On one side of the imperial mausoleum, in Changshou Zhai, green smoke is floating.
Having lived here for nearly three months, Concubine Duan has become accustomed to living here and living a very simple life every day.
Of course, Concubine Duan herself didn't want to live such a simple life, but there were people strictly monitoring her here, so she couldn't do anything else.
But this kind of surveillance can only prevent her from stirring up trouble, but it does not prevent her from understanding the outside world.
For example, what happened at the court meeting three days ago reached her ears at this moment.
Kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, Concubine Duan whispered: "It's not that easy for Mrs. Li to become the Empress Dowager!"
Kneeling behind her was Lingsu. They were the only two people in the room at the moment.
"If Mrs. Li can't become the Empress Dowager, your Majesty, you might..."
Concubine Duan put down the Buddhist scriptures, opened her eyes and asked, "Go on!"
"Your Majesty, you are very kind to the Emperor. If the Li family loses power, your Majesty may return to the palace one day!"
Hearing this, Concubine Duan smiled on her face: "You mean, the emperor will take me back to the palace?"
"Exactly!" Lingsu nodded, and then said: "So the empress must wait patiently, there is hope for the future after all!"
Concubine Duan couldn't help but be stunned. She wanted to say that Lingsu was too naive, but these words were just to make her feel at ease, so Concubine Duan could no longer make fun of her.
"I hope what you said is true. There will be a day when I can return to the palace!" Concubine Duan said with a smile.
But what she was thinking about at the moment was not that Zhao Weilong would take her into the palace, but her own son, King Yong, Zhao Yanxun.
Ever since she received Zhao Yanxun's letter, Concubine Duan had endured it and not summoned Liu De for questioning.
Of course, she is also waiting for the opportunity. When the time is right, she will take the initiative.
Seeing Concubine Duan smile, Lingsu also laughed.
Lingsu grew up with Concubine Duan since she was a child. Although she was a master and servant, she was better than a sister, so she naturally missed Concubine Duan in her heart.
"Lingsu, let's go..."
"Yes!" Lingsu replied.
But the next second she was stunned, so she stopped.
"Where are you going...?"
Concubine Duan turned over the scriptures and said slowly: "Leave here, leave Changshou Zhai!"
Lingsu looked bitter and said: "My dear lady... don't joke with me!"
"I'm not kidding you, get out of here!"
With a splash, Lingsu knelt directly on the ground, climbed up to Concubine Duan and kowtowed: "I have done something wrong, and I will be punished by you. Why do you have to drive me away!"
Concubine Duan had been thinking about this matter for a long time, and she chose to speak out today because she had guessed that Lingsu would react this way.
"There is a fire pit around me now, follow me...you will not end well!"
"Let's go...go far away!" Concubine Duan said seriously.
Lingsu, who had always been submissive to Concubine Duan, now had a firm look in his eyes and said: "Your Majesty, even if I die, I will not leave!"
"You..." Concubine Duan said angrily: "Why are you like this!"
But Lingsu asked in reply: "Why is your Majesty like this?"
Lingsu's determination to "die" also made Concubine Duan stop thinking about driving her away, because the other party could not be driven away.
"Why am I like this?" Concubine Duan asked.
"I have been with you for so many years and have been loyal... Could it be that in your heart, I am someone who cannot share the same hardships?"
In one sentence, Concubine Duan was stopped in her tracks.
But Concubine Duan picked up the rosary, closed her eyes and said solemnly: "Make tea!"
With a smile on his face, Lingsu slowly stood up from the ground and then said: "I obey your orders!"
When Lingsu walked out of the room, his back was turned to Concubine Duan outside the door, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
…………
Within the forbidden palace, there is the longevity palace.
Yanshou Palace has always been the residence of the Queen Mother, and now Li lives here.
The Changchun Palace where she originally lived was vacated, and a new queen would move in after Zhao Weilong's wedding.
Sitting in the side hall, the late Empress Li was enjoying tea.
The palace is splendid and magnificent, but compared to the coldness of Chang Shou Zhai, it is like heaven and earth.
"Your Majesty, I heard that many ministers have petitioned to honor your Majesty as the Grand Empress Dowager... It seems that this day is not far away!"
Hearing what her confidant said, Mrs. Li had a smile on her face.
The emperor had always disrespected her as the empress dowager. Li knew clearly what his motives were.
She was not very anxious about this, because the longer it was delayed, the greater the pressure the emperor would bear.
But sooner or later he would be unable to bear it any longer, and he would still have to be honest and give her the title of Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager, since the founding of the Jin Dynasty, the Li family is still the second in line. This is such respect and honor.
When the time comes, even if she falls out with the emperor, Li will be happy and not afraid.
Another nanny on the side said: "The emperor thought he could put this matter aside by pretending to be faint, but he turned out to be a joke!"
There are only three of them in the room, and the entire Yanshou Palace is Li's confidant, so there is no need to worry about the news leaking.
Mrs. Li put down her tea cup and said in a cold tone: "The emperor is not your place to discuss!"
"yes!"
"Never again!"
"yes!"
After a few moments of silence in the room, Ms. Li asked, "How is that bitch named Cao doing now? What do you do every day? Meet those people?"
There were many people monitoring Concubine Duan, and the one who contributed the most was Li.
She and Concubine Duan were inseparable, so she naturally tried every means to find out Concubine Duan's mistakes and flaws and put her to death.
"That bitch is now devoted to reciting the Buddha's name, but he doesn't see anyone else. He only sends people out from time to time to find out news!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Li sneered and said: "I thought she was really dedicated to eating fast and chanting Buddha's name, but it seems that she is still evil..."
The aunt on the side asked: "My dear lady... do you want to cause some trouble for her?"
Mrs. Li put down her tea cup and said, "Forget it, let him have a happy birthday in a few more days. There will be plenty of time to deal with her later!"
Now is the critical moment for her to ascend to the throne of the Empress Dowager. It is better not to cause trouble at this time.
"The empress is wise..."
At this moment, a warning voice sounded outside: "Your Majesty, Li Xuan is asking to see you!"
"What's she doing here? She's gone. Let her go back!"
Meeting Li Suxin at this time will only aggravate the emperor's suspicion and cause trouble for her to become the empress dowager.
"yes!"
Besides, outside the palace gate, when her audience was rejected, Li Suxin became very angry.
It is ridiculous to say that Zhao Weilong has already ascended the throne, and Li Suxin is still living in the East Palace, and even the issue of status has not been resolved.
Today she came to see her aunt in order to get a status for herself.
Zhao Weilong wanted to honor his biological father as the emperor, so giving her the position of concubine was something he could strive for.
Not far behind Li Suxin, standing is his son, who is now also in the embarrassing situation of "no name and no status".
Seeing Li Suxin coming back, Zhao Weiheng asked in a low voice: "Mother...aunt, don't you see us?"
Li Suxin did not answer, but said fiercely: "Let's go back!"