The Jade of the Red Chamber

Concubine Hua's mother's family name is Shen, and the Shen family is a family of several dynasties. The former Minister of Household Affairs is Concubine Hua's father, and now the dean of Ulsan Academy is Concubine Hua's brother. The two generations of the Shen family have withered. People entered the court to become officials, but the former Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Mr. Shen, and the dean of Ulsan Academy are both famous scholars. The prestige of the Shen family has not fallen, and it has a far-reaching influence among scholars.

The Shen family was in its heyday when Concubine Hua Guifei was selected into the palace. The Shen family was bright and dignified, and she was the only daughter of Shen Shangshu. She was loved by the Queen Mother as soon as she entered the palace. .Among the many beauties in the palace that day, although Shen was not very favored, the Empress Dowager liked her honest and peaceful nature, and she used her long moves to talk, so life was not difficult.

The good times didn't last long, the queen mother was seriously ill, and the emperor was worried that he would go to visit often, but he fell in love with Fu Shi, a female official in the queen mother's palace.Fu's family is petite and exquisite, soft-spoken and charming, cuter than the virtuous and virtuous women in the harem, the emperor loves her very much, and even after the death of the empress dowager, she became Zhaoyi regardless of opposition.

After filial piety, Concubine Hua and Fu Zhaoyi were pregnant one after another. The emperor was overjoyed. At that time, he had few heirs. Apart from the eldest son who was established as a crown prince since he was a child, he only had the second son born to a beautiful woman who was born as a maid.

Fu Zhaoyi was pregnant a few days earlier than Concubine Hua, but for some reason, the two originally had some friendship in the Empress Dowager's palace, and Concubine Hua didn't say a word of objection when the emperor wanted to establish Fu's throne, but Fu Zhaoyi It is to see that Concubine Hua is not going well, and to regard Concubine Hua as a thorn in her side.

Fu Zhaoyi is very smart, cunning, and "magnanimous". She has promoted many beautiful palace maids to serve the emperor. The emperor is like a fish in water in her palace. He feels more and more that this is a place where he can relax. good.When the two became pregnant, the emperor wanted to make Fu Zhaoyi the concubine Wan, but Fu's family background was really not high, and she had only been a small female official in the empress dowager's palace for many years, so the emperor made the decree to make Concubine Hua She was named Concubine Hua, and Fu Zhaoyi was named Concubine Wan.From then on, the Fu family gradually became prominent.

Concubine Wan is naturally unwilling, after all, Concubine Hua is in her favor, if not, how could Concubine Hua, who has seen less of the emperor's face since she was pregnant and has become less favored by the emperor, be promoted to noble concubine!Concubine Wan, who became more and more jealous, used some tricks to cause Concubine Hua Gui to give birth prematurely. The nanny who entered the palace presented the evidence to the emperor to sue Concubine Wan, but the emperor was so biased that he ordered Hua Guifei's nanny to be flogged to death!

Perhaps she disliked the premature birth of the third son, or was a little guilty. The emperor disliked the concubine Hua's mother and child even more, but Concubine Wan's situation has risen, and after giving birth to her fourth son, she became more and more domineering in the harem.In the front court, the emperor promoted the members of the Fu family, making the Fu family a small aristocratic family among the powerful families in the capital.

Since then, Concubine Hua's health has been worse than before. She was neglected in the palace and was quite bullied. However, she was raised by Shen Shangshu and his wife.Shui Zhan grew up slowly under the indifference of his father and the warmth of his mother and concubine. Princes and concubines who were not favored by the emperor in the deep palace were never rare. Concubine Hua took good care of her, and Shui Zhan was not as cold as he was later.

Concubine Wan actually doesn't need to care much about a noble concubine who has lost her power, but she doesn't know what Concubine Wan thinks. After the queen passed away and gained the power of the assistant harem, she not only bullied Concubine Hua even harder, but even attacked Shui Zhan again and again Therefore, Shui Zhan became more low-key and more thoughtful under the guidance of Concubine Hua.

Concubine Hua knew that she would never be able to compete with Concubine Wan. The Holy Majesty likes Concubine Wan's tenderness and beauty and those delicate flowers in her palace. Shen Shi thinks she can't do it, but she has her own means in these years, and she can still try her best to keep herself With her son, Concubine Wan's dirty water couldn't find a chance to pour it into her palace.

Gradually, the situation is not bad. Concubine Hua Gui, mother and son can't stay out of trouble, and while taking precautions, Ansheng lives her own life.

Since the founding of the country, there has been a rule of serving and sleeping in the harem. The queen and the noble concubine have a day every month. Although the emperor favored the concubine Wan, but the queen passed away and there were only two noble concubines, and there was still one day every month. Yes, because of this day, Concubine Hua, mother and son are not considered to be struggling in the harem, and they can still survive under the control of Concubine Wan.

But unexpectedly, Concubine Hua Gui was pregnant again!

You must know that Concubine Wan's methods are really good. Since then, among the high-ranking concubines, only one concubine, the empress dowager's niece, was able to give birth to a son. The genealogy is gone, and not many of the emperor's daughter survived.It’s just that the Holy Majesty trusts Concubine Wan very much. You must know that the sixth and eight sons of the emperor were born by the palace maids in Concubine Wan’s palace. The concubine took care of it herself, and the concubine Xian also said that she had five sons thanks to the concubine Wan's care!And the mother concubine of the seventh son is a beauty with a very low status, and she is not favored.

Knowing that Concubine Hua Gui is pregnant again, how can Concubine Wan not be angry? Although the emperor dotes on her, but his desire for offspring is not lost because of this, and there are newcomers in the harem every year. Get rid of those sluts and sluts who think that mothers are more valuable than children!If Concubine Hua Gui gave birth to this child, she would be the only concubine with two children in the emperor's harem, no matter if it was a prince or a princess!

Concubine Wan didn't like Shen Shi when she saw her for the first time in the First Empress' Palace. This woman has everything she yearns for!Why?Isn't it because of a prominent background?There are not many women with extraordinary backgrounds in the harem, but it was this Shen who easily won the favor of the first and empress dowagers that she had not been able to get after several years of hard work!Concubine Wan already hated her, but she didn't want that after she was favored, this Shen family's status would still overwhelm her, and even forever!Even if the Fu family relied on her to become famous, they were fundamentally wealthy businessmen who could not stand on the stage. The Fu family's promotion to the concubine position was at the end, and perhaps she would only be a concubine by the end of her life!

This pregnancy, the emperor was also very happy. It had been several years since the eighth son had no good news. Although she didn't go frequently, the rewards continued to flow into the palace of the noble concubine Hua.Concubine Wan suppressed her jealousy and wanted to imitate the previous time when Concubine Xian was pregnant and "look after" herself, but how could Concubine Hua do what she wanted? After all, her status was higher than Concubine Wan's. You can't force yourself to stick it.Concubine Huagui is not as good as Concubine Wan in competing for favor, but she is more than a little better than Concubine Wan in treating others. The whole palace was turned into an iron bucket, and Concubine Wan failed to get rid of the fetus by all means.

It won't work here, naturally there is the emperor's pillow style, and the concubine Xian, who had been secretly competing with Concubine Wan, also stood on Concubine Wan's side this time. The Shen family has talent, appearance and family background. It is not impossible to obtain the grace, how can it not be guarded against.

The emperor's ears are soft, and he can't bear the pillow wind of Concubine Wan, Concubine Xian, and all the beauties and concubines. In a few months, he didn't care much about Concubine Hua's pregnancy. The imperial concubine and the dull third son's expectations for the unborn child faded, not to mention that after the election this year, the two concubines virtuously left many knowledgeable and interesting interpretation flowers to enrich the harem. In the prime of life, a child is nothing!

Soon, within a few months of Concubine Hua Gui's pregnancy, the two newly promoted beauties were pregnant. The emperor was naturally happy, and Concubine Hua's palace suddenly became deserted. Waiting wholeheartedly for the little life in his belly to land, Shui Zhan, who used to have a straight face in his teens, smiled a little more.It's just that the tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop, the more Concubine Hua is so calm about honor and disgrace, the more Concubine Wan is jealous.

After Shui Yang was born, she was chubby and chubby. Concubine Hua Guifei and Shui Zhan really cared deeply about her, especially caring about eating, clothing and so on.At that time, Shui Zhan was already in his teens, and because he was not valued, he did not have an independent palace, so he stayed with Concubine Hua all the time.They are princes, and they will leave the palace sooner or later to build a mansion. As long as Shui Zhan builds the mansion, Hua Guifei and Xiao Jiuer will have some support - the Shen family is not in decline, and it is fortunate to have such a mother's family as a backer these years, but Hua The concubine, mother and son are in the deep palace, and it is really difficult to communicate with the outside world, but after Shui Zhan leaves the palace, the situation is quite different. The adult prince and the not-so-weak natal family naturally complement each other, which is very good for the concubine Hua and Shui Yang in the deep palace. Big rely!

Concubine Hua's mother and son thought so, Concubine Wan and the others naturally knew that even if Shui Zhan was unfavorable, having such a family would still be a threat to the princes.Under the cooperation of several concubines, the fetuses formed by the two beauties disappeared inexplicably. Although there was no evidence, the two beauties cried and made noise in front of the emperor. They all said that it was Hua Guifei who harmed their children.There are also Concubine Wan, Concubine Xian and several other concubines who are quite favored, even pointing out a few words from time to time, half-truth and half-false.In a fit of rage, the emperor confines Concubine Hua to the Shaohua Palace.

The Shaohua Palace at that time was not the "Lenggong" as it became known later, but a small remote palace.It turned out that Concubine Hua's trusted and loyal servants were demoted by Concubine Wan to the side hall of the cold palace for various reasons, and Shui Zhan moved to another remote palace alone. past.But Shui Yang was too young, so he followed Concubine Hua into the Shaohua Palace.Shui Zhan often bribed the guard eunuch to visit his mother and younger brother secretly.

How could Concubine Wan make it easier for Concubine Hua Gui’s mother and child? Concubine Hua Gui’s share was not left at all. In such a place, there were things secretly sent by Shui Zhan, but Concubine Hua Guifei’s body was still a little bit less than two years old. A little decline, but Xiao Shuiyang was raised well.

At the risk of being caught, Shui Zhan sneaked out of the palace to find his grandfather and uncle. The Shen family never thought that the only daughter who was loved and spoiled by the family would be in such a situation. Trash a majestic concubine and prince to such a state!Shen's father was furious. The Shen family had always been the mainstay of Qingliu literati, working hard for the country and above all.

After a while, the strength of the Shen family was revealed, and the evidence that many of the Fu family were dishonest officials and disregarded human lives was caught by the censor... But what Shui Zhan and the Shen family didn't expect was Wanfei's crazy and reckless behavior. The emperor's bias is really beyond the reach of ordinary people.

When Shui Zhan heard the report and rushed to Shaohua Hall, Concubine Hua had died, lying on the bed with a puddle of undried blood beside her face, and stretched out her hand in the direction of Xiao Shuiyang.Xiao Shuiyang sat on the bed blankly, the quilt that Concubine Hua Guifei tried to wrap her body was covered with large bloodstains vomited up by Concubine Hua Guifei, her face and hands and feet were so cold that she couldn't even cry out.The charcoal basin in the corner was poured out and the windows were opened wide. This was not only to kill Concubine Hua, but also to freeze Shui Yang, who was less than three years old, to death!

Shui Zhan hugged his younger brother in his arms and knelt in front of the emperor's bedroom for a day and a night in the cold winter months. The bloody and tearful scriptures written by Shen Shangshu were exchanged for all the maids and eunuchs of the Shaohua Palace being executed with sticks, in order to announce the death of Concubine Hua. ending.And Concubine Wan, the culprit, is still the head of her concubines.Even the emperor handed things over to Concubine Wan to check and sue.

Shui Zhan was completely cold-hearted, but accepted it "very calmly".Since then, he has changed from being dull and dull in the past. Although he is still low-key, he always wears the gentle smile that the emperor expects to see... and Shen Shangshu retired, and the Shen family completely disappeared under the undercurrent.The only thing that can tell the glory of the Shen family in the past is that Ulsan Academy shines brilliantly, and there are always many new department officials from this academy when each department is big.

It was also at this time that Mr. Chen asked to be transferred to Brother Shui Zhan. He often took things secretly to visit Concubine Hua's mother and son.Manager Chen always feels sad when he thinks about this incident in the future, a noble concubine from a great family can only entrust a little eunuch to take care of his parents and children!

Perhaps the excitement of the concubine's death in front of his eyes was too great, and Xiao Shuiyang became unable to cry or laugh after recovering from his illness for a long time. Later, Shui Zhan and Mr. Chen found out that Xiao Jiu'er actually remembered the events before Concubine Hua's death...

Shui Zhan folded the red stick with satisfaction, oh, this is a big gift for the old sage!And Concubine Wan and Zhongshun!

With trembling hands, the Taishanghuang flipped through the book several times, and threw it on the ground with a "snap". Brothers Shui Zhan and Shui Yang looked at each other, their eyes were calm and unwavering.

Panting for a few short breaths, the Supreme Emperor trembled and said: "Go! Pass on my will! Bind Zhongshun's rebellious son and the lowly maid Fu Shi!"

The eunuchs around him and the guards at the door all looked up at Jinshang, as if they wanted to ask questions.The emperor was even angrier, pointed at Shui Zhan with trembling fingers, and said, "Unworthy son! Are you rebelling before I die?"

Jinshang smiled and said slowly: "Old sage calm down, my son didn't dare, but after thinking about some things, my son decided to tell the old sage." Old sage?Your Majesty, do you know how your favorite son died?

The Supreme Emperor "hummed", trying hard to maintain his superior dignity, but his distorted face and frail, old and sick body showed his bluff more and more.

Today, he didn't think so, and waved his hand to order the palace attendants to retreat, and whispered softly: "The former prince Yizhong didn't die by suicide, and his family and children were not killed by the prince." The Supreme Emperor looked at Shui Zhan in shock, suspicion and anger.This is obviously suspicious of him.

Shui Zhan smiled, although he contributed to these things, but his hands were not stained with a drop of brother's blood!What he did was to create cracks, spread false news, set up traps, and invite you into the urn... that's all.

Shui Zhan stood up, walked into the emperor, stared into the emperor's eyes and said word by word: "The former prince was beheaded with a sword by Zhongshun, who was persuaded to 'reconcile' when he came out of Beijing. Under the secret medicine in the palace, the body was stabbed with sword wounds after death!"

Seeing the disbelief on the Taishang Emperor's face, Shui Zhan added another sentence in a calm manner: "Then, Zhongshun held the crown prince's head and cried all the way back to the front of the car, saying that when he left, the crown prince was betrayed by the rebels who wanted to betray him and receive the reward." Killing! Oh, and, in mourning, the old sage felt that Houde, who was loyal to his mother and son, appointed his fourth son Zhongshun and Concubine Wan to take charge of the funeral of the prince."

The Supreme Emperor fell down on the couch with a "boom", staring and crying.

Shui Zhan shook his head, and said again: "It's just that they didn't expect that you would pass on the throne to my unfavored third son, instead of being loyal and obedient!" He smiled and said softly: "Actually, it's not true. Strange isn't it? You want a "Rende Mingjun" to go down in history, so naturally you can't ignore the courtiers' intentions, but most of the Qingliu important officials are more loyal to me than loyalty. Besides, my son has always abided by filial piety, and he doesn't have much influence. May the power fall to your side, and you will naturally feel that your son is a good candidate."

The Supreme Emperor said dejectedly: "You already knew about loyalty? Are you the one who secretly recruited those courtiers?"

As he was talking, he looked over Shui Zhan and looked directly at Shui Yang. There was accusation in those eyes. How could this son, who was considered his favorite, be so indifferent?

Shui Yang has been silent like a statue from beginning to end. Although he has helped his brother with some secret errands these years, his grandpa, uncle and brother will hide most of the unspeakable things from him, and will not teach him to get his hands dirty. , so now he can just watch, just like he could only watch his concubine drink up all the poison and protect him behind him. He couldn't do anything then, and now he can't do anything do it.

Jinshang chuckled and said, "My son really knows about righteousness and loyalty. The second elder brother was assassinated by Zhongshun, and the fifth brother Xuanyi was poisoned by the prince! The concubine Xiangui was poisoned by Concubine Wan... …It’s the same as our brother’s mother and concubine! As for the courtiers, they were cultivated by my grandfather and uncle for more than ten years, maybe the old sage forgot that the Shen family where our mother and concubine came from was originally the head of the Qingliu.”

However, the Supreme Emperor was confused by what Shui Zhan said and his understated tone. He pointed at Shui Zhan and Shui Yang with shaking fingers and cursed: "Nizi! Blood foam.

Gently covering the Taishang Emperor with a brocade quilt, Shui Zhan still had a smile on his face: "Don't be angry, old sage, your body is important. Today, my son still has court affairs, and Yu Shitai wrote a letter requesting a thorough investigation of the 'injustice cases' of the former ministers." For the sake of the old sage's reputation as a wise king, the son must find out to stop Youyou's mouth!"

Shui Zhan recruited the imperial physician to treat the old saint, rubbed his younger brother's head as he did when he was a child, and walked out of Xianfu Palace with Shui Yang in silence.

Looking up at the rosy clouds in the west at sunset, Shui Zhan is a little bit downhearted, let’s finish things as soon as possible... Then go to see the mother concubine with Xiao Jiuer, maybe I can tell the mother concubine that Xiao Jiuer has a sweetheart, and he is still a sweetheart. With quite different sweethearts, I don't know if the mother and concubine have any objections?