Bongjun's Life and Death Tribulation

Tiancheng Meiji 17th year, spring.

There is a Lingyan Mountain in Gusu, and there is a Lingyan Temple on the mountain. A small thatched hut was built not far behind the temple, and the family of Chu Xiran, the current Empress Cheng, lived there.

Since Chu Xiran found his mother and sister according to the map given to him by Xiao Linzi four years ago, he has settled down with his mother in the temple.

And his elder sister is married and lives with her husband in a small town at the foot of the mountain. Sometimes he and his mother will go down the mountain to visit, and sometimes his sister and her husband will go up the mountain with a basket of things to meet them. Shun'an is also in the town together. Working as a buddy in a jade shop, everyone's life can be said to be peaceful.

Although Chu Xiran stayed on the mountain all day long and even planted a small field for self-sufficiency, she would go to the town every now and then to add some supplies and food, or write letters for others in exchange for some money.Therefore, some rumors in the market are not unheard of.

These rumors are nothing more than those rumors in the palace, but the storyteller speaks clearly, and the common people also listen to it with gusto. For a while, it is about which official lady in the draft a year ago became the emperor’s favorite concubine, and for a while, it is about the emperor’s love for many years. There are various reasons for having no heirs, and then it is said how gorgeous and refined the male queen was at that time.

Every time Chu Xiran heard this, she couldn't help but smile, and then touched her face, which was nearly thirty, and thought about that person far away in the capital.

On this day, it was the season of lingering spring rain, and the rain as thin as a cow's hair fell on the bluestone road, forming densely packed puddles.

"Isn't this Mr. Bai? Didn't bring an umbrella? Come in and take shelter from the rain."

When Chu Xiran went to Suzhou four years ago to find his mother and sister, he found that they had changed their surnames to avoid being noticed, so he also changed his name to Bai Xiran.

The one who was talking to him was Boss Wang from a tea shop in the town. He had a daughter named Linglong, who was sixteen years old this year, and fell in love with Chu Xiran who passed by the tea shop from time to time. The childless Boss Wang wanted him to He was married into the Wang family, so he was always very kind to him.

"Thank you, Boss Wang, but I'm going back in a hurry." Chu Xiran knew what Boss Wang and his daughter were thinking, so she didn't like to stay in the tea shop for a long time, but because her brother-in-law was close to Boss Wang, she was embarrassed deliberately avoid.

After speaking, he raised his sleeves to cover his head, and rushed into the rain. Fortunately, the rain was not heavy, and his clothes were not soaked when he got home.

Pushing open the door and entering the room, his mother was cooking in the kitchen of the cubicle. When she saw him come back, she said loudly, "Someone came and left something just now, and said that if you want to see him, you can go to Lingyan Temple to look for him. That thing I put it on the table."

Chu Xiran lowered his head when he heard the words, and sure enough, he saw a purple brocade cloth. When he opened it, his heart skipped a beat. Isn't this the jade pendant he left to He Lan Ruoming four years ago?Could it be him who was waiting to see him in the temple?

"Mother, I'll come back as soon as I go." Almost without thinking, Chu Xiran grabbed the jade pendant and went straight to Lingyan Temple.

The rain didn't stop all the way, the wind blew the rain across the cheeks, and it hurt a little bit, but Chu Xiran didn't feel that the only thought in his heart was to see him.

My heart is pounding. During the four years of separation, although I deliberately don't miss it, how can I just let go of my caring heart?

Suddenly, he slowed down and looked at his messy body. His clothes were wet, his shoes were stained with mud, his hair was messy and stuck to his head, and his face had aged four years.

I wonder what that person would think when he saw him?

Chu Xiran couldn't help laughing at herself, he's a man in his thirties, how could he care about these things like a girl?So, he quickened his pace again.

Arriving at Lingyan Temple, under the guidance of the monks, Chu Xiran came to the incense room in the backyard.

Pushing open the door, I thought I would see the familiar figure of that person, but found that there was only a man in Tsing Yi waiting inside, who was a whole circle smaller than that person in stature.

"The servant is knocking on the queen's master!" The person who came was He Lan Ruoming's personal eunuch Xiao Linzi.

"Xiao Linzi?" I haven't seen Xiao Linzi for many years, but Xiao Linzi still hasn't changed, but the little red thread in his eyes is a little strange.

"The slave finally found you." Xiao Linzi knelt on the ground, his voice was already choked up.

"Why did you come here? You alone? What about others?" Chu Xiran was talking about He Lan Ruoming.

"The emperor is missing." Xiao Linzi burst into tears. "There was a flood in western Hunan. A minister delivered a book saying that the relief money was embezzled by officials. The emperor went there for a private visit. Who knew he was assassinated and disappeared on the way."

"How long have you been missing?" Chu Xiran frowned.

"It's been a full ten days. If the emperor doesn't go to court, the ministers will have to be suspicious. I really don't know what to do. Fortunately, the emperor handed the jade pendant to the slave in a hurry, saying that if something happens, the slave will come to you. , if you are willing to entrust you to return to the palace to assist the prince as soon as you see him, the servant and the shadow guard will obey your orders. If you do not want to meet each other, let the servant return to the palace quickly and take the prince away!

"Who knows what you said to the emperor! After the emperor disappeared, the servant discussed with the shadow guards and decided that they would continue to search for the emperor in western Hunan. The servant came to Suzhou to find the empress and master. I hope you can go back and assist the little prince in handling the government affairs, while buying time as soon as possible." Get the emperor back."

"Ten days..." Chu Xiran murmured to himself, momentarily confused.

"My lord, I beg you!" Xiao Linzi saw that Chu Xiran was standing still and did not speak, thinking that Chu Xiran would refuse, so he cried and kowtowed vigorously.

"Xiao Linzi, get up!" Chu Xiran was startled when he heard his thumping sound, grabbed his arm and pulled him up, "I promise you, we will set off tomorrow."

"Thank you, Queen Master!" Xiao Linzi heard Chu Xiran agree, as if he had found the body of the soul, he immediately regained his spirits, wiped his nose and tears, and said: "Tomorrow, the servant will wait for the master at the foot of the mountain."

"Okay." Chu Xiran nodded, and then instructed: "I'm afraid the journey back to Beijing will not be smooth, just in case, you can call me young master, don't just call me queen master, and remember my current surname white."

"The slave obeys the order!"

"This must be changed!"

"Slave... yes!"

After Chu Xiran went back, she told his mother the truth. She originally thought that the old man would be angry, but the old lady just hummed and said, "Go and kneel in front of your father's grave to burn a stick of incense."

The bones of General Chu were quietly sent to Suzhou along with Mother Chu and the others, and were placed behind Lingyan Temple.It was night, Chu Xiran came to her father's grave, knelt down for a full stick of incense according to his mother's words, then kowtowed three times and poured a glass of wine.

"Your father once said in prison that the king wants his ministers to die, and the ministers have to die. It just hurts his wife, children and family members and makes him feel uneasy. Now, our family is safe, although it is not as good as when we were in the capital. , but life is much more peaceful than then, which can be regarded as a blessing.

"Originally, when I saw you come back, I also hoped that you would live a good life, and then marry a virtuous wife, and spread the branches and leaves for the Chu family. But four years have passed, and you don't even have a girl you like. Let me be a matchmaker. I was also blocked by you to go back. I am your mother, how can you not understand your mind. This time you go back to Beijing, whether you stay or go back to your own decision, no matter what your decision is, your father and I will not Blame you." Mrs. Chu was standing behind him at some point.

"Mother!" Chu Xiran turned around, bowed to mother with tears in her eyes, and kowtowed heavily, "Forgive my son for being unfilial, not only can't save father's life, but also can't leave blood for the Chu family."

"Before your father died, you said that the Chu family suffered the most these years, and you were the one who worried him the most. Now that you have become the empress of Tiancheng, I believe that he should be at ease."

"Mom, don't you hate it?"

"Hate? How could you not hate when you were in prison! Your father, who spent half his life as a soldier, did not die in the battlefield but died in the power struggle of the court. How could you not hate me as a mother! Even my only son had to enter the palace to pay his respects!" Concubine, how can I not hate such absurdity even more! What can hatred solve?

"Your father is dead when he is dead, buried under the loess and can't come back. The emperor also let us live, and brought your father's bones back, presumably because of you. Xiran, you enter the palace The hardships of these years have not been in vain, otherwise Mother and Xifeng might not be able to live for so many years. Now, as Mother, I only hope that you live well."

Mother Chu stepped forward to help him up, and wiped his forehead covered with dirt with her sleeve, "Mother can't see how the emperor treats you, but since he is willing to let you go free, it means that he treats you sincerely; and you treat him What are you thinking, how can mother not guess?"

Mother Chu smiled, her old cheeks suddenly came alive, although the corners of her eyes were still wrinkled, but the charm in her eyes was still there, it is not difficult to imagine that she must have been a beautiful woman when she was young.

"Mother, my child is worried about you."

"Silly boy, I am with the Qingdeng God every day, and your sister and brother-in-law also live at the foot of the mountain, why not worry? You go ahead, remember to get someone to report your well-being on time, and mother will be at ease."

"Mom, you have to take care of yourself."

"You don't know whether it's a blessing or a curse if you go here. Be careful in everything. It's late at night, go back and rest."

"Mom, help me baby."

In the early morning of the second day, Chu Xiran came to the foot of the mountain according to the appointment, and saw Xiao Linzi waiting there from afar, and there was a person standing beside him, it was Shun'an.

"Shunan, why are you here?"

"Young master, I went to look for Shun'an." Xiao Linzi changed his words cleverly, "You must have someone you trust to take care of you when you go back. After thinking about it, Shun'an is the only one."

"Master, let the little one follow, otherwise the little one won't be at ease." Shun'an said eagerly, fearing that Chu Xiran would not let him follow.

"Forget it, let's go together." Chu Xiran knew that she couldn't persuade Shun'an to go back, not to mention that it would be convenient to have someone she trusted and familiar with the palace by her side, so she agreed.

The three of them set out on the road, traveling day and night and quickly returned to the capital, which was smoother than Chu Xiran expected.But the success of this journey made him startled. He didn't believe that the rebels who could assassinate the emperor would easily let him go back to the court.

The three horses galloped all the way to the palace gate, Chu Xiran reined in the horse with one hand, raised the head of the horse, raised its hooves and neighed, and the surrounding area was immediately covered in flying dust.

Seeing this posture, the two rows of guards guarding both sides of the palace gate were frightened, and immediately raised their spears and shouted, "Who is coming? How can you be presumptuous before the palace gate! Get off your horse quickly!"

"Presumptuous!" Sitting on the horseback, Xiao Linzi rushed in front of Chu Xiran, raised the badge around his waist and held it in his palm, and said sharply, "The empress is returning to the palace, why don't you kneel down to welcome the empress!"

Xiao Linzi is the emperor's personal eunuch, and even the chief eunuch in this palace, which guard doesn't recognize him?Hearing that they looked up, they met Chu Xiran's sharp eyes.The current empress is a man, she was originally a young general of the Chu family, she led troops to the battlefield three times and returned triumphantly, how could the guards not know?

"Welcome the empress back to the palace!" The guards hurriedly opened the two heavy palace doors, and shouted in unison on the ground.

Xiao Linzi first rode into the palace gate, shouting all the way: "Welcome the empress to the palace!"

Following his voice, the palace doors along the way opened one after another. In the silent morning on this day, only the sound of horseshoes advancing rapidly and the sound of "Welcome the queen back to the palace" resounded throughout the palace!

When he returned to Kunning Palace, the current prince who had received the letter had already stood at the gate of the palace looking forward to it.

The eight-year-old child has a baby face, with a pair of shining big eyes hanging on the white and tender face, and a slightly upturned lip under the straight and delicate nose. At first glance, Nalan Qi looks like a boy. However, upon closer inspection, He Lan Ruoming's five-point appearance appeared.

"My son pays homage to the empress father!" The little prince was dressed in a bright yellow prince's suit. Although he was young, his posture was dignified and decent, but the eager anticipation in his eyes seemed a little eager.

"Qi'er?" The prince's baby name was given by Chu Xiran back then, so he naturally remembered it.

"Father's queen!" The prince called again, obviously wanting to rush up, but he still stood firm on his feet.

"Come on, let me see, it's so tall."

Chu Xiran squatted down and stretched out his arms, the prince couldn't bear it anymore, and rushed into Chu Xiran's arms in a few steps.

Since Nalan Qi gave the child to Chu Xi, he has treated him like his own child, watching him grow from one year old to three years old, from a baby in the swaddle to walking and babbling.

It's just that after he left for the expedition, he never saw him again. The separation lasted more than five years, but he didn't expect the child to still remember him.

"You still recognize me?" Chu Xiran sighed inwardly.

"I know, my father said that if I see you one day, I will call you my father's queen. My father also hung the portrait of my father's queen in Yuqing Palace, and always told my son the story of my father's queen going to battle to kill the enemy. Father The emperor said that the empress father loves Erchen very much, even Qi'er's baby name is also given by the empress father, but why hasn't the empress father returned to the palace?"

Children's words are always unintentional, which makes people feel distressed.

"Isn't the empress father back?" Quickly accepting the title of "empress father", Chu Xiran smiled, thanking He Lan for not letting the crown prince call him "empress mother", otherwise he would How embarrassing should it be?

"Father also named the son "Helan Ruoxi", saying that he took the character Ruo from the father and the character Xi from the queen, so that the son would always remember the queen."

Chu Xiran was stunned for a moment when he heard the words, and after regaining his senses, he looked at the prince who was held in his arms, and saw that he was looking down at him with his small head, and he was trying to wrap his hands around his neck. He was also cautious, not daring to make any willful actions beyond the rules.

Chu Xiran couldn't help feeling guilty at this moment, thinking that if he stayed with the child in the palace all the time, maybe he could retain a little more childishness, instead of being so forbearing for the title of "Prince" at such a young age. sensible.

"Qi'er is eight years old, right?" Chu Xiran patted Qi'er on the head lightly, and asked him, "How does your father treat you?"

"Okay, Father loves Qi'er very much. But Father is too busy, so we don't see each other several times a day." After all, He Lanruoxi was still a child, and his eyes turned red when he said this, "Father, why does Father still Not coming back? My son misses his father."

"Qi'er, good boy, your father is unable to return to the palace for the time being because of something, and the queen will accompany you to wait for him to come back, okay?" Chu Xiran coaxed.

"En!" The little prince rolled his eyes, hugged Chu Xiran and said, "Father, the empress must always be with my son-in-law!"

Just as Chu Xiran nodded, she suddenly felt, why did she feel a little bit fooled by this kid?

The crown prince lives in Yuqing Palace. He should be studying in Wenhua Palace at this moment. He came here in a hurry because he knew that Chu Xiran was going back to the palace. Swallow the words back to the stomach.

"Father's queen will often come to Yuqing Palace to accompany my son and minister."

"must."

Seeing the prince walking away, Chu Xiran couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "I remember that Qi'er couldn't even walk steadily, but now she has reached the age to study with the prince."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been extremely intelligent since he was a child. Although he was occasionally mischievous, he never caused trouble. The Emperor said that he is much more stable than children of the same age. He is also humble and courteous. He will definitely become a wise king in the future."

Hearing what Xiao Linzi said, Chu Xiran was also happy in his heart, and suddenly thought of something again, hesitated for a while before asking: "It is rumored that he has no heirs these years?"

"If you go back to the queen, the emperor only has one prince, the prince, but there are two princesses, and you will have them in the palace. After you leave, there will be no more concubines."

"What?" Hearing this news, Chu Xiran was also taken aback. After all, there have been a group of newcomers entering the palace in the past four years, and there are countless beauties in the harem. How could there be no other heirs?

"Don't you know what the emperor is thinking?" Xiao Linzi moved closer to Chu Xiran, "After you left, the emperor will only give symbolic favor to the harem every once in a while, and every time he must inject medicine in advance to prevent Leaving an heir threatens the position of the crown prince."

"He actually..." Thinking of He Lan Ruoming's ability to do this, Chu Xiran's heart trembled, and he didn't know what to say.

"Queen, the emperor has been thinking about you all these years."

"Why am I not?"

Chu Xiran stepped into the threshold of the East Nuan Pavilion, and was stunned when she saw the red mandarin duck brocade used in the big wedding.

Xiao Linzi hurriedly followed up and added: "The emperor said that he wanted to decorate it like the big wedding back then, and he would come around when he was free, and the Yonghe Palace also maintained the same as when the queen lived in it. No one lives there, but it is still cleaned every day, Queen, you can go and have a look at it some other day.”

Hearing this, Chu Xiran's eyes turned red for some reason, she lowered her head slightly and closed them for a while, then opened them again, and asked, "Who is acting temporarily in power now?"

"Returning to the empress, since Prime Minister Murong was killed for treason, the emperor has dismissed the post of Zhongshu Sheng and abolished the post of prime minister, and set up a cabinet above the six ministries. Now it is the cabinet that temporarily takes over the government."

"Oh? Send the papers for this period of time to the Imperial Study Room later. Also, I will listen to the government behind the curtain when the prince goes to court tomorrow. From now on, I will assist the prince to handle the government affairs together with the prince's Taifu."

"Follow the order!"

Because Chu Xiran, as the male queen of Tiancheng, once listened to the government behind the curtain and presided over the government together with He Lan Ruoming, so his return will definitely mean that he will assist the prince in handling the government until He Lan Ruoming returns. One of the reasons for finding Chu Xiran back.

However, once Chu Xiran returns to the palace, it means that the harem will be ruled by him again. What will happen to the harem, which is already not at peace?

"Xiao Linzi, who is temporarily in charge of the Phoenix Seal in this harem?"

"It's Concubine Zhuang."

"Concubine Zhuang?" Chu Xiran did not remember this person.

"Concubine Zhuang entered the palace in the 12th year of Meiji. You were the empress in that year, but you were not in the palace later, so you didn't leave any impression on her. Concubine Zhuang is the daughter of Zhao Qide, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, named Zhao Yueru, who gave birth to Princess Jiamin in the 13th year of Meiji, was conferred the title of Concubine Zhuang, because of her kindness and benevolence, the emperor ordered her to temporarily take charge of the harem."

"Tiancheng 12 years?" Thinking back to those years, he suddenly remembered a young and beautiful face, "I remember there was a person named Shangguan Yan back then?"

"The empress has a good memory. Shangguan Yan is now a good concubine and still lives in Zhongcui Palace."

"How many people are there in the fourth rank or higher in the harem?"

"Besides Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Liang, there are six other people above rank four."

"Little Shunzi."

"The slave is here."

"Pass down this palace's command, let them all come to Kunning Palace tomorrow morning." Chu Xiran raised his chin, his firm eyes were like every time he galloped on the battlefield, and no one should despise him.

"Follow the order!"

Xiao Linzi lowered his head and smiled slightly. The nerves that had been tense these days finally became a little looser because of Chu Xiran's return to the palace.Because he knew that only the man in front of him who was a queen was trusted by He Lan Ruoming wholeheartedly. Before things became clear, he could make people feel at ease.

And next, all they can do is to find the long-lost emperor as soon as possible.

Back inside the palace wall that locked him for ten years, time seemed to be stopped, and the four years of blankness were like a dream, and it was hard to tell which was real and which was fake.

He didn't realize that he had really been away for four years until he saw the colorful clouds in the sky and the setting sun shining on the white jade stone path in front of the Kunning Palace, stretching lonely towards the door.

Before leaving, that person would always stay at the gate of Kunning Palace every evening, sometimes he hesitated and then went straight in, and sometimes turned around and left without saying a word.Now, this figure can no longer appear.

"Xiao Shunzi, let's go to the Yonghe Palace."

"The empress drives to the Yonghe Palace." The sharp and long voice sounded again in the long-quiet Kunning Palace.

Chu Xiran had already changed into the queen's regular clothes back then, and walked out of the Kunning Palace gate with Xiao Shunzi, a group of maids and eunuchs, and walked along the east gate of Qiongyuan to the left gate of Guangsheng without taking a sedan chair. Turn left, pass the Chenggan Palace, and you will arrive at the Yonghe Gate.

Standing at the gate of Yonghe Gate, he took a deep breath, staring closely at the plaque hanging at the gate of Yonghe Palace, and for a moment he didn't have the courage to step in.

Since Yonghe Palace was uninhabited, the gates of the palace were tightly closed, Xiao Shunzi gave a wink, and the two young eunuchs who followed hurried forward, and pushed open the two red doors with a creak.

"Master, are you still going in?" Seeing Chu Xiran in a daze, Xiao Shunzi came up to remind him.

"Everyone else stay, Xiao Shunzi follows me in."

"The slave obeys the order."

After crossing the threshold and entering the Yonghe Palace, a familiar atmosphere came over us. No one thought that the Yonghe Palace, which had been abandoned for many years, was actually full of spring scenery.

The Yonghe Palace is the second courtyard, the front yard is the main hall, which is the Yonghe Palace, and the back yard is the main hall called Tongshunzhai, where Chu Xiran's bedroom was.

Touching the spotless desktop and seeing the same bedding neatly laid out as before, Chu Xiran's heart ached again. Everything in the past ten years seemed to be vivid in his memory, and the favor and humiliation in the Yonghe Palace were deeply felt. Unforgettable.

I thought I was calm and calm, but when I returned to the old place, the wound was pulled open again, so bloody that I wanted to escape.

"Master Queen." Someone called him softly at the gate of Tongshun Zhai.

Seeing Xiao Linzi standing at the door panting but not daring to come in, Chu Xiran smiled and waved to him, "Come in."

"The slave has just completed the matter that the queen asked, and the memorial has also been sent to the imperial study."

"Understood." Chu Xiran nodded, looked up at the sword hanging on the wall, and was momentarily stunned.

Xiao Linzi had sharp eyes, and immediately said: "The emperor ordered someone to hang it up, saying that he wanted to decorate it exactly the same as when you lived here. In fact, every time you are away from the expedition, the emperor will come here to sit and have a look. Sometimes I stay for several hours, especially in the past four years, the emperor sometimes gets annoyed, so he likes to come here to have a quiet time, and sometimes he even sleeps here."

Chu Xiran stood on the spot without saying a word, with tears in her eyes, but she turned around and held back, and she managed not to lose a cent.

"Master, do you want to have dinner at Yonghe Palace?" Xiao Shunzi interrupted and asked, secretly tugging Xiao Linzi hard.

Chu Xiran looked at the darkening sky outside the window, and only then remembered that it was past dinner time.

"Go directly to the imperial study, use it there."

"The Empress, get up and drive the study room!"

A soft sedan chair had already been prepared at the gate of the Yonghe Palace, and Chu Xiran sat on it with Xiao Shunzi's support, and the group of people lit up lanterns and headed towards the Imperial Study along Dongerchang Street.

Early the next morning, Chu Xiran brought the drowsy little prince He Lanruoxi to court.

It was expected that the ministers of the court would talk a lot, but fortunately, Chu Xiran had led troops to go to war three times, which can be said to be of great military merit, and he was quite majestic in front of these courtiers.Immediately, he blocked everyone's mouths with the statement that "the emperor asked him to return to the palace to assist the prince to take over the government temporarily because he extended the private visit of the micro-service", and then used the white marble dragon and phoenix chicken heart pendant bestowed by the emperor as proof.

This jade pendant is just like what He Lan Ruoming said back then, an imperial edict stated that the person who owns this jade pendant will be the successor of the heaven forever, unless Chu Xiran himself does not want to be the successor, even the emperor cannot give up the successor.

With the jade pendant as evidence, even if the ministers had doubts, they did not dare to disobey the holy will. Chu Xiran returned to the court smoothly with the consent of the ministers, and began to take charge of the harem and assist the court.

Fortunately, after reading the recent cabinet notes last night, Chu Xiran's handling of North Korea-China affairs was relatively smooth. Fortunately, there have been no major events recently. The weather is smooth and the border is stable, which is finally a blessing among misfortunes.

It was up to the cabinet to decide on a few small matters. After retiring from the imperial court, the prince returned to Wenhua Palace to study, and Chu Xiran returned to Kunning Palace in a soft sedan chair.

As soon as they arrived at the gate of Yongxiang, two court ladies rushed up to report: "Concubine Zhuang, Concubine Liang, Concubine Hui, Concubine Gui, Concubine Li, Shi Jieyu, and Su Meiren are asking to see you."

Youyou got off the sedan chair, Chu Xiran put one hand on the back of Xiao Shunzi's palm, and walked slowly towards the Kunning Palace. After taking two steps, she remembered something, and said to the maid kneeling on the ground, "Let them stay here first." Wait in the hall."

Back in the East Nuan Pavilion, Chu Xiran changed into the elegant lavender queen's regular clothes, casually tied up her long hair, fixed it behind her head with a jade hairpin, looked at the bronze mirror for a while, and finally sighed: "Little Sunja, is this okay?"

"Master, you are thinking wildly again." Xiao Shunzi has followed Chu Xiran for so many years, so of course he understood what he was thinking at the moment, so he picked out a gold-plated phoenix from the jewelry box and put it on the top of the jade hairpin. He said again: "In Xiao Shunzi's heart, no one can compare to the master! The emperor must think so too!"

"Pfft, you sound like a resentful woman." Chu Xiran shook her head with a smile, "I just don't think it's very uncomfortable for a 30-year-old man like me to be the head of all the women and male concubines in the harem." Is it strange? They are obviously younger, more beautiful, gentle and slender than the other, and when they see me, they will definitely be very unwilling."

"Who made the emperor only have the master in his heart!" Xiao Shunzi also learned Xiao Linzi's tricks at some point.

"He..." Speaking of He Lan Ruoming, Chu Xiran was suddenly speechless, with a faint worry lingering in his heart, "When he comes back, I really want to ask him."

Looking at his own face in the bronze mirror, he looked like a man, but he lost his heroic spirit in the queen's attire, adding a bit of familiar femininity, and the already delicate facial features softened immediately, and he was a little indistinguishable in a trance .

It's still comfortable to wear men's clothes, Chu Xiran thought so, and chuckled lightly at himself.

"Xiao Shunzi, let's go, they've waited long enough."

The seven concubines of the fourth rank and above waited for an hour, and Chu Xiran, the empress of Tian Chengnan, was long overdue.

Sitting at the head of the hall, looking at the seven beauties standing in front of Qi Qi, Chu Xiran thought of how she stood in Concubine Shu's Changchun Palace when she first entered the palace, secretly looking at the concubines who hid their swords in their smiles.Now, the person sitting at the head of the hall is replaced by me, and the person who hides the knife in his smile is also me.

"See the Empress, may the Empress Empress live a thousand years and a thousand years."

"Keep everyone waiting for a long time, let's sit down." Chu Xiran held the tea bowl in his hand and lightly lifted the lid, then took a small sip, and put it back on the table, "I'm really in a hurry to return to the palace this time, but since I was entrusted by the emperor , I will fulfill my duties after the first palace. Among you, some of you have seen this palace, and some have not, so I will put this at the front. If you act according to the palace rules, you will be punished severely, I hope you will take care of yourself."

After the words fell, the room was silent, Chu Xiran glanced at the seats below one by one, and said again: "If you have any doubts, you can also ask me. Do you have any?"

The bottom seems to be a little loose, but still no one dares to speak.

"Keep your heads up!"

The seven people raised their heads one by one, Chu Xiran's eyes moved from Concubine Zhuang's face to Su Meiren's, and finally fixed on Liang Concubine Shangguan Yan's body. Seeing that he hesitated to speak, Chu Xiran raised his eyebrows , said: "Concubine Liang, do you have something to ask?"

"Back to the queen, the concubine wants to know when the emperor will return to the palace."

"The emperor said that the date of return is undecided, and I don't know. Are you in a hurry?"

"No." Shangguan Yan lowered her head in disappointment. Her once 17-year-old face has gradually matured over the years. It is already the face of a 22-year-old young man. However, due to good maintenance, her skin is still fair and tender. It doesn't look awkward among a bunch of charming women, "It's just that the emperor promised to come back before the concubine's birthday."

Shangguan Yan pouted, looking a little unhappy.Chu Xiran glanced at the expressions of other people, and laughed in his heart. I really don't know how this straightforward Shangguan Yan has survived in the harem for so many years. Maybe it's luck, or maybe it's He Lan Ruoming was well protected.

"If the emperor coaxes you, do you take it seriously?" Interrupted by the noble concubine Mu Yun, who entered the palace in the 15th year of Meiji, she became a second-rank noble concubine in just two years, and because she thought she was The granddaughter of Mu Shuo, the great general of Fengguo, still does not change her arrogant and domineering character in the harem.

Chu Xiran was not angry about Mu Yun's behavior, but looked at Shangguan Yan with eyes widened angrily, moved in his heart, and asked, "Your concubine means that the emperor is a person who has no promises." ?”

"The concubine didn't say that, the queen, don't wrong the concubine." Mu Yunxing glanced at her, and then her eyes fell on Concubine Li, "It's just that the concubine heard that the emperor promised Concubine Li to make her a concubine. I don’t know if it counts.”

"I want you to meddle in your own business!" Concubine Li Huo Fei'er's complexion suddenly fell, and she replied, "If you are capable, let the emperor make you a concubine! I don't know who pretended to fall into the water and play tricks to get the emperor's blessing." !"

"Huo Feier, don't forget that you haven't been concubine yet!"

"You two sisters, stop arguing." Concubine Zhuang hurriedly advised from the side.

"Enough!" Chu Xiran slammed the table and said angrily, "Do you still have me in your eyes!"

Mu Yun and Huo Feier stared at each other and lowered their heads unwillingly.

"Because you are young and energetic, I won't care about you this time. Next time I let me hear about these things, I will definitely banished you from the palace! It's a mess!"

"Queen, calm down!" Both Shi Jieyu and Su Meiren entered the palace relatively early, so they were naturally familiar with Chu Xiran's personality. Seeing him furious, they quickly knelt down to comfort him.

Seeing them like this, the others also knelt down.

The room was quiet again.

"Forget it, you all go back to the palace, Concubine Zhuang stays here, I still have something to ask you!"

"Yes!"

After everyone retreated, Xiao Shunzi walked outside the hall and closed the two doors behind his back.

Chu Xiran took another sip of tea to moisten her throat, looked up at Concubine Zhuang, who was a little embarrassed, and then said slowly and clearly: "Concubine Zhuang, Zhao Yueru, entered the palace in Meiji 12, and is the jewel in the palm of Grand Tutor Zhao Qide. In the autumn of Meiji 13, she gave birth to Princess Jiamin, who was later conferred the title of Concubine Zhuang, the second rank, and temporarily in charge of the harem. Is what I said wrong?"

"Everything is just as the queen said."

Concubine Zhuang had never been in contact with Chu Xiran, so she was already a little uneasy, and she didn't know if she had offended him, she was at a loss, and she heard Chu Xiran say: "You have worked hard for these four years."

"The concubine is terrified. It is my honor to be able to share the worries of the emperor and the queen." Concubine Zhuang hurriedly knelt down, but was helped up by Chu Xiran herself.

"Why are you nervous? I'm not a tiger. Could it be possible to eat you? Look up."

A warm and clear voice rang in her ears, and when Concubine Zhuang raised her head, she saw Chu Xiran looking at her with a smile. Her delicate and soft features were not as sharp and handsome as the emperor's, but she had a casual and unruly demeanor, especially a pair of jet-black The bright eyes are not the charm of a woman, but they are as secluded as a deep pool, as if they can suck people's hearts into them.

Plop, plop, Concubine Zhuang's face turned red when she heard her heartbeat.

"Concubine Zhuang, you are blushing." Chu Xiran laughed loudly, let go of her hand and sat back on the first seat, motioning Concubine Zhuang to sit down as well, "It's just the two of us here, you don't have to be as reserved as before."

"Thank you Queen!" Concubine Zhuang bowed slightly behind her and took the first seat on the left below, "I don't know why the Queen left behind her concubines?"

"I would like to know, in the eyes of Concubine Zhuang, how do you think of your concubine and concubine Li?"

Concubine Zhuang immediately understood what he meant, and said without reservation: "Your concubine is the granddaughter of General Feng Guo, she is extremely precious, and because she grew up in a border military camp, her personality is unavoidably aggressive, and she has been arrogant in the two years in the harem." Being domineering, everyone in the palace didn't like her very much.

"As for Concubine Li, because she is the beloved daughter of Huo Zheng, the chief minister of the cabinet and minister of officials, no one dared to offend her after entering the palace. She has a strong and jealous personality, and has a bit of a young lady's temper, but she is quite stable in her work. They entered the palace at the same time, and it was not even a few days before they were enshrined, so they have always been enemies, and in the past two years, they have forged a lot of troubles in the fight for favor."

"It's just two girls who don't know the heights of the world." Chu Xiran couldn't help shaking his head when he thought of the scene just now.

"Actually, why doesn't the emperor know about their scheming methods? He just doesn't care about them. After all, he still wants to give old General Mu and Lord Huo face on the surface."

"Oh? It seems that the emperor has told you a lot." Chu Xiran glanced at Concubine Zhuang.

"The emperor talks the most about the queen." Concubine Zhuang's voice softened, recalling: "In the past few years, the emperor said five sentences about the queen, so although the concubine has only seen the queen A few sides, but the impression is very deep.”

"Isn't this palace