Chapter 225 Dark Cloud Pearl & New Moon (Part 7)

The palace seemed much calmer on the surface. Everyone was staying peacefully and honestly. The queen's pregnancy was stable. Xiaozhuang sent two maids and two palace maids to follow the queen every day. The two maids were responsible for the queen's food, clothing, housing and transportation. They had been in the harem for a long time, and nothing could escape their eyes. The two palace maids were martial arts masters, and some collisions, falls, and accidents were all blocked by them.

Since she came across, Xiaozhuang has focused on training a group of palace maids and eunuchs with good roots, and let them practice martial arts. They practiced the more popular martial arts collected in the martial arts world before, but they were enough in this time and space, and they were enough to serve as bodyguards in the palace. She also trained a team of secret guards. After all, she had been the leader of the sticking pole department, and she was familiar with the operating mode, so she prepared this secret chess without much effort.

She asked the secret guards to investigate the movements of the ministers, and asked the palace maids and eunuchs to collect information in various places in the harem. She sent puppets to those who were difficult to approach. In short, she had full control over the former court and the harem, and her power was expanding.

The people who investigated Yan Ji last time have reported back that Yan Ji's family is a branch of the Dong E family. There is only one brother left in the family, Yidu. Because no one supports him, Yidu's official position has been promoted very slowly over the years, and he is slightly inferior to Nu Dahai. Yan Ji's children grew up in a simple family environment, and their temperaments are very simple and innocent. They have never seen the dark side and are two children with a strong sense of justice.

After listening to Su Moer's words, Xiaozhuang pondered for a moment and asked, "Dong E? What's her relationship with Concubine Xian?"

Su Moer smiled and said, "Gege, Madam Hetala is not very close to Concubine Xian. The two families have not been in contact since their grandfathers. They are closer to Concubine Ningxu. They can be considered cousins."

"Well, Concubine Ningxu is smart. You can tell her to go out with Yan Ji more and take care of her." Xiaozhuang closed her eyes and prepared to take a nap. The secret guards have observed Yan Ji. She is beautiful, intelligent, kind-hearted, and a standard good wife and mother. She looked down on the strange couple Nu Dahai and Xinyue, and felt some sympathy for Yan Ji, the original wife who had no backing to rely on. Fortunately, Yan Ji still had the means to be the mistress of the house, so she didn't have to worry about it. I think Yan Ji became so crazy in the original work because of the pressure of the imperial power!

Yan Ji was a little confused by Concubine Ning Que's show of goodwill, but Concubine Ning Que was her cousin and had a good personality, so she was still willing to get along with her. Old Madam Hetala was very happy to see her daughter-in-law get along with the second prince's biological mother. Although Concubine Ning Que was not favored, her position was very stable with the second prince. She specifically hinted to Yan Ji to speak well of Nu Dahai and Ji Yuan. Maybe one day Concubine Ning Que would help to mention it, and the emperor would remember it?

Yan Ji knew what her mother-in-law meant, but she could see that her cousin was not so comfortable in the palace. She could only rely on her duty to stay safe until now. How could she have the nerve to ask her cousin for help? It would only add to the embarrassment if she said it out loud.

Not long after, the rebellion in Jingzhou was quelled. On the day when the army returned to Beijing, the people did not see General Nu Dahai. It was said that he was injured on the battlefield and had taken a carriage back to Beijing for treatment. There was another carriage in the army, carrying the orphan of Prince Duan, but the carriage was covered tightly, and no one could see inside.

After reading the memorial from Deputy General Lu Ge, Shunzhi frowned tightly. Did Nu Dahai and Xinyuegege have a bad relationship in front of the army? Escort Nu Dahai back to Beijing? Looking at the sentence "According to the secret order of the Queen Mother" written on the memorial, Shunzhi felt that there was a fire in his heart that he had nowhere to vent.

Ever since the Empress Dowager slapped him on the day Wu Liangfu died, he never went to the Cining Palace again. He felt that the last bit of mother-son relationship between him and the Empress Dowager disappeared on that day. He resented her in his heart, but he was also afraid of her and did not dare to provoke her. Therefore, he suppressed his anger, stayed away from her, and acted as his own emperor in peace.

But the Empress Dowager clearly said that she would not interfere in politics! Now she is interfering in military affairs? Shunzhi held the memorial in his hand, and a sense of crisis rose in his heart. Although he was on guard against Xiaozhuang before, he never really thought about how the Empress Dowager would treat him, so he dared to quarrel with her. Now he was not sure. He even suspected that the Empress Dowager would abolish him when his son was older! Shunzhi stood up and walked back and forth in front of the table, thinking about when it started to become like this. Eyes! Yes! It was from that time when he wanted to make Wu Yunzhu a concubine. The Empress Dowager looked at him with heartache and anger, and then fainted. Everything changed afterwards. The Empress Dowager would not lecture him at every turn, nor would she look at him with sad and disappointed eyes. From then on, every time the Empress Dowager saw him, she was cold and indifferent, with only peace in her eyes. Shunzhi held the table with one hand and closed his eyes. Wu Yunzhu! If there was no Wu Yunzhu incident... No! He shook his head. How could he think so? He was the one who wanted to be the Imperial Concubine. What did Wu Yunzhu have to do with it? Wuyunzhu is so beautiful, how could he vent his anger on her!

He was annoyed for a while, but decided to go to Cining Palace to ask for clarification.

"Queen Mother, why did you give Lu Ge a secret decree? How do you know that Nu Dahai will have problems?"

Xiaozhuang smiled as if she had never had any unpleasant experience with him, "I accidentally learned that Nu Dahai seemed to have some disease, and occasionally he would be mentally disturbed and do some rude things. At that time, you had already ordered him to go to Jingzhou to quell the rebellion. It is not good to change orders every day, so I made this decision for the first time."

"Then the Empress Mother can also tell me about this matter, and I will make arrangements. Why do you want to interfere in military affairs without my permission?" Shunzhi stared at her, afraid of missing the expression on her face. Who knows that Xiaozhuang just smiled and shook her head, sighing: "Emperor, will you believe what I tell you? The army is about to go out, and there is no time for us mother and son to argue. If we allow Nu Dahai, a great general, to do anything outside, it will be a loss of face for the royal family."

Shunzhi wanted to say something, but the outside reported that the queen and several concubines had arrived. Upon hearing this, Xiaozhuang hurriedly called them in and ordered, "Su Ma, quickly find seats for them, especially the Queen and Concubine Xian, who are pregnant, don't get tired."

Su Moer instructed the maids to set up the seats and snacks. The Queen brought Concubine Xian, Concubine Tong, Concubine Ning Que and Concubine Shu Hui to the door to pay respects to Xiaozhuang and Shunzhi. Xiaozhuang called them up without waiting for them to squat, and said with a smile, "I called you here today to let you meet the orphans of Prince Duan. The siblings are also poor children."

Shunzhi didn't know why she called the concubines here, and he couldn't ask more in front of so many people. He turned around and saw Wu Yunzhu holding her waist, and hurriedly asked, "Wu Yunzhu, are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Wu Yunzhu smiled at him softly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Wu Yunzhu is not feeling uncomfortable, but the child moved a little." After saying that, she lowered her head shyly.

Concubine Tong saw Shunzhi's happy expression, her eyes darkened, and then turned away as if nothing had happened. Neither the Queen nor Concubine Ningxu reacted. Concubine Shuhui glared at Wu Yunzhu obscurely, thinking that she would be in trouble sooner or later!

Xiaozhuang glanced at Shunzhi and smiled meaningfully, "This baby of Concubine Xian is lively and looks naughty. This is different from the emperor. The emperor was quiet when he was a child and liked to read and practice calligraphy the most."

Wu Yunzhu's mouth froze for a moment, and she hurriedly covered it up. Shunzhi smiled when he remembered his childhood, "It's better to be naughty. He will definitely be a prince who is both civil and military."

The few of them chatted with each other. Shunzhi and Wu Yunzhu always revealed their affection unintentionally, and they didn't expect how much hatred they had brought to Wu Yunzhu.

Princess Xinyue and Prince Keshan finally arrived. Xiaozhuang looked at Xinyue. She was really a beauty. She looked noble and proud, and she looked like a princess when she stood there. Keshan was a little scared when he saw them, and he was confused.

The siblings greeted each other. Xinyue told them what happened in Jingzhou and their experience of fleeing. She couldn't help crying when she said that Prince Duan died in battle. Seeing her sister crying, Keshan was frightened and cried too.

Wuyunzhu has always been sentimental. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said with a sob: "Your Majesty, they survived the disaster, but lost their loved ones. It's really pitiful. We should take better care of them."

Shunzhi nodded. Hearing that Xinyue took her younger brother to avoid the pursuers, he was very moved. Only relatives are willing to pay for each other like this. Unlike their royal family, they only have intrigues and calculations all day long.

Xiaozhuang waited until she had almost finished crying, and said, "Now you have arrived in the capital safely, everything will be fine. Don't grieve too much, Prince Duan's spirit in heaven also hopes that you can live a good life."

Xinyue nodded, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Xinyue and Keshan were able to survive this time, all thanks to the rescue of General Tatala, but on the way to Beijing, General Tatala suddenly disappeared. Xinyue heard that he was injured and returned to Beijing first. I wonder how his injury is now? Is he healed? Xinyue wants to thank him in person!"

Shunzhi looked at her hopeful eyes and suddenly remembered the memorial from Deputy General Ruger. He paused and smiled. Seeing that Xinyue had good etiquette and rules, what did the memorial mean by "disrespect in front of the army"? He was a little annoyed that he came to the Cining Palace without summoning Ruger, and turned to look at Xiaozhuang.

Xiaozhuang didn't say anything. Su Moer stepped forward and said with a smile, "To answer Gege, General Hetala is fine, but he still needs to stay in bed for a while. Gege is not convenient to visit him."

Xinyue was anxious and couldn't help saying, "Your Majesty, Queen Mother, General Hetala is Xinyue's savior. He was seriously injured in the battle of Jingzhou this time. If I don't visit him, Xinyue will feel uneasy..."

Xiaozhuang waved her hand and smiled, "Xinyue, I know you are a good child who knows how to repay kindness, but the imperial physician told Nu Dahai to stay in bed. If you go, he will have to pay you respects in the outer hall, which will make him too tired to recover properly."

Xinyue waved her hands again and again, "He is Xinyue's savior, how can Xinyue let him pay you respects? Xinyue can just go to see him herself, no need to pay respects!"

Author has something to say: Thank you Lanser for the mines, mua mua! (*?￣)(￣▽￣*)ゞ[kiss]