mousepad-d2 Chapter 59 How to choose
Chapter 59 How to choose
Xiao Tianhong's recent abnormal behavior has already attracted the attention of interested people.These interested people include the women in the harem, court officials who have been involved with these women, and the queen mother.
It is absolutely abnormal for a young and energetic emperor to stay overnight in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for nearly a month.Although Xiao Tianhong is not lecherous, this action still caused a lot of speculation, such as whether there is some hidden disease, some function is impaired, etc...
The queen mother didn't take it seriously at first, she only thought that he was busy with government affairs or in a bad mood.The Empress Dowager was keenly aware that the emperor had become a lot more difficult to deal with since he ascended the throne, and it seemed that he had grown a lot overnight, which made it impossible for her to figure it out.So she is busy training Zheng Wan'er, letting her learn how to please the emperor who is becoming more and more difficult to control.
But after New Year's Eve, the Queen Mother had to pay attention.
That day the emperor left the banquet early, and everyone thought that there must be some political affairs that need to be dealt with suddenly, so they didn't think much about it.But after the banquet, the Empress Dowager found out that the emperor did not go to the Yizheng Hall, but returned directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and then took people away on a dragon chariot.
Only then did the Queen Mother realize that there was someone hiding in the Hall of Mental Cultivation!I couldn't help but be shocked, the Hall of Mental Cultivation is a custom for emperors, even the most favored concubine is not allowed to stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation overnight, it will ruin the dragon spirit.But now the emperor actually hid someone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?Who could it be?
The Empress Dowager was unable to place eyeliner around the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but she searched the Imperial Dining Room and confirmed that since nearly a month ago, the Hall of Mental Cultivation has had more meals, and it seems that the person entered the palace at that time.
According to the eyeliner's report, the direction of the dragon's chariot on New Year's Eve is exactly the direction where the fireworks suddenly appeared later.The palace clearly forbids setting off fireworks without authorization, so someone dared to set off fireworks after the banquet that night, which naturally attracted the attention of the palace.The person in charge of the harem and the imperial concubine sent people to investigate, but they said they were sent back by His Majesty's people.As soon as it was heard that His Majesty was playing with it, no one would pursue it anymore.But thinking about it now, the emperor probably watched the fireworks with someone, right?
Hidden in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, leaving behind many concubines and concubines to be alone with that man on New Year's Eve, the Empress Dowager faintly smelled something different.
Originally, when the emperor only favored Wang Pingting and neglected Wan'er, she just watched and did not make a move.In her opinion, although this pure concubine—Wang Pingting was favored, but she came from a merchant family, her position as concubine was at the end of her life, and it was impossible to be named queen.Therefore, she let Wan'er fight and be jealous.
But unexpectedly, this pure concubine is low-key and intelligent, with good manners and details, and she is also very respectful to her. Wan'er can't find a fault to provoke her.It wasn't until this time that the queen mother paid more attention to it, and asked the person who inserted it to prepare a bowl of medicine. She was worried about whether the woman from a medical family was proficient in medical skills, but seeing that she drank it without any grudges, she felt relieved.
Afterwards, the Queen Mother and Wan'er never made any effort to feel sorry for her.A concubine who can't lay eggs, what else is there to be afraid of?The emperor had pampered her for almost three months, but she still hadn't moved at all, which was the best proof.
Without the obstacle of Concubine Chun, the Empress Dowager has been teaching Wan'er how to win the emperor's favor, how to deal with those beautiful women who are also of noble birth, and temporarily put down the monitoring of the harem. Something like this happened.
All the people brought by the emperor on his southern tour were personal guards, and the queen mother didn't know what happened to him in Zezhou.But after returning from Zezhou, the emperor's attitude changed. He no longer favored only Concubine Chun alone.This made the Queen Mother heave a sigh of relief, and stepped up her preparations for Wan'er's ascension to the next throne, but who would have expected that the emperor would have a new favourite!
The current person cannot stay!
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes viciously, and carefully sorted out the information submitted by all the eyeliners in the palace, and found that the person who lived in the Hall of Mental Cultivation seemed to be inextricably linked with Concubine Chun.Since that person came, Concubine Chun began to take a walk in the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation every afternoon, which was really too coincidental.
People in the palace never believe in any coincidences.
"Mother Jing, the Ai family wants to set up the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Mother Jing was startled, she was also stunned for a moment, and said hesitantly: "Queen Mother, this..."
The Empress Dowager understood her worry, she twitched the corners of her mouth and said, "Aijia doesn't intend to trespass on the Palace of Mental Cultivation, but just to catch an ignorant concubine."
According to the eyeliner, this time of day is exactly when the concubine Chun appears in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Of course the Empress Dowager cannot trespass on the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so what if she catches the concubine who trespassed outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation?
"The empress dowager is wise." Nanny Jing hurriedly supported the empress dowager, and ordered the maids to drive to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Three days have passed since New Year's Eve.
Pingting sat silently across from Ren Ren, her fingers unconsciously circling on the table, as if hesitating and hesitant.Ren Ren, who was opposite her, spoke first: "Do you want to ask why I didn't run away that night?"
With her fingers resting on the table, turning instead of tapping, Pingting raised her head, cast her eyes on him, and nodded honestly: "Yes, I can't figure it out. I know you don't love him, and you want to leave here too. So, what's the matter?" Have you been restrained? I don't think it's the Ren family. His Majesty will not easily move the Ren family army. Then, in this Benkyo, I am the only one related to you. Your Majesty, are you using me to threaten you? "
"No." Ren Ren shook his head.Xiao Tianhong would not do this, because he understood Ren Ren's heartlessness and ruthlessness.It is impossible to threaten him with Pingting, even if he loves Pingting, he will not hurt himself for her.
"Then..." Pingting's voice suddenly softened, with a kind of fragility: "You don't believe me anymore, do you?" Her voice was very soft, as if a heavy breath could shatter it.
Ren Ren was speechless.
"I understand." Pingting smiled, but then put it away.That smile was so unsuccessful, it was more like a cry, "He's my husband, but he loves you. Our position is so awkward. It's normal that you don't trust me. But trust me, I won't hurt you, Absolutely not."
The dark eyes stared at him tightly, without blinking, stubbornly demanding an answer.
Opened his mouth, Ren Ren was speechless.Facing such a young girl, he couldn't say words to deceive her, and he couldn't say words to hurt her, so he could only remain silent.
Gradually, the corners of the girl's mouth raised slowly, bit by bit, until she gave a bright smile.The face that is no longer round is pouted together because of this smile, and the fleshy cuteness vaguely seems to return to the carefree girl in Zezhou. She said briskly: "Forget it! The imperial dining room has brought some delicious pastries~ Would you like to try it?"
"Don't..." Ren Ren put on a bitter face cooperatively, avoiding again and again.
The atmosphere of laughter and laughter was the same as before, and the smiles on the faces of the two were also extraordinarily bright, so bright that they were almost artificial.Those innocent days are really never going back.
Not long after, Pingting finally couldn't bear this forced happiness for the first time, so she got up and left.
Every time she came to see Ren Ren, there was no one around to wait on her, and it was precisely because of this that she could really enjoy being alone at this time.Not wanting to put on a fake smile anymore, Pingting walked slowly on the road, her eyes were full of withered and yellow branches, just like her mood that was drying up day by day, she had no vitality.
Suddenly, a dignified and noble figure appeared in sight.
Pingting was startled, and quickly leaned over to perform the concubine's ceremony: "The concubine sees the queen mother."
"Pure Concubine, why did you come out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation?" The Queen Mother asked directly without going around in circles.
Pingting's heart skipped a beat, she lowered her head and scanned the surroundings unobtrusively, there was no one here, it seems that the Queen Mother came here specially to wait for her?But he didn't panic, he just took out the waist card covered by the belt, and presented it with both hands: "To the Empress Dowager, the concubine got the waist card from His Majesty, and was allowed to enter."
Nanny Jing reached out to take it and handed it over to the Queen Mother.
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the reddish-brown waist badge, it was indeed a waist badge that allowed people to walk in the palace as a special case.Laughing coldly: "Concubine Chun is really favored, even the emperor of the Hall of Mental Cultivation let you in. The Ai family wants to ask, you are entangled with the emperor every day, do you want your beauty to harm the country?!"
These words were so serious that Pingting immediately fell to her knees and denied it in a panic: "The Queen Mother is aware that although my concubine goes to the Hall of Mental Cultivation every day, she has never done anything to seduce His Majesty."
"Oh, what's the matter?" The queen mother looked down at her curving back and asked lightly. The previous anger seemed to be a hallucination, and it had disappeared without a trace.
"This..." Pingting hesitated.
"If you don't say it, you will be Aijia, don't you know? There is a beauty living in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, right?" Narrowing her eyes, the corners of the Queen Mother's eyes showed a hint of ruthlessness, and she commanded the people around her: "Dare to tease me?" Your Majesty is obsessed with beauty, fifty sticks!"
"Yes!" Nanny Jing immediately responded, dragged Pingting up roughly, and was about to ask the eunuch to execute her sentence.
"Queen Mother, no!" Pingting was terrified, she quickly shook her head and denied, "The person in the room is not a beauty, but... a descendant of the Sacred Valley of Medicine!" As if she had made up her mind, she closed her eyes and made the last A few words came out.
The Empress Dowager was startled, and signaled Nanny Jing to step back, before asking, "A descendant of the Sacred Valley of Medicine?"
"Yes," for fear that the Queen Mother might not believe it, she hurriedly continued, "Your Majesty saw that this concubine came from a family of medicine, so he asked this concubine to assist..."
If the point is to stop, the empress dowager's heart was shocked.
Concubine Chun doesn't look like she's lying, if what she said is true, then...
Why do doctors from the Sacred Valley of Medicine have to stay overnight in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?Why did the emperor hide his existence so deeply?Why do you still need the help of a concubine with a little knowledge of medical science instead of an imperial physician?
Everything seems to have an explanation: the emperor is ill.
No, it's not just that I'm sick, I'm afraid it's a serious illness.The queen mother squinted her eyes and recalled carefully, yes, since Zezhou came back, something was wrong with the emperor, and he rarely went to the harem, even the most beloved concubine before; Many cases and officials.At that time, he only thought that he was in a bad mood, but he didn't investigate the reason in detail. Could it be because he knew about his illness?
But...the queen mother is not sure, the emperor has been going to court every day recently, and has not found anything wrong with him!So, is the emperor really sick or fake?Did Concubine Chun lie?
Not rushing to conclusions, the queen mother looked at the person who was still kneeling on the ground and did not get up, and said coldly: "You should know, today..."
"The concubine has never met the queen mother." Pingting immediately understood and replied in a low voice.
The queen mother nodded in satisfaction, this woman is really smart, if Wan'er was half as good as her, she wouldn't worry so much.She turned around and took Jingmao's arm, and drove away.
Pingting maintained her kneeling position until they were far away, then slowly straightened her body, looking in the direction where the Queen Mother disappeared, a look of pain crossed her brows.
In the evening, when Xiao Tianhong returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Ren Ren was holding a notebook and reading it quietly.
A big hand reached out, took the book away from his hand, and sat opposite him with a stern expression.
"You taught Concubine Chun those words." Xiao Tianhong said coldly, watching his expression.
"Your Majesty said, I don't understand." Ren Ren glanced at the half-read book rather reluctantly, and replied casually.
"If you hadn't taught her, she wouldn't have thought of saying that you are a descendant of the Sacred Valley of Medicine." Xiao Tianhong was angry when he heard the words sent by Concubine Chun just now.Descendants of the Sacred Valley of Medicine?If Ren Ren hadn't asked her to say that, she wouldn't have known that Ren Ren had this status at all.
"Oh, it's true that I asked her to say that." Ren Ren readily admitted, looked up at the angry emperor opposite, and said, "Your obvious actions are all telling the harem that you are There is a person hidden in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and sooner or later someone will ask about it. I just thought of a safe way for the pure concubine, what is wrong?"
"Ren Ren, don't pretend to be confused!" Xiao Tianhong raised his voice and shouted angrily.How can he not be angry?He couldn't be more clear about what kind of cognition will be formed when such a statement reaches the Queen Mother's ears!
Ren Ren raised the corners of his mouth and looked at him mockingly: "What's wrong with my statement? Didn't you want to pull out the power of the queen mother a long time ago? If you heard that your health is not good, she will naturally suppress her ambition. Can't stop, once you make a move, isn't it convenient for you to find an excuse to do it?"
"You know it's not the time yet, I can't touch her!" Xiao Tianhong was so stimulated by his attitude that he could hardly hold back, and slapped the table heavily.
"Then what does it matter to me?" Ren Ren turned his eyes away indifferently, ignoring his anger.
"You..." Xiao Tianhong was so angry that he couldn't speak.
"Or... do you think that the pure concubine should say that you kept me in this palace just to play with a child molester?"
The anger in his heart seemed to be let go suddenly, Xiao Tianhong retorted a little discouraged: "I am not..."
"Oh, you don't think so, but what about the harem?" Ren Ren sneered, "If the queen mother and concubines investigate carefully, my identity will definitely be exposed. What will happen next? The matter of the Palace of Heart will be spread all over Huaguo in an instant, wouldn't I become a person who flatters the master again? This crime seems to be well-deserved for me in this life."
Looking at the boy's icy face, Xiao Tianhong suddenly felt the pain in his heart was unprecedentedly severe.Scenes of the suffering Ren Ren suffered in the previous life flashed before his eyes, and the scolding he suffered echoed in his ears, which became very clear.
"So, Your Majesty, how do you choose? Do you just follow the plan, or clear up the misunderstanding?" Ren Ren's smile was shallow, and his cold eyes seemed to be covered with a thick layer of ice.
If you follow the plan, you can only uproot the Queen Mother's power without sufficient preparation; if you clarify the misunderstanding, then Ren Ren in this life will inevitably repeat the same mistakes.
Is it to protect the imperial power, or to protect the blade?
In this life, how do you choose?