The rebirth of a concubine: Gong Du will become the Queen Mother

In the blink of an eye, it’s the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the New Year approaches, even Miyagi, which has always been quiet and solemn, has a more festive atmosphere.

After the morning court that day, not long after Lu Zhaolin returned to Ganquan Palace, an internal prison officer came to report that it was the Queen who wanted to see him.

Hearing this, Lu Zhaolin frowned and said, "Please come in."

Yao Xingde went out and led the queen into the palace.

After the queen entered the palace, a fan was waiting for her to take off her cloak.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"Queen, please arise and offer me a seat."

The queen was sitting on the left side of his head, and the little eunuch serving in the palace lowered his head and served tea.

Lu Zhaolin asked: "But something happened."

The queen turned slightly sideways and replied: "I am here today to make arrangements for the New Year."

Lu Zhaolin was a little puzzled. These matters were within the Queen's authority, and there was no need to come to Ganquan Palace for instructions.

He said: "Just follow the rules of previous years. You have taken care of these things very well in previous years."

The Queen looked at his expression and slowly explained her dilemma: "On New Year's Eve, as well as the first day of the first lunar month, it is customary to go to the two empress dowagers' palaces to say goodbye. But now, at Shou'an Palace - "

Hearing her mention Shou'an Palace, Lu Zhaolin frowned and said, "The Queen Mother is not recovering from her old illness, so it's best not to be disturbed. I only salute the Queen Mother outside Shou'an Palace, and that's all. "

Hearing this, the Queen nodded in agreement.

Then, he added: "There is one more thing. I want to ask for His Majesty's will."

"What's the matter?"

There was a gentle smile on the queen's face: "Many sisters in the palace have not been promoted to the throne for many years. I am secretly thinking about whether I should take advantage of the good days of the New Year to seal the harem and promote them to the throne. share?"

Lu Zhaolin rested his right elbow on the imperial desk and put his slender index finger on his cheekbone. After pondering for a moment, he asked her: "Do you already have a charter in your heart?"

The queen gently put down the tea cup in her hand and said, "I do have some plans in mind."

"Tell me."

"With the exception of Zhang Baolin, all those below the rank of beauty who entered the palace before this year, I think, will be promoted to a higher level."

These low-ranking concubines could not reach the edge of the throne even if they were promoted one level higher.

"Zhang Baolin?" Lu Zhaolin couldn't remember who this was.

The queen said: "She was originally involved in the incident where Zhen Meiren was frightened, and was demoted to Baolin."

Lu Zhaolin nodded: "Yes."

The queen added: "Meimei Nian and Meiren Xue have been serving His Majesty since they were in the mansion. I thought, why not bring them up as concubines? Also move their residence?"

Lu Zhaolin nodded in agreement, and added: "Feng Meiren granted me the title of Liang."

The queen's smile remained unchanged: "Your Majesty has thought carefully."

It seems that it was the pipa song played at the family banquet of Feng Meiren's Wanshou Festival, which made His Majesty have some impression of her. It doesn't matter, it's just an extra account.

She continued: "Sister Ning Concubine, she has four princes under her knees and has not been promoted to the throne for two or three years. I am thinking, why not be promoted to the position of noble concubine?"

There were also Concubine Qi and Concubine Li on the concubine throne, but they had offended Lu Zhaolin before and were demoted, so the Queen didn't even mention them.

Lu Zhaolin said: "Yes."

The queen continued: "Sister Fang Zhaorong has three princes under her knees, and none of them have been promoted to the throne in recent years. Do you think she will be promoted to the concubine?"

Lu Zhaolin moved his right hand to the table and tapped it rhythmically. After a moment, he heard him say: "Fang Zhaorong is promoted to Fang Fei, and Yu Zhaoyi is promoted to Yu Fei."

The queen's heart suffocated, and she was secretly glad that Yu Zhaoyi was a bad-tempered person, and she couldn't hold on even after being hit a little bit. It’s better to just be a concubine than to be a concubine like Jiang Shiying.

However, the next moment, Lu Zhaolin said: "Chun Zhaoyuan is promoted to Chun Zhaoyi."

The Queen was surprised and said: "Your Majesty, it's only been less than a month since Chun Zhaoyuan was promoted to Zhaoyuan! She has nothing to do, so she may not be able to convince the public if she is promoted to the head of the Nine Concubines."

Lu Zhaolin raised his eyebrows: "Serve the crowd? Which crowd do you serve?"

The queen choked, and then heard Lu Zhaolin say: "If she hadn't had no career yet, and she had just been promoted to Zhaoyuan, I would have directly promoted her to the second-grade concubine this time."

The queen secretly thought, could it be that your majesty promoted Yu Zhaoyi to the title of jade concubine not because of old feelings, but because he wanted her to give up her position as the head of the nine concubines to Jiang Shiying?

At this time, I heard Lu Zhaolin say: "Concubine Jing is promoted to Concubine Shu."

The queen secretly warned that Jiang Shiying was a formidable enemy, but Concubine Jing should not be underestimated. Under her knees, there is also the eldest prince.

But she could only accept it. After all, Concubine Jing had a son, and she had been in the concubine position for many years. She was dignified and polite, gentle and kind, so it was reasonable to be promoted to the fourth concubine.

Then I heard Lu Zhaolin say: "The seal will be sealed the day after tomorrow, so we might as well draft the decree today before the seal is sealed, and let it be sent out tomorrow."

These words were instructions to Yao Xingde.

The queen could advise on the promotion of concubines to the throne, but the decree could only be issued from Ganquan Palace.

After the queen finished speaking, she was about to leave, and then she heard Lu Zhaolin say: "By the way, on the 19th, I will leave for the hot spring palace to stay for a few days. During those few days, Chun Zhaoyi would like to say hello, and I will pay her respects on her behalf. You ask for leave."

The decree of Jin Feng will be issued tomorrow, and Lu Zhaolin has already addressed Chun Zhaoyi today.

But this was nothing. What struck the queen's heart even more was that when the emperor went to the hot spring palace, he did not bring himself as the queen, but only Jiang Shiying and Zhaoyi.

He also asked her for leave in person, saying it was a leave. Does she, the queen, have the right to deny it?

The queen said: "On the 23rd, it is the Little New Year, and there will be sacrifices to the kitchen stove in the palace. If you are in Zhuangzi, I'm afraid it will be a lot of inconvenience."

Lu Zhaolin said: "I will be back one day early."

After saying that, he sent her out.

Jiang Shiying didn't know yet that she would become Zhaoyi within a few days of taking the position of Zhaoyuan.

At this time, she was accompanying the Queen Mother Dou Quer in Shoukang Palace.

After chatting and joking for a while, the Queen Mother suddenly said: "I almost forgot about the real thing."

Jiang Shiying was surprised and didn't know what the Queen Mother was talking about.

Then she said: "Qingshan, go and get the birthday gift prepared by the Ai family for Ah Ying."

Qingshan responded with a smile and then retreated.

Jiang Shiying said: "Thank you very much, Queen Mother, but my birthday is still three days away."

The Queen Mother smiled and said: "The Ai family knows, but in three days, I am afraid that you will not be in the palace, so I simply gave the things to you in advance."

Jiang Shiying was puzzled: "Why isn't Ah Ying in the palace three days later?"

The Queen Mother smiled and shook her head: "I can't tell you this from the Ai family."

In the afternoon of that day, after Jiang Shiying returned to Jingyang Palace, she found out from A Yuan what was going on.

"Someone came from the Imperial Palace and asked the servants to prepare things for you. Your Majesty will take you to the Hot Spring Palace on the 19th and stay there until the 22nd before returning."

When speaking, Yuan's voice was low.

The royal family also specifically asked them to hide Jiang Shiying's things when preparing things. His Majesty wanted to give their queen a surprise.

Of course, A Yuan couldn't hide it, but he still reminded him in a low voice: "The emperor asked the slaves to keep it a secret, so just pretend you don't know about it."

Jiang Shiying nodded: "Don't worry, I didn't hear anything just now. I won't betray you."

A Yuan said: "Look, my servant, your Majesty has really taken you to heart recently."

Hearing this, Jiang Shiying only said: "It's not enough. It's better to just take me into your heart than to take me into your heart."

As the old saying goes, people don't talk about it.

They had just talked about Lu Zhaolin when they heard movement outside the door. Listening to that voice, it was most likely Lu Zhaolin who came with someone.

Fortunately, they all lowered their voices when they spoke. Let alone outside the door, people in the same room can't hear it even if they stand far away.

Lu Zhaolin entered the door and took off his cloak, but did not go inside.

Jiang Shiying was about to run towards him, but he stopped her and said, "Don't come here quickly. I just came in from outside and the coldness on my body has not dissipated yet."

Jiang Shiying thought about what A Yuan had just said, her eyebrows were crescent, and she took a hand stove from the side. She still hid in his arms and said, "I have a hand stove to keep me warm here, so I won't be afraid of that." I’m feeling cold.”

At the same time, in the west side hall of Jingyang Palace.

Zhang Baolin was sitting on the kang in the Nuan Pavilion, embroidering with needle and thread in his hand.

Hearing the sound of the door opening and closing, she asked without raising her head: "Your Majesty went to the main hall again?"

The person who entered the door was her palace maid Fuliu. After hearing this, Fuliu first said: "The young master is smart."

Then, I heard her angrily: "We all live in Jingyang Palace. Chun Zhaoyuan can see His Majesty every day, but the little master's place is deserted, and Chun Zhaoyuan is not seen supporting the little master."

Zhang Baolin glared at her and said, "If you think my place is deserted, feel free to find that tall branch to climb on, and I won't stop you."

Fuliu hurriedly said: "I have no intention of doing this. I just feel sorry for my little master."

Zhang Baolin glanced at her and said nothing.