Minglan is reborn, this time with no regrets!

On this day, Shen Congying came to the Empress Dowager's palace to pay his respects.

After some pleasantries, Shen Congying was about to leave. The Empress Dowager said with a smile, "Why are you leaving after just a few words? Do you think I'm too noisy?"

Shen Congying said hurriedly, "I dare not. The Madam is well-informed and I benefit a lot from talking with her every time. But today I also invited my sister and Madam Gu to talk with me, and I am afraid they have already arrived by now."

The Queen Mother said in surprise: "Oh? That's perfect. Call them all to Baoci Palace and let's talk together. Wouldn't it be lively?" In fact, Internal Official Zhu had already inquired for good news for her. Today was the day when the Queen's youngest sister, Xiao Shen, returned to the palace to express her gratitude for the marriage. Minglan was also invited to accompany her.

Shen Congying looked embarrassed. The Queen Mother saw this and sighed, "Sure enough, you still don't want to talk to me, an old woman."

Shen Congying: "Madam, please don't say that. I am just afraid that my sister's words and deeds will make you unhappy again." Little Shen was used to being wild in Yuzhou. Although she was a noble lady, she acted like a wild girl. Since she followed Shen Congying into the palace, she was often scolded by the empress dowager. So, when the emperor proposed that she marry General Zheng from the old minister Zheng's family, she agreed without much hesitation - as long as she could stay away from the empress dowager, she would marry anyone!

The Queen Mother said with a warm face: "Well, Miss Shen is just young and inexperienced. I am willing to say that she is doing it for her own good. Why does she hate me?"

Shen Congying: "No, no! She..."

The Queen Mother interrupted her: "Since there is none, call them over."

Without waiting for Shen Congying to say anything else, Zhu Neiguan bowed and answered "yes" and went out to invite people.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the resentful little Shen and the calm and composed Minglan sat on the empress dowager's guest seat.

The Queen Mother got straight to the point, pointing to the two palace maids standing beside her and said, "These two girls grew up by my side, and they are getting old. I was thinking of letting them serve the Emperor and stay in the palace, so that they can come and see me often."

The Queen said gently: "Your Highness is old now, I am afraid that you will waste such a beautiful youth. Besides, your children are grown up now..."

The Queen Mother interrupted her again and said with a smile, "Oh, Queen, don't worry, they are both obedient and will not compete for my favor. I just want them to stay in the palace so that they can come and talk to me often."

The Queen was interrupted twice without getting angry, and continued to speak warmly: "The people of the Madam are naturally obedient and submissive. However, the Emperor has recently been dismissing palace servants and reducing expenses for the sake of the national treasury. Now, I am afraid that I can't support so many concubines."

The empress dowager's smile disappeared, she snorted softly and said, "You have already brought up the emperor, what else can I say? Then let them do what they want... You and the emperor will be blamed for laying off people like this. People will say that when the new emperor ascended the throne, he supported his own people, and the remaining funds from laying off the old ones were given to these upstarts." As she spoke, she looked at the two "upstarts" in the guest seats with flickering eyes.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she pointed at Xiao Shen and said, "Why not take the one from General Zheng's family, the one from the prince's family, and," she pointed at Minglan, "the one from General Gu's family, you can take them there!"

On the third day of Xiao Shen's wedding, the Empress Dowager wanted to send a concubine to her and her husband's house. She was so shocked that she couldn't speak clearly: "No... I can't do that, Empress Dowager, you are surrounded by precious people, you must find a good marriage for them, how can you let us take her away at will, it's too nameless..."

The Queen Mother had been prepared for these excuses and said with a smile, "What's so precious about them? They are just maids in the palace. I just want to find a good mistress for them so that they can live a better life." She looked at the Queen, "There are still many people in my palace who need to be dismissed. They have been with me for so many years. Even if they have no merits, they have worked hard. You two said you want to lay off people, but I won't really let them go and marry anyone, right? They have been raised by me for so many years, and I have feelings for them!"

In fact, she was not just thinking about the future of these people. These palace maids were all educated in the imperial palace. Logically, they were all candidates for the emperor's concubines. Each of them was a good candidate with both good looks and manners. The key was that they had no foundation. Putting these people in the homes of the new nobles could, on the one hand, alienate the relationship between the couples, and on the other hand, serve as her eyes and ears, and help her inquire about the movements of these new nobles and powerful officials.

The Queen and Minglan both understood the Queen Mother's plan. Only Little Shen was worried about being favored by the concubines and was silent for a while.

The Queen Mother looked at everyone with satisfaction. Suddenly, she pointed at Minglan and said, "Madam Gu Hou, I heard that Erlang's yard is still empty, right? Why don't you take a few more away? That way, Gu Hou will have face too!"

Minglan thought, "After a new life, the Empress Dowager still only has these few tricks. No wonder she can't win against the emperor and his son." With a smile on her face, she stood up, bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager, and said, "Please allow me to report to you, Empress Dowager. I think it's such a coincidence. My family also has several weddings to be held. I'm afraid that Eunuch Yue will be too busy these days."

Shen Congying has always known that Minglan has many ways of thinking. After hearing these words, he realized that the little girl had come up with another clever idea. He couldn't help but feel secretly happy in his heart, and a look of curiosity appeared on his face.

The Queen Mother was really curious. According to her original plan, these people should have been forced to smile and accept people into the palace, but she didn't expect Sheng Minglan to be so happy.

"What kind of happy event is going to be held in your family?" asked the Queen Mother.

Minglan: "My husband told me a while ago that since the army is stationed in the northern border, it would be best to let the soldiers bring their families to stabilize the army's morale. However, many young soldiers in the army have not yet married, but they have come to him for help. My husband asked me to find some maids who are ready to marry at home, so that both sides can look at each other. If they like each other and are willing, they can get married immediately. I think it's a coincidence that my husband and the empress have the same idea!"

When Shen Congying heard Minglan mention "stationing troops", he instantly knew what she was up to, and thought to himself, "She is worthy of being my good niece!" It is said that marriage requires a good match. Although these people are maids, they were raised by the empress dowager. Marrying them to soldiers in the army is like marrying the daughter of the prime minister to an ordinary person. Wouldn't it be a blow to her face as the empress dowager?

But she looked calm, just stealing glances at the Queen Mother's expression while listening.

Sure enough, when the Queen Mother heard that Minglan was going to marry her maid to a soldier, she could no longer smile.

Little Shen didn't think so much. After hearing this, she felt that the problem was solved and there was no need for her husband to take a concubine. So she stood up and said with a smile, "Second brother really has a good idea!" When she was in Yuzhou, she called Gu Tingye "Second Brother".

Shen Congying gently stopped him, "How dare you! Stop talking nonsense. How can a maidservant of the empress dowager be so humble as to be with a soldier?"

The Queen Mother's displeasure was pointed out by the Queen, and she said with a gloomy face: "Yes. They are all pampered in the palace, and I'm afraid they can't stand the hardships of the wind and sand in the borderland." At this moment, she felt extremely disgusted with Minglan and really didn't want to see her.

However, Minglan continued, "I think there should be many young officers in the army. If you can gain fame and honor, the Queen Mother may even have a few more wives."

Shen Congying felt relieved when he heard this. Minglan was doing the hard part first and then the easy part. She first said something big to shock the Empress Dowager, and then proposed the real solution. Compared with marrying a soldier without a rank or title, marrying a general with a bright future was naturally more acceptable. Especially when she threw out the four words "Lady of Imperial Concubine", she immediately raised the future of these people to a new height.

The Queen Mother stared at her.

Minglan did not raise her head and finished the last sentence softly: "In my humble opinion, it is better than being someone's concubine."

This sentence was actually said to the several palace maids standing nearby - compared with the future of being a noble lady, do you want to be a servant for the empress dowager for the rest of your life?

Sure enough, the expression of the palace maid beside her changed slightly - if she could hold her head high and be the principal wife, who would be willing to be a concubine for the rest of her life?

Shen Congying was overjoyed! Minglan was trying to alienate her and these palace maids in front of the Empress Dowager!

The Queen Mother looked at Minglan in great surprise, and was horrified: [A little concubine's daughter actually has such a clever plan! ]

Shen Congying saw that the empress dowager seemed to be thinking about something, and was afraid that she would come up with something else, so she laughed and said, "Now that you mention it, it reminds me that when the previous emperor passed away, the palace was going to release some people. Now that we have encountered such an opportunity, it is better to do it this way instead of letting them all go. Isn't it the best of both worlds? Madam, what do you think?"

The Queen Mother's plan to insert a concubine completely failed. She said unhappily, "You have already brought up the late emperor. What else can I say? Since Madam Gu proposed this idea," she looked at Minglan coldly, "you can do it."

She was really angry that Minglan had ruined her plan, so she planned to let Minglan arrange the marriages of dozens or even hundreds of people by herself - Aren't you capable? Then let you do as much as you want! I'll see if you're not exhausted to death!

Minglan smiled and bowed: "I obey your order."

Of course she had to do it herself, but there were many ways to do it. Besides, she had so many people under her, such as Danju and Xiaotao, so she didn't think it was a difficult task.

A group of people watched the Queen Mother leave the main hall. Minglan turned around and met Shen Congying's smiling eyes: "My good niece, you have done a great deed again!"