Red Mansion Rebirth: Ghost Phoenix

The next morning, Chen Duo came to ask to see Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng had just finished her meal and was about to pay her respects to the Queen when she heard Chen Duo coming and was a little surprised.

"what's up?"

"The emperor asked me to ask the imperial concubine how to rectify the Jia family. The emperor feels a little aggrieved."

There was no one else around, so Chen Duo spoke his mind.

Wang Xifeng sighed: "Why do you think he is so anxious?"

“Prince Su will be returning to Beijing soon.

“Although the Concubine Dowager has passed away, the Queen Mother and the Emperor may not be able to return in time.

"But seeing that the situation is about to become chaotic again, according to the order of the Supreme Lord, the Emperor can only watch and wait, which is really difficult for him."

Chen Duo explained in a low voice.

Wang Xifeng thought for a moment and said, “Although there are many illegal things happening in the Jia family, they are all minor crimes that can be blamed on the servants.

"There is only one case. You can check it out."

He waved to Chen Duo and whispered something in his ear.

Chen Duo looked at her in surprise: "Is this true?"

"I don't know either, I just think there might be a connection. You can check it out. If there is, then we can proceed from this direction."

Wang Xifeng smiled.

Chen Duo bowed excitedly and ran away.

Wang Xifeng thought about it, then got up and went to Queen Mo.

Because two days ago, when He Ke came back to the palace to pay his respects to Empress Mo, Empress Mo asked Aunt Han to bring He Ke a box of newly made velvet flowers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and said affectionately:

"I heard that the materials are simple, but the design is novel. You can play with it, or give it to others as a gift or as a reward.

"There are plenty in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If you like them, just ask your mother to send someone to get them!"

He Ke immediately expressed his love for it and asked for two boxes without hesitation: "Take them back to Aunt Yongning and Sister Lin!"

The true reason for Kale's death was half-revealed by Penglai Palace and was also passed on to Yinyu Palace.

Wang Xifeng appreciated Empress Mo's kindness and remained polite and respectful to her.

Today I have come to inform you "in time" of the death of Concubine Zhen.

"Chen Duo just came to tell me that I should start preparing for the concubine's funeral. I was shocked!" Wang Xifeng patted her chest with lingering fear.

Queen Mo sighed and shook her head, "What's going on this year? People young and old are walking around the palace all the time."

Wang Xifeng also sighed: "But what can I say! In the past, I didn't take care of these things, especially when I was at home. I would only go to the funerals of important elders of close relatives and friends.

"Now I am in charge of the palace affairs. Everyone inside and outside the palace has to go through my hands before they can leave. I feel really uncomfortable after hearing this.

"When the Queen was in charge of Prince Cheng's Palace, I'm afraid this kind of thing happened every day, right?!

"It was really hard for you! You were young at that time and lived outside the palace. You had to go to every family's affairs in person, and you might even have to stay overnight..."

Queen Mo thought about it and realized that this was indeed the truth. She felt relieved and sighed:

"Never mind. Anyway, there's a ready-made example right there, so just follow it.

"You draft the rules, and after the emperor and I have polished them, send them to the Empress Dowager for her review, so that we can get the job done."

Wang Xifeng agreed respectfully. She also mentioned the renovation of Dajiao Temple and the construction of a temple nearby:

"Although His Majesty hasn't mentioned it yet, with the huge scene yesterday, I'm afraid this matter is bound to happen.

"Your Highness, which nunnery do you think would be a good place to ask the abbot to come and take a look?"

Empress Mo's heart was slightly moved, and she looked at Wang Xifeng with a little more favor, and said with a smile: "You want to be ahead in everything."

"What kind of thinking is this? I guess people outside have already started to plot against the emperor's private treasury! We can't let the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Internal Affairs quarrel over this matter!"

Wang Xifeng grumbled, "All the good things in the emperor's storehouse will belong to the empress, us sisters, Prince Duan, and He Ke in the future!

"I won't accept that I let those people take all the money!"

Queen Mo laughed: "Stop talking nonsense!"

"Oh, yes, and Prince Su will be back in Beijing soon." Wang Xifeng leaned over, blinking her eyes excitedly, "I wonder what his expression will be when he comes back and sees the current situation in his backyard!"

Queen Mo burst out laughing, and couldn't help spitting on the ground: "You are just watching the fun and making trouble! Isn't this the face of the royal family?"

"He doesn't even take his own face seriously, so why should I cover his face?! He deserves it!"

Wang Xifeng stiffened her neck and gloated, "Let him be greedy and marry a whole yard of beauties!

"My Lady, let me tell you, I heard that Prince Su has at least twenty concubines in his courtyard!

“Moreover, there are very few people who are born into common families, are slaves, or are actors in brothels. There are only two or three of them!

“The rest are all daughters of officials!

"The number of people in his courtyard is greater than the number of concubines in our Daming Palace!

"It would be strange if we didn't fight!"

Empress Mo frowned upon hearing this: "If that's true... have you told His Majesty about this?"

Wang Xifeng immediately showed fear on her face and waved her hands hurriedly: "I would never dare to bring up such gossip in the backyard in front of the emperor.

"I was just chatting with the queen, just to make her laugh."

Empress Mo was both angry and amused. She looked at her and expressed her suspicions directly. She pointed at her nose and scolded her:

"This is the two pounds of heart and eye! Are you trying to instigate me to go and talk nonsense in front of the emperor?

"Even if Prince Su bullied your cousin Jia Yuanchun, you wouldn't hold a grudge like this!"

Wang Xifeng stuck out her tongue, bowed her head and crossed her hands: "I want to complain to the emperor, but I am too timid to speak when I see the emperor.

“But I really can’t swallow this breath!

"I am your Majesty's person, so naturally I will let you make the decision!"

Queen Mo knew that she was just using sweet words to trick her into working for her for nothing, but she still felt as relieved as if she had drunk a bowl of ice-sweet drink.

"loquacious!"

The two men discussed it again and decided not to go.

As expected, the funeral ceremony of the Concubine Dowager was carried out according to the previous routine, and even the information sent back from other palaces was used to save money and keep it simple.

The remaining money was used to build another Tianwang Temple next to the Dajiao Temple.

As for the body of Concubine Zhen, it was only kept in a separate palace for 21 days. After that, it did not return to the capital but was directly taken to the former mausoleum, which was named Xiaoci County.

The Supreme Emperor's decree, out of sympathy for his ministers in the scorching heat, only ordered members of the royal family and those with titles to observe the rules according to their titles and to participate in sacrifices. The rest of the officials were only not allowed to have banquets for one year, and the common people were not allowed to get married for three months.

But in this case, Wang Xifeng and other women in the imperial court would have to go to Xiaoci County and accompany the sacrifice according to their rank, and would not return until a month later.

Empress Mo was ill and could not go.

But no matter how Emperor Chongzhao thought about it, he was unwilling to let Wang Xifeng go, for fear that she would see the Emperor Taishang and be angered.

While he was racking his brains, suddenly a guard who was going to pick up Prince Su came back to the capital on horseback and informed him:

"When Prince Su heard that the Empress Dowager had gone to the other palace, he secretly took a few of his trusted men with him at night and left a letter there.

"The commander has already led the team to follow."

Emperor Chongzhao let him go with an expressionless face.

He turned around and stood in front of the window for a long time before whispering to Chang Ying: "Go tell the imperial concubine that she has to go to Xiaoci County."