged for each other's warm smiles. Even though this seemed lively on the surface, secretly
The most peaceful and peaceful scene at a banquet filled with lust for power.
But the true love between the emperor and the concubine was very ambiguous in the eyes of others. Even if it was only once or twice, it was noticed by many people, or in other words, many people were staring at them. For example, sitting under the Queen Mother and the Emperor,
At the table were the prince and Xi Fujin. This was the second time Xi Fujin pulled her husband and said, "Don't keep staring at Concubine De. You will be misunderstood. Yin Reng, why don't you look away?"
Of course Li Fujin knows what her husband sees. Although the couple got married not long ago, their relationship is already very harmonious. Li Fujin wants to climb to the position of crown princess wholeheartedly. Of course, he will do his best for his husband and the royal family, but he may not be able to become the crown prince. It's not that she has the final say. What's worse is that although the prince is full of blood, he doesn't touch her often. Instead, he favors a few maids in Yuqing Palace who the Queen Mother allows to take over the house. But every time before and after sex They would all be asked to take contraceptive pills. They told Xi Fujin in private that he could not have children yet, and even warned Xi Fujin not to worry. If she became pregnant, something would happen to her.
Fujin was helpless in the deep palace. If she didn't listen to her husband, who else could she listen to? Since they got married, she had obeyed the prince in everything. Except for the matter of having sex, the prince was also very affectionate towards her.
After the banquet that day, the emperor went back to Qianqing Palace. At night, he seemed to have turned over Wang Changzai's sign. Lan Qi didn't bother to care about it. She came back with Si Age and her younger brothers and sisters. Lan Qi smiled and asked her son: "Yin Zhen, what are you doing?" If good times come by chance, would you like to marry Third Elder Brother together?"
The fourth elder brother laughed: "Is E Niang planning this so that the palace can save a lot of money?"
Lan Qi was taken aback and scolded her son: "Are you just trying to bully me like this?"
The fourth elder brother joked a little with him and asked his mother: "After your son and Yuxi get married, will you leave the palace immediately?"
"Probably yes, but I haven't had time to choose your third elder brother's house for you. There are many things waiting to be prepared now." Lan Qi said calmly, looking at her son with a smile, "You are anxious to leave the palace and be free with Yuxi. Do you think your mother is too long-winded?"
The fourth elder brother shook his head and said solemnly: "Yu Xi is young and probably doesn't know how to take charge of the family affairs. My children are also young. I thought that if Huang Ama and E Niang could allow her, let her live in the palace for two years." , I’ll just learn my skills from you.”
Lan Qi was joking with her son that he favored his daughter-in-law, and also joked that he would abuse her daughter-in-law and train her in the future. Mothers are not good, but her son was willing to coax her into having fun. Lan Qi did nothing that night I was thinking too much, but the next morning Qinglian came to send a message, saying that my fourth brother was sick and could not go to Yuqing Palace to study. I felt that the conversation with my son last night was a bit strange, so I quickly changed my clothes and came over. When I entered the door, I saw Xiao Hezi running out. , Qinglian stopped him and asked him why he was running away.
Xiaohezi said in a low voice: "I'm going to get my homework from my fourth brother and ask my master what he's reading today."
Lan Qi warned: "It's just that Brother Si is sick, so he shouldn't say too much." Xiao Hezi was smart, kowtowed and agreed, and hurried to run errands for his master.
When Lan Qi heard that her son was still interested in studying, she knew that he was fine. She left Huanchun and Qinglian to go into his bedroom alone. Sure enough, she saw her son sitting at the table with a piece of clothes on her. When she saw her mother coming, she stood up and asked for help. When he came to salute, Lan Qi caught up and pressed him down, touched his forehead and it was not hot, and asked: "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you let Dr. Xuan do it?"
Brother Si was evasive: "It's nothing important, just take a day off."
Zhizi Moruomu, Lan Qi asked: "Is it really just one day?"
Yinzhen pursed his lips and avoided his mother's gaze. Seeing him like this, Lan Qi became more sure that something was going on and said seriously: "If you don't want to tell me, I won't force you, but you should know that the homework in the study room I can’t say I won’t go and I won’t go. Do I have to wait for your Majesty to come and ask you what’s going on?”