On the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, Huang Rongrong gave birth to a daughter to Zhao Yanxun, named Zhao Lingyu.
He already has two sons. Zhao Yanxun loves his only daughter more and will visit her whenever he has time.
When Zhao Yanxun packed up and rushed to Chengqing Palace where Concubine Rong lived, a woman wearing a life-giving python robe came outside Yanshou Palace under the guidance of the eunuch.
Outside the Yanshou Gate, the old nanny walked down the steps with a warm attitude.
"Young Madam, the Queen Mother is waiting for you inside!"
As she walked inside, the woman said at the same time: "Sanniang, now you are working as an errand in the Queen Mother's office, it is no better than in the uncle's house!"
"Call it whatever you want!"
This woman is Cao Yunhui's first wife, Lady Liu, the young lady of Taoyang House.
"Old slave understands!"
Following the old nanny, Ms. Liu stepped into the palace gate.
Recently, Mrs. Liu often went to Yanshou Palace to pay her respects, which won the favor of the Queen Mother.
After entering the main hall of Yanshou Palace, seeing that the Queen Mother was not here, Ms. Liu looked at the old nanny with a puzzled look.
"Concubine Hui, you brought me a pot of white magnolia. The queen mother is watching it in the back hall!"
"Madam, please follow me to the back hall!"
Following the old nanny, Mrs. Liu entered the Hou Hall together, and she heard people talking and laughing.
Of the four new women who entered the palace, three were only beauties and were at the lowest rank in the harem.
Only Zhang Fengxiu was granted the title of concubine, the same as Hou Shijun and Zhou Lanzhi, because the Queen Mother favored her.
Entering the small courtyard of the back hall of Yanshou Palace, I saw the Queen Mother in the middle holding scissors to trim the leaves of the plants in the pots. Zhang Fengxiu was serving her with a smile on her face.
"The Queen Mother is pleased to see that pruning this flower adds another third of its beauty!"
"My concubine goes to see the Queen Mother, and goes to see the concubine Hui!" Mrs. Liu saluted and paid homage.
The Queen Mother turned around slightly, glanced at Mrs. Liu on the ground, and then said: "Yunhui's wife is here, get up!"
"Hurry up and forgive me!" Zhang Fengxiu stepped forward to help him personally.
Approaching the Queen Mother, Mrs. Liu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so elegant!"
"What kind of entertainment? It's just to pass the time!" the Queen Mother turned around and said.
In fact, Mrs. Liu's visit to the palace this time was not just to greet the Queen Mother.
Seeing the worried look on her face, the Queen Mother immediately asked: "Did Yunhui bully you?"
Mrs. Liu replied: "My husband treats my concubines very well!"
"Then why do you look worried?"
Glancing at Zhang Fengxiu next to her, Mrs. Liu said: "Now the uncle's house...is indeed in some trouble!"
"What's the trouble?" the Queen Mother asked directly, without any intention of avoiding Zhang Fengxiu.
"Some time ago, the imperial court collected taxes, and several farms in the uncle's mansion coerced tenants to hand over grain. Now the government has found out!"
Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother's face darkened and she said, "You can even force the tenants to pay for their food!"
People worked hard for the farm and finally harvested the crops, so they could only make ends meet.
Asking these tenants to pay grain is undoubtedly driving them to death.
Mrs. Liu quickly knelt down and said, "Queen Mother, it's all the stewards of the farm who make their own decisions, and the uncle's house was also concealed by them!"
Originally, she wanted to win a marquis for the Cao family, but these people just caused trouble for herself, making the Queen Mother very angry at the moment.
Of course, it was just a matter of anger. After all, the Cao family was still her closest relatives.
"Since I was deceived, it was just an unintentional mistake. It's not a big deal!"
However, Mrs. Liu cried and cried: "Your Majesty, the several farm stewards who were arrested are trying to get away with it, saying that the uncle's house allowed them to do whatever they want. Now the people from the Ministry of Punishment have sent people to Zhuangzi!"
The Cao family was afraid that people from the Ministry of Punishment would go to Zhuangzi to investigate, which meant that this matter was indeed their order, and it was very likely that someone went to Zhuangzi during the grain collection.
"Idiots, they are all idiots!"
Hearing the Queen Mother's scolding, Mrs. Liu replied: "In the past, the imperial court did not levy taxes on the estates, but suddenly it was collected by the uncle's house. It was at a loss, so the subordinates deceived the superiors and concealed it..."
Although Mrs. Liu's words were touching, the Queen Mother was not a vegetarian, so she probably understood what was going on.
"Please have mercy on the Queen Mother and save the Cao family!"
Seeing this scene, the Queen Mother couldn't help but sigh.
Just such a "little thing" frightened the Cao family into this state, which clearly shows how vicious his son's reputation is.
Thinking of this, the Queen Mother could not admit that her son was indeed ruthless.
In the capital, southwest and south were attacked at the same time. Thousands of people were beheaded and exiled, and hundreds of families were wiped out. The emperor's methods were really cruel, and it was normal for the Cao family to be frightened.
Turning her head slightly, the Queen Mother glanced at Zhang Fengxiu and asked: "In your Zhang family, are there any flaws in this tax collection?"
"Back to the Queen Mother, I am living in the palace and don't know what's going on outside!"
But in Zhang Fengxiu's mind, she was already wary of this. After she returned, she would send someone back to her parents' home to ask if there was anything illegal at home.
All the royal relatives and relatives of the Cao family were panicking about this matter. If something happened to her Zhang family, would they die?
Mrs. Liu raised her head and said in a trembling voice: "Queen Mother, my father is in his dying years, and I have specifically told you to give the Cao family a way to survive when I left home!"
Sighing, the Queen Mother said: "Come, please invite the emperor to come over!"
"yes!"
After the eunuch left, the Queen Mother said helplessly: "You guys never let me worry!"
…………
In Chengqing Palace, Zhao Yanxun was sitting next to the crib, his precious daughter had fallen asleep.
When a child is about one month old, he becomes sleepy.
Turning back and looking at Huang Rongrong beside him, Zhao Yanxun asked with a smile: "My dear concubine, looking at you like this, could it be that something unhappy has happened to you?"
"Your Majesty, my concubine is indeed unhappy!"
"Who made you unhappy? Say it and I will help you teach him a lesson!"
Hearing this, Huang Rongrong stared straight at Zhao Yanxun, and the meaning could not be clearer.
"You mean, I made you unhappy?"
"Um!"
Huang Rongrong nodded solemnly, making Zhao Yanxun want to laugh.
"Then tell me how I made you angry?"
"In the past, when the emperor entered the palace, he cared deeply about his concubines, but now..."
Huang Rongrong didn't say the next words, and she was obviously not too embarrassed.
Zhao Yanxun really didn't expect that this silly girl would compete with his daughter for favor.
"Okay, okay, even if I'm wrong, how about I rest at your place tonight?"
Hearing this, Huang Rongrong's sad face disappeared and she smiled happily and said: "I am not a rare concubine!"
Zhao Yanxun then said: "Okay, I'll go to the queen's place tonight!"
"emperor……"
Before Huang Rongrong could finish her words, she heard the eunuch's voice coming from outside.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother invites you to go to Yanshou Palace!"
Taking Huang Rongrong on the side into his arms, Zhao Yanxun asked: "What happened?"
"I don't know, the Queen Mother just asked me to come here and deliver the message!"
"I got it. If you go back and tell me, I'll be there right away!"
"According to the order!"
After the eunuch left, Zhao Yanxun said to Huang Rongrong: "The Queen Mother asked me to come over. Do you want to come with her?"
Of course Huang Rongrong didn't want to go. Yanshou Palace made her feel depressed, and it was easy to meet Zhang Fengxiu.
"Your Majesty, I still have to look after the child, so why don't you go?"
Zhao Yanxun couldn't help but laugh and secretly praised Huang Rongrong's good excuse.
"Okay, I'll see you later!"
Hearing that the emperor was coming back, Huang Rongrong's heart suddenly fell to the ground, and then she smiled happily and said: "I am waiting for the emperor!"
Therefore, Zhao Yanxun did not stay any longer and rushed to Yanshou Palace except Chengqing Palace.
