Chapter 125: Concubine's Successor Strategy
Yun Fenghuang's doubts were also raised at Luqin Terrace at this moment. Luo Yi, the imperial concubine's valet, brewed a cup of warm red date tea, and frowned slightly: "Is this too coincidental? The empress dowager is always shrewd, Your Majesty He is also wise and martial, so I am afraid that he will become suspicious."
"It was because of coincidence that the Empress Dowager and His Majesty disagreed on the marriage of Her Royal Highness Princess Jinyun, so everyone believed that it was done by Ji." Concubine Zheng took a sip of the tea and said lightly, "After all, yesterday Only one night, His Majesty told Mao Zhaoyi that the marriage between Her Royal Highness Princess Jinyun and Ji’s son was a rumor! If there are no accidents in the palace to attract attention, it would be weird!”
He smiled again, "And... In the past, Concubine Shu's miscarriage, Yue Jieyu's miscarriage, and even my palace's miscarriage not long ago, do you think that the loving mother, the Empress Dowager, or Your Majesty have never doubted the so-called truth that came out in the end? , Is it the truth? This time it's about the same."
"It's just that in the past, it was because of the power of the Ji family that it wasn't easy to get to the bottom of it. This time, it's right in the arms of the loving mother, the Empress Dowager, and His Majesty, so I don't plan to get to the bottom of it."
"Anyway, those two women don't have a good opinion of Ji Shi. They pour dirty water on Ji Shi's head. They are happy to see the result. They will be fine if they don't help. How can they take the initiative to clean up Ji Shi's grievances?"
"Unfortunately, whether it's Your Majesty or the loving mother Empress Dowager, it's impossible to really turn against Mrs. Ji now." Luo Yi was relieved and a little annoyed, "Our little prince's blood debt, I don't know when we can get it back !"
Concubine Zheng's eyes darkened slightly when she heard the words, and she immediately returned to normal, and said calmly: "With the current situation in the palace, even if the child is born, I am afraid that I will have to worry about it every moment... After all, this mother and concubine in this palace is incompetent and cannot protect him. .”
She lowered her eyes, covered her emotions, and sighed, "Besides, I don't know if Mrs. Ji did this. I just think that with my uncle's contacts in the palace, I can hide it from us and plot against me." However, I have been confused so far, and there is no other person except Ji. But the world is so big, there are always some people and things that we never know. Maybe, the culprit is not Ji, but But it was ignored by this Palace?"
"Is it possible that it's Mao Zhaoyi?" Luo Yi couldn't help but said, "Maidservant looks at that Mao Zhaoyi as disgusting. The lady didn't say anything, she started to question the lady! I don't want to I think if it wasn't for the empress, she..."
The latter words were related to the death of Concubine Shu, even though there were only two masters and servants in the room at the moment, she still cautiously did not say anything, and just snorted coldly, "The thing that crosses the river and demolishes the bridge, the empress is simply flattering her for nothing!"
"You have always been smart, why are you confused today?" The imperial concubine was not angry, she smiled calmly, and said, "Mao Zhaoyi did that on purpose, she may not have suspected that Bengong wanted to harm her, but you think, Bengong these She is in confinement, and Zhao Chenggui doesn't take care of her personally. Who knows if someone will reach in and use my territory to frame her? It's good that she has this vigilance, otherwise, here Wouldn't it be a waste of all my original thoughts if I can't get to the palace?"
In the final analysis, Yun Fenghuang's background prevented Concubine Zheng from being hostile - if the empress and concubine Shu were so difficult and vigilant, the concubine would definitely not be so relaxed.
But what about Yunfenghuang, Xie's lintel is placed there, Concubine Zheng thinks that this ally should be smarter.
After all, her family background is no longer good, and no matter how smart she is, what qualifications does she have to make her a dignified concubine pay her respects and take the initiative to show her favor?
It won't come in handy at critical moments in the future!
Anyway, this Zhaoyi's natal family is not good, and neither can threaten the imperial concubine's plan.
Well, the imperial concubine's plan is to take the second place.
Since the emperor's personal administration, although Empress Ji is still in the middle palace, the previous harem knew it well: after the emperor's status was completely stabilized, there was basically no accident that Empress Ji would die or be abolished.
At the beginning of Zheng Feng's case, the reason why the Zheng family was docile and cooperative was because they wanted to wait for the Ji family to collapse and push the noble concubine to be their successor—so they must not make the emperor hate the Zheng family.
For this reason, Concubine Zheng, who was not considered strong in the palace, now needs to be more virtuous and virtuous.
After all, Emperor Chunjia didn't have much affection for the noble concubine, if the noble concubine made him dislike it, it would be basically impossible for the Zheng family to expect a Queen Zheng.
"Fortunately, I formed an alliance with Mao Zhaoyi in advance." The imperial concubine thought faintly, "This Zhaoyi is young after all, impulsive and aggressive... If there is anything to eradicate in the future, I will start , lead her into the arena, and then play the side drums for her."
In this way, she deceived people she didn't like, but still maintained a dignified, virtuous and non-troublesome image, no matter how good it is.
Thinking of this, the imperial concubine told Luo Yi: "The alliance between my palace and Mao Zhaoyi must not be spread!"
Luo Yi quickly nodded: "Your Majesty, don't worry, although the maid feels that Mao Zhaoyi's actions today are too much, she is not ignorant of the seriousness."
"Why are you so ignorant?" At the same moment, in the Xianzhi Pavilion, Empress Dowager Ji had a gloomy expression, berating the queen, "Let you find something to cover up the rumors about Jinyun and Minggan, how can you treat me at this time?" That lowly servant girl of the Zhao family did it? Now it’s all right, there is no need to investigate, the Yuan family and the emperor will also suspect our family! Aren’t you causing trouble for the family! "
Empress Ji had a wry smile and helplessness: "Mother, this matter...has nothing to do with my wife."
"It's okay?" Empress Dowager Ji was taken aback.
Hearing the empress carefully choose her words, she said: "Daughter-in-law is coming here now, and I want to ask my mother if the people arranged by my mother at Luqin Terrace have acted rashly on their own initiative!"
Empress Dowager Ji shook her head: "Impossible! Zheng Gu was born in the eunuch's palace. It's not easy for the family to intervene too much. However, they have left two eyes and ears inside to pass on news occasionally, and they have no access to the mission of adding things to Zhao's anti-fetal medicine. Even if they want to mess around, they have no chance!"
"Then maybe we've been tricked!" Empress Ji frowned and said, "Do you still remember that before we escaped the summer, the daughter-in-law told you in private that Zhao Chenggui was not the only one who was pregnant in Yuzhen Palace? In fact, it wasn't just Yuzhen Palace. , and Hu Fengyi of Yijia Palace, also suspected to be pregnant. It's just that Wei Jieyu, the lord of Yijia Palace, has not entered the palace for a long time and is still young, and the Hu family deliberately concealed it for various reasons, so they never found out ..."
Before Empress Dowager Ji asked her to come up with something to divert everyone's discussion about Princess Jinyun's marriage. What she thought of was to spread the news that the two concubines were pregnant.
One is to change the topic; the other is to show the results of the Empress Dowager Ji's special trip to Shanyuan Temple to pray for blessings, and to ease the relationship between the Ji family and the emperor.
It turned out that she planned to arrange someone to announce the good news this morning, but something went wrong at the Luqin Terrace last night.
Nowadays, rumors are spreading all over the palace, and the emperor's confidant, Yi Guogong, even went to the palace gate to ask for an audience. He justly stated that the safety of the emperor's heirs should not be neglected, no matter how humble the biological mother is, if the biological father is the emperor, then he must be golden and respectful Gui, if the ambiguity continues over and over again, does the emperor want an heir? !
Should the throne of the Gongxiang Clan be passed on? ?
Is there anyone else who will take care of the safety of the imperial court and Li Shu? !
Just listening to these three consecutive questions, you can know how excited this important minister of the three dynasties is now. He said so, no matter what other people think, it is impossible to remain indifferent. Just when the Queen came over, I received news that Zheng Gu, Cui Wan, Regent, and others all handed over forms one after another, expressing that they could not let the person who murdered the emperor's heir go, no matter who they were, no matter what kind of crimes they had. Credit, no matter... Anyway, this time, it must not be left alone!
These few people took the lead in saying this, but what kind of bloody storm will follow...
The sad thing is, if there is no accident, this bloody storm will come towards the Ji family...
Empress Ji pondered and said: "It is said that after Zheng's miscarriage, even if he is not very warm to Zhao Chenggui, he should not take risks with Zhao Chenggui's unborn children... After all, her Majesty Yanlan Palace has never been there, and there is no palace. If the concubine is pregnant, if Zhao Chenggui's child has any mishaps, there will be no second similar compensation!"
Because Concubine Zheng was named by Empress Dowager Yuan because she didn't take good care of Zhao Chenggui, at that time, she didn't care about it because of her miscarriage. But if Zhao Chenggui fails to give birth, then she will not be given a concubine, and even Yanlan's concubine will be removed if she is pregnant, it is only natural.
"Then what if Zhao Chenggui's pregnancy is not good?" Empress Dowager Ji raised her eyebrows and snorted, "Ms. Zheng is willing to use her own pregnancy to frame Concubine Shu—otherwise, with her carelessness, how could she be with her?" Concubine Shu bumped into—how could she be reluctant to part with Zhao Chenggui?"
"...That's true." Empress Ji thought rightly, and said, "In fact, Mao Zhaoyi is also very suspicious. Although she preemptively said that she suspected that the imperial concubine wanted to frame her, this concubine's conduct is quite bad, and it may not be that the thief shouted and caught the thief and beat her up." I can't do it. It's just that she hasn't been in the palace for long, so she may not be able to reach the imperial concubine."
Empress Dowager Ji said: "But she is Concubine Shu's clan sister, don't care if Concubine Shu really treats her as a younger sister, Concubine Shu's own younger sister is under her control. Do you think she will let go of the arrangements made by Concubine Shu during her lifetime? Or, when Ai's family was in Shanyuanguan, they heard that his biological mother, the Jiang family, met Yi Guogong in Lechun Hall two days ago, and they had a very happy conversation."
She smiled slightly, "That old man Yunzhao! I don't know what ecstasy drug His Majesty Emperor Shenzong gave him. In short, his mind is full of devotion to Xiaozong and Jinshang before he died... Back then that idiot Yuan Lianniang murdered Concubine Shu He can act as if nothing had happened, and now that there is no evidence that his prostitute was forced to death by Mao Zhaoyi, he can naturally continue to pretend to be confused... and even continue to support Mao Zhaoyi, it is not impossible."
"After all, Mao Zhaoyi's natal family has a very deep foundation in the north, and today I am not on the same page with the Prince Regent!"
Of course, in the eyes of the aunt and nephew, there are definitely more than these two suspects: Mrs. Cui was demoted just before, who knew that the silence during this period of time was not doing something? Mrs. Yaoning is backed by the Regent, and she is currently the third concubine in the harem. Once the matter of Luqin Terrace is finalized, the instigator is the Ji family. When the time comes to push the regent, it may be that Empress Ji is abolished. Concubine Zheng took the blame and grounded her feet, and Mrs. Yaoning became the new empress?
In addition, the suspect who worried them most was Emperor Chunjia.
That's right, the emperor is the biological father of Zhao Chenggui's unborn child, but so what?
In this world, there are certainly fathers who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their children, and there are also parents who think that children can be reborn if their children are gone. The emperor came to the throne with his hair tied up. He was only twenty-three this year, and he was far from the age when he was looking forward to his son. How could he be expected to be a majestic son of heaven and regard his child as more important than his own life?
Besides, there is another in Qingmei's stomach, and there is also Yu Wan who is pregnant in Lanzhou Yeyu Pavilion, compared to that, what is Zhao Chenggui's pregnancy?
When Concubine Zheng had a miscarriage, the emperor didn't feel much distressed.
If giving up a child who is still a fetus can be exchanged for political benefits or initiative, Ji's aunt and nephew believe that the emperor will not hesitate at all!
"...Anyway, let's be more cautious in the future." Finally, the Empress Dowager Ji was silent for a long time, and said in a low voice, "The emperor has a deep grudge against our Ji family. It can be seen from the Jinyun matter that he is now not even on the surface. I don’t even want to give any face.”
Empress Ji bowed her head and said yes.
The queen mother said again: "By the way, isn't the emperor planning to open Enke next year to celebrate Yuan's birthday? From now on, pay attention to those outstanding scholars. They must have both talent and appearance, good conduct, and a simple family population." , the kind with a good family reputation. As for the family background, it doesn't have to be too prominent."
"Does the queen mother want to?"
The queen mother was silent for a while, but still told her: "Minghui is getting older, it's time to find a son-in-law."
Empress Ji was slightly stunned: "But... the family background is not very prominent, will Ming Hui be wronged too much?"
Although Princess Minghui's appearance is hard to describe in a single word, Xiaozong's status as the only heir of the heir meant that her marriage was destined to be the best among the daughters of the imperial court.
It’s fine for a new scholar from a less prominent background to match Jinyun Penglai Kunze, but if he matches Minghui, if it wasn’t for the empress dowager Ji’s birth mother, everyone would feel that they have treated Princess Minghui badly!
Empress Ji knows how important her mother-in-law and aunt regards Princess Minghui. When the Ji family was in power, although she looked clean, she felt that no one in the world was worthy of her daughter; now that the Ji family has declined, but Princess Minghui's surname is not Ji, but her surname is Gongxiang.
The rise of the emperor also means that the princess's backing has become more stable... Empress Dowager Ji didn't need to be low-key to lower the consort's standards for Princess Minghui just because the emperor would ruin Princess Jinyun's face in her marriage.
Because Emperor Chunjia was in charge, he would definitely find a perfect husband for Princess Minghui, so as not to be poked in the back and say that he inherited Xiaozong's throne, but he couldn't even tolerate his only daughter.
Based on the queen's understanding of Chunjia, this person is used to playing tricks, and he will never ruin the good reputation he has built up over the years for the sake of a princess's marriage.
"According to what the Ai family said." But the Empress Dowager Ji just sighed deeply, and said a little tiredly, "The Ai family is Minghui's biological mother, so could it be possible to harm her?!"