National Division

Zhengye's three years and Zhengye's four years have been very peaceful.

In September of the third year of Zhengye, the third prince was granted the title of King of Jin, enfeoffed the land of Shandong, married Zheng's daughter, and went to Jiufan.As a result, the father of Zheng's daughter was promoted to serve as the minister of the Ministry of Industry.

In October of the same year, the queen was ill, and the imperial doctor decided that she should rest, and the Zichen Palace was closed.The queen's father went to the northwest to serve as a general. He heard that he was conscientious and conscientious, and he could set an example for the three armed forces.

In the first month of the following year, Concubine Meng passed away, thinking of her meritorious service to the late emperor during her lifetime, she promoted her father to be Minister of the Ministry of War.

The past two years have been smooth, and the only thing that is dissatisfying is that although there are many more concubines in the harem, there is no more heir. On the other hand, King Jin gave birth to a prince after only one year of marriage.This is the eldest grandson of the emperor. As soon as the emperor was happy, he allowed him to take the concubine Xian to the vassal land in order to "take care of the emperor's heir".

"There is still no movement?" The Queen Mother looked at the trembling imperial doctor in front of her, and felt a headache, "None of the concubines in the Hegong Palace are pregnant?"

The imperial doctor is also worried.In the past two years, from the emperor to the concubines, and even the palace people have not had any serious illnesses. It is said that the imperial hospital should be easy and comfortable, but the queen mother asked them what kind of soup and medicine they wanted to nourish the body and give birth to children almost every month. To call them to ask why no concubine is pregnant, it's like a mountain pressing on everyone's heads, and they can't lift it up.But the problem is: both the emperor and the concubines are still healthy, no matter which side you look at, it shouldn't be that there is no movement for two years.

"Go down, go down." The Empress Dowager was so frustrated that even the imperial doctor didn't want to take a second look, and spat at his back, "A group of incompetent people who only know how to eat!"

"Empress Dowager—" A young palace official came in from the outside, saw the Empress Dowager's face, and immediately stammered, "Shandong, Jin Wang, Jin Wang sent a memorial... Jin Wangfei, Jin Wangfei is pregnant again."

These words simply added fuel to the flames. Just as the queen mother picked up the tea, she poured it all over with a bang.The king of Jin just married a main concubine, but he has not yet accepted a side concubine, but looking at this posture, he is planning to embrace the two for three years.In contrast, Qi Jun's harem is simply a group of hens that don't lay eggs!

"Empress—" the Empress Dowager squeezed out two words between her teeth.Concubine Jin is so fertile, if it weren't for the stupid thing the queen did back then, she would be the one who is happy now!The more the Queen Mother thought about it, the more angry she became, and she said loudly: "Send a message to Concubine Xian, the queen will reduce the ice use by half this summer!" In vain, she let herself lose her two grandchildren, and she lived a carefree life in Zichen Palace!

"Empress Dowager, I can't..." Shaoyao is now approaching the age to be released from the palace. To be honest, she is really worried about the Empress Dowager. As she gets older, her temper also grows.Although she is No.1 in the harem, she is afraid that she will do something against the emperor's wishes in a fit of anger.

"Queen Dowager, Your Majesty has personally said that the queen's seal of the palace is indispensable. She is still the queen." Besides, the head of the country is still working hard to guard the border in the northwest, just because there is such a father, what the queen does It cannot be revealed to the world.

"What evil did the Ai family do..." The Empress Dowager burst into tears, "Why did the Emperor fall in love with her back then!"

Shao Yao didn't dare to speak, but secretly thought: Although the emperor picked a leader of the Zhao family at the beginning, he also told the queen mother to let her observe Zhao Yue's character, but the queen mother took this as a In deaf ears, the empress dowager is also responsible for the trouble now.It is the best way for the emperor to deal with it now so as not to tear the face of the two families.

The Empress Dowager was wiping her tears and wanted to complain a few more words, but a small palace servant had already come in to deliver a message: "Mrs. Cheng Wenbo Mrs. Shu Wang has come to greet the Empress Dowager."

Shu Wang is the mother of Concubine Xian.Now Father Shu has conferred the title of Uncle Cheng Wen because of his virtuous concubine, and his eldest son is serving as the magistrate in Jingzhou.When the queen mother heard that Mrs. Shu was coming, she also wiped away her tears and asked to come in.

Mrs. Shu looks a lot like Concubine Xian, but she is older and looks more affluent.When he came in, he first paid a big gift to the queen mother, and then asked about the queen mother and the emperor's well-being, and then talked about the matter of childlessness in the harem: "The concubine enters the palace today, and there is a son who wants to present to the emperor. "

"Birth Fang?" The Queen Mother frowned.In the past two years, there has been no shortage of people offering soups, medicines and pills for childbirth. They all said that they got it from some hidden doctor, or a secret recipe handed down in their families. As a result... the people in the imperial hospital have seen it, and there is no one. People dare to feed the emperor.Of course, it's hard to say whether these concubines ate in private, anyway, no one in the harem is pregnant.

"Yes." Mrs. Shu said with a smile all over her face, "This prescription has been tried by relatives in my concubine's family, and the eldest son of my concubine has also found someone to try this prescription. In the past two years, all five families who have used this prescription have given birth to children. , four men and one woman, the oldest one turned one half a month ago."

The Empress Dowager came to her senses immediately: "Is that so?" In these days, it is not enough to have a child, but also to be able to raise it. It is generally believed that the child can live past the first year, and it is almost considered to be standing.There are five families in five families who gave birth to children, and there are four boys and one girl. It is simply very effective.

"How dare the concubine lie to the Queen Mother?" Mrs. Shu said seriously, "The concubine's family has already obtained this prescription, but they are afraid that they will deceive others, so they dare not suddenly donate it. Now these five families are all married for many years and have not conceived. Eat this prescription, as long as a year, as little as three months, all the women in the family are pregnant. Until now, all the children are born, and one of them is over one year old, and the concubines dare to come."

The queen mother beamed with joy: "Okay, okay, if this prescription really works, the Ai family will reward you heavily."

"The concubine's family is only loyal, and they dare not covet rewards from the Queen Mother." Mrs. Shu was also happy.Concubine Xian has a high status in the palace now, but she doesn't have a son and a half daughter. Seeing that she is getting older, her appearance is also plain, and she is not as bright as a young girl. I heard that the emperor's favor has also faded. .The status of the new ladies in the palace is rising day by day, if the concubine Xian has no children, the future will be bleak.

After sending Mrs. Shu away, the Queen Mother was so happy that she could only dance her hands and feet. She finally hoped that Qi Jun would leave the court, and immediately called for someone to come over. It hurt your body, so I dare not use it. Now this one is really useful, so I can offer it up, and the Concubine Xian's family is also considered loyal."

Qi Jun took the prescription and looked at it, but didn't answer.The Queen Mother did not know the role played by Concubine Xian in Zheng Xiunv's falling into the water, and Qi Jun never told her about it.Because the Empress Dowager's mind is too shallow, and Concubine Xian's means of fueling the flames are too subtle, and it would be very laborious to explain to the Empress Dowager, not to mention that even Qi Jun himself has no evidence, so it is useless to talk about it.

It's just that he is a heart-wrenching person, since he knows that Concubine Xian has such intentions to add insult to injury, how can he get close to her again?If it weren't for the fact that the beautiful girl selected later was to divide the power of the previous dynasty, so an old man from the Eastern Palace was needed to lead the battle, I am afraid that Concubine Xian would have been demoted long ago.Naturally, this also has the credit for the Shu family's loyalty in the previous dynasty.

"For this prescription, I think we should ask the national teacher."

"Why ask him? The national teacher is not an imperial doctor." The queen mother was a little unhappy.She has already seen this prescription by Xuan imperial doctor, and they all said that the medicine will not harm the body.

"It's not the Ai family who blamed you. The emperor went to the observatory too many times. If the days of staying in the observatory were allocated to the concubines, there might already be someone..." The queen mother said here, seeing Qi Jun With a displeased face, he could only swallow the second half of the sentence.Although she has already determined that Qi Jun and Zhibai have that kind of relationship, but Zhibai has made great contributions to the State Committee and has never interfered in the affairs of the harem or the former court, so she can only turn a blind eye and close her eyes, only hating Zhibai It took up too much time for Qi Jun to be distributed to the concubines.

"The Queen Mother is working too, let's take a rest, I will ask the national teacher. The matter of begging for a child depends on the fate of the child." Qi Jun didn't want to say anything more.In the past two years, almost everyone knew about his relationship with Zhibai, but no one dared to talk about it in front of him.But the Empress Dowager only saw that he was out of office for the past two years, how could she know how tired he was in private?The harem can't find a concubine who can speak his mind. If he doesn't go to the observatory, where will he go?

The observatory is still so quiet. Although it is approaching summer and the heat has risen, once you enter the observatory, you will feel a burst of coolness for some reason.Most of the flowers and trees in the observatory garden are pines and bamboos, but the gaps are also dotted with peonies, rhododendrons and plum blossoms, and some grass and flowers are planted in the corners of the walls, so that the eyes are green in hot summer, and the fragrance is fragrant in winter. It is really suitable for all seasons.

As soon as Qi Jun entered the garden, there was a slight smile on the corners of his eyes and brows.Feng En watched from the side, sighing secretly in his heart, it was about this time that the emperor could relax a bit.Others don't know, but he does know that all these years, the emperor has spent so much thought on the soldiers and horses that sneaked in between Fujian and Shu, not to mention splitting up the old forces of the previous dynasty and at the same time Promote yourself.The empress dowager only wanted to hold her grandson, but she didn't know that the country was unstable, so what's the use of having a grandson?

"Why did you come out to bask in the sun at noon?" Qi Jun just turned the corner, and saw Zhibai trimming flowers with a pair of scissors, "I don't even wear a hat, what are the servants doing!"

Zhibai raised his sun-tanned face and smiled: "It's nothing. The yang energy is at its peak at noon, but I just came to take a bath in the yang energy. But the emperor, why did you come so early today?" Said, put down the flower scissors Follow Qi Jun into the inner hall.

"The queen mother got this." Qi Jun picked up the warm mung bean soup on the table, took a few mouthfuls, then stretched his legs, and sat down on the chair without any image.Zhibai's chairs here are special bamboo chairs, they are stretched all over the place when they sit on them, without any manners, but they are comfortable.

"It's the birthplace again?" Zhibai took it and looked at it, frowned and didn't speak.

"I heard that I tried it and it worked. I had five children in total, and the oldest one has already passed the first year of life." Qi Jun was actually a little bit moved. After all, he is [-] this year, and King Jin has a son. , Prince Ping's side concubine also gave birth to several concubines, but he didn't have a son and a half daughter, so why not worry?

Zhibai lowered his head and thought for a while, then said: "Your Majesty, don't blame me for speaking bluntly, I'm afraid these children won't be able to grow up."

"Why?" Qi Jun's mung bean soup stopped on his lips, and even Feng En was shocked outside.Knowing that the biggest one here has already passed its first birthday, how can Zhibai make such an assertion?

Zhibai sighed deeply: "A year ago, the queen mother asked me if there is a recipe for seeds. Actually, I know a little bit about it."

"You have the seed prescription?" Qi Jun sat up straight suddenly, "Why didn't you tell me?" Zhibai's prescription is better than others'.

Zhibai shook his head: "There is indeed a way to ask for a child, and it has magical effects. If you eat, you will have a child. However, it is the same as being effective and not being effective, and having children is the same as having no children."

Qi Jun looked at him suspiciously: "What do you mean?"

"Your Majesty knows how children love acne, right?"

"I know." Qi Jun also suffered from acne when he was a child. Fortunately, he developed acne well, but King Jin fell seriously ill and almost died. Even King Ping's acne was dangerous.In this way, the palace also said that Emperor Jing'an had great blessings, and none of his sons and daughters died of acne. It is said that several princes and daughters died of acne in the previous dynasty, let alone the folks.

"Concretion is the transformation of essence and blood, and when it is driven by lust, it becomes heat poison. When heat poison occurs, it is acne. Therefore, out of ten children, one or two will always be damaged due to acne. This kind of prescription is medicine, which has one-third of the poison, not to mention it is used to catalyze the blood and lust, and the heat and poison contained in it are several times higher than that of ordinary fetuses. When it comes to acne, among the hundred seeds, it may not be preserved Got one."

Qi Jun gasped when he heard that: "You mean—"

Zhibai nodded earnestly: "Anyone who uses the seed prescription can get a child, but when it comes to acne, there is no guarantee of one. People don't know the reason, and regret when they die young, but they don't know the beginning of conception. , has already planted the cause of death. The five children mentioned by the emperor have not yet had acne, and after the acne, I am afraid that none of them will be able to keep them. Therefore, it is useless to seek children. It's no different."

Qi Jun listened in a daze, and sighed for a long while: "Forget it. Maybe I'm destined to have no children." He looked a little depressed, crumpled the seed square and threw it away, leaned back on the chair, and closed his eyes. .

Naturally, the Queen Mother was the first to know about the emperor's abandonment of begging for a son, and Concubine Xian was the second to know.

"Niang Niang, Madam, so painstakingly asked for the prescription, and the uncle took great pains to find someone to try it, and now it has been gently dismissed by the national teacher with a single sentence. This, this is too deceiving!" Xianfei's maid couldn't help but complain.

"Stop talking..." Concubine Xian really regrets it now, "I really shouldn't..." Looking at Wu Xiunv who entered the palace that year, she has now been promoted to the position of Zhaorong.Wu Xiunv's father was serving as the Minister of the Household Department, and the former Minister of the Household Department was going to retire this year, and the emperor would probably promote him, and Wu Xiunv might be promoted one more step at that time.

But one more step up, you will reach the concubine position.The fourth concubine is noble, virtuous and virtuous. I am the last of the four concubines. If Wu Zhaorong is promoted, unless the emperor changes his title, Wu Zhaorong will go ahead of him. At that time, among the six palaces, I am not the most honorable under the queen.

Wu Shilang was not the backbone of the Ye Party in the past, but because his Fang Shi was the Ye Party, he was also included in it.But since his daughter entered the palace, not only has he been loyal to the new emperor, but he has also won over a group of people. Now his son has made good friends with the new Jinshi newly promoted by the emperor, which shows that he has a bright future.

Father and brother have a future, and this woman's future in the harem is not bad, not to mention Wu Zhaorong herself is beautiful and talented, how can Concubine Xian not worry?It was not easy for the mother to offer a beggar. If she could have children in the harem, even if she did not give birth to them, at least she would have contributed a lot.Now—all was disturbed by the national teacher, and I don't know what he said to the emperor, but the emperor turned back and refuted that prescription.

"National teacher——" Concubine Xian smiled wryly, "The national teacher is more important than the queen..." No, in this harem, the national teacher is actually more valued by the emperor than the queen mother.

The maid thought for a while, and finally said boldly: "Actually, according to the servants, the emperor has no children, so the Qin Tianjian should take a good look at the sky to see if someone is causing trouble."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Concubine Xian hurriedly stopped, "You don't want to die?"

"The servant is speaking the truth. If the emperor has an heir, can the national teacher be favored like this at the star observatory?"

"Qin Tianjian..." Concubine Xian smiled wryly, "The national teacher himself is a god..."

"The maidservants are not saying that Qin Tianjian will spread rumors, but just take a look. If it is really a hindrance, it is also a credit to the empress." The maids are also worried, servants are the master, if the virtuous concubine loses power, their close palace servants what is the benefit?

"Then, then try."

In June of the fifth year of Zhengye, the envoy of Qin Tianjian said that there was a star next to the emperor's star, its light changed from dark to bright, oppressing the emperor's star, and the harem had no children, I'm afraid it was related to it.

"Why didn't I see you guys play earlier?" Qi Jun asked coldly, his face sinking like water.

"Returning to the emperor, this star has long been hidden beside the emperor's star, but its light is dim, and the ministers can't see it clearly, so they dare not speak falsely." Qin Tianjian envoy sent a stack of records, "The ministers have been observing this star for seven years. For a long time, the records are here year by year, and it is by no means a lie."

Qi Jun took it over and glanced at it. The color and color of the paper can prove that this is indeed a record that has been recorded successively for seven years, and it really was not made temporarily: "You said it has been seven years?"

"Yes." The emissary prostrated himself on the ground, "Your servants and others know that Zhen Mingzi of the Demon Dao has repeatedly deceived the emperor with false celestial phenomena. At that time, the ministers did not have the trust of the late emperor, and they were powerless to speak. The matter of observing the celestial phenomena did not come to an end. This star was dark at the beginning. , is the sign of the Zuo Xing, so the ministers and others did not say anything. However, in recent years, its light has gradually become brighter, and it has oppressed the emperor star and blocked its luck. Now that it is summer, the sign is even more obvious, and the ministers dare not report it."

Qi Jun looked at the emissary with complicated emotions.This emissary's family has been doing this for generations, and their loyalty is true. When Zhen Mingzi first entered the palace, he was reprimanded by Emperor Jing'an for refuting his remarks. This record is also true.But if there was a star hidden away seven years ago, then——only Zhibai...