A black stone fell on the chessboard with a clatter, followed by a white stone. Chu Yunning looked at the other party with a gentle face, as if he was not worried at all.
"Concubine Xia entered the palace on her own initiative?" she asked.
Concubine Xia didn't even raise her head, her lips raised a faint smile, like peonies blooming, enchanting the country, and her voice was even more charming; "I have had outstanding appearance since I was a child. I am a noble lady from a well-known family carefully cultivated by my family.
I just look forward to competing for glory for my family."
She casually placed down the chess piece again, her tone a little melancholy: "As long as you can enter the palace and bring glory to the family, who cares whether your life is good or not."
Another harried woman!
Chu Yunning felt some sympathy for Concubine Xia.
"There is no need for Chu Shanggong to sympathize with me. I have already enjoyed what I should have enjoyed after living for these years, and it is worth it."
Concubine Xia raised her head and glanced at the sympathy in the other person's eyes, and smiled: "Not everyone in this world can get everything going as they wish. Some people have lived their entire lives in frustration."
"The imperial concubine is quite open-minded."
Unknowingly, dozens of chess pieces had been played. Suddenly, a black stone from Concubine Xia fell on the chessboard. She shrugged helplessly: "My skills are inferior to others. What is the purpose of Chu Shanggong's visit today?"
Chu Yunning glanced at the chessboard. Concubine Xia had never thought about winning her from the beginning. She was just looking for a way to compromise the current situation.
"Convince Prime Minister Xia to resign, and at the same time, in order to continue the Xia family's descendants, you can choose a Xia family descendant to join the court and serve as an official of the third rank."
Prime Minister Xia has been in the court for too long and has disciples all over the country, especially in the court. It is really not good for Xiao Jingheng for such people to stay in the court.
Concubine Xia frowned: "Father will not obey me."
"Then it depends on what the noble concubine does." Chu Yunning raised her hand, and the little palace maid immediately offered two cups of tea. She reached out to take one cup and drank half a mouthful before slowly putting it down: "It is indeed a rare good tea, and the taste is very good.
Fragrant and endless aftertaste.”
The maid held half a catty of tea and placed it on the table. Concubine Xia looked at her blankly.
"The emperor is benevolent and will not take action against the Xia family, but the premise is that the Xia family is in peace and order. Prime Minister Xia will definitely not be convinced. It is better for both sides to take a step back. The emperor will not send troops, and Prime Minister Xia can take the initiative to resign and not interfere in the government affairs.
, both sides are well."
"Is this what the emperor means?" Concubine Xia asked with raised eyebrows. She put her fingertips on the tea cup and watched the green tea leaves rise and fall. She couldn't help but sneer in her heart: "Chu Shang Palace, why should I trust you?"
Chu Yunning nodded slightly and did not answer.
"I want the emperor to personally promise that Xia Deshan will resign and the official position given to the Xia family can only be Xia Wentong. Within ten years, the emperor will not depose Xia Wentong or cause trouble to the Xia family."
Concubine Xia suddenly became a little excited and said, "If you can agree, I can increase the bargaining chip!"
Hearing this, Chu Yunning's eyelids twitched: "Tell me and listen."
"Let the second lady and my two legitimate sisters be buried with me!" Concubine Xia's tone was full of hatred.
Concubine Xia's biological mother was not favored. Although she had the reputation of being her legitimate wife, her life was not easy. The second lady made things difficult for her at every turn, and even almost killed Xia's mother several times.
It turned out that Concubine Xia had two younger brothers. She still remembered that one winter, when there was heavy snowfall, she witnessed the second lady pushing the eldest brother into the cold pool. Although the eldest brother was rescued, he was completely injured and lingering.
After many years in bed, he finally couldn't stand the pain and jumped into a well.
Xia's mother was extremely sad, so Prime Minister Xia neutralized the situation and severely punished a few servants, and the matter was settled.
Later, when her little brother was born, Concubine Xia resolutely entered the palace and climbed all the way to the position of concubine.
They are afraid, so they don't dare to do anything to their little brother.
But this tone could not be dissipated in Concubine Xia's heart. She just suffered from the fact that she never had a chance to take revenge.
No matter how favored she was in the harem, she could not match the power of Prime Minister Xia in the previous dynasty.
"Don't blame me for being ruthless. I was once an innocent woman, and she was forced to do so." Concubine Xia gritted her teeth and said that the old and new dynasties did not matter to her at all.
She never thought about leaving the palace alive.
Rather than live in humiliation, it would be better to die happily and at least preserve the title of Concubine Xia.
Chu Yunning smiled and shook her head: "The noble concubine dares to love and hate. It's too late for me to admire you."
She raised a cup of tea: "I'll offer you a cup of tea instead of wine."
Concubine Xia raised her eyebrows and glanced at Chu Yunning in surprise.
"I hate those vain people the most. If it weren't for our status, we can definitely become close friends." Chu Yunning drank more than half a cup of tea and then said: "If I were you, I would do it.
More ruthless than you!"
Hearing this, Concubine Xia smiled, and even Chu Yunning was stunned by this smile. Concubine Xia raised her tea and took a big sip, then put it down generously: "Thank you."
"You are Welcome."
Chu Yunning directly lifted Concubine Xia's grounding and let all the maids who originally served her return.
"Chu Shanggong!" Concubine Xia suddenly called her: "Can you prepare a quick and harsh poison for me so that I can leave without pain? I am afraid of pain."
Chu Yunning agreed without hesitation: "After three hours, I will send someone to bring the medicine."
"Thank you!"
After leaving Concubine Xia's residence, Chu Yunning felt a little complicated. Bixiu on the side said: "Concubine Xia is also a poor person. She has to learn rules since she was a child. If you want to blame her, it's Prime Minister Xia who is too partial. Speaking of this Prime Minister Xia,
This slave feels that a lifetime of death is not enough."
Chu Yunning laughed: "You know a lot."
"That's right, I was given a nickname by someone to find out. Prime Minister Xia relied on Mrs. Xia to get where he is today. The second lady gave birth to a daughter who was half a year older than Concubine Xia. She is now Mrs. Marquis of Changyang, and
This marriage was supposed to be that of Concubine Xia. It was Mrs. Marquis of Changyang who shamelessly fell into the water at the banquet and lost her reputation. She had no choice but to promote this marriage." Bixiu curled her lips: "Otherwise, it would be Mrs. Marquis of Changyang who enters the palace today.
Yes, there were more beauties in Emperor Xihai’s harem back then than now.”
Hearing this, Chu Yunning felt a surge of anger in her heart because she felt unworthy for Concubine Xia.
"Go and inquire about the Changyang Marquis Mansion. The more careful you are, the better." Chu Yunning ordered.
Bi Xiu nodded.
About half an hour later, Bixiu told the news one by one: "Mrs. Xia Furong, the Marquis of Changyang, has never been pregnant with an heir since she married. It is said that the imperial concubine drank a bowl of Juezi soup with her own hands, and the child was cut off."
I understand Xia Furong’s thoughts.”
Hearing this, Chu Yunning felt an inexplicable sense of relief and asked, "What next?"
"The Marquis of Changyang didn't like Xia Furong at all. He rarely went to Xia Furong's yard and found an excuse to join the army. Now the Marquis of Changyang holds fifty thousand soldiers."
Hearing this, Chu Yunning's eyes moved slightly, and she decided to help Concubine Xia because she was always willing to spend every penny.
"Get ready and come with me to the Changyang Marquis' Mansion."