Li Xing turned around and faced Li Wei. The light in the tent was not very bright, but because of the close distance, we could clearly see each other's faces.
"Sister, did he commit a capital crime?"
"Death penalty? I won't let my eldest brother die, and those old foxes won't kill him. It's just that I can't bear to see the power of the Li family. After this incident, my eldest brother's position is not guaranteed. This is true. Let him lie dormant for a while and wait for another day to come back again, it depends on whether he can bear it anymore. "
Hearing what his eldest sister said, Li Xing knew in his heart that the most taboo thing for those powerful ministers was the monopolization of power by relatives. So now the eldest sister has cut off her wings without waiting for the emperor to take charge, leaving a way out for the Li family. Only then did she understand the Queen Mother's intention.
"Sister, you have good intentions, but why don't you tell your aunt directly about these things? If you tell her clearly, she won't misunderstand you."
Li Wei said: "The eldest mother-in-law thinks that I am obstructing my brother to make him feel better, and thinks that I am a white-eyed wolf. Then what else can I explain? No matter how much I say, it is useless, so I don't want to come forward to solicit this matter, so that if there is a regent outside, he will Know how to do it.”
Li Xing consoled him: "Sister, you bury everything in your heart. You have too many things in your heart. Aren't you afraid that you will get sick from worry over time?"
Faced with his sister's kindness, Li Wei chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I am strong in my heart. It won't destroy me so easily. I still have a certain ability to withstand pressure."
Li Xing learned that although her sister held a high position and great power, she also had many limitations. If she were in her sister's position, she would probably be at the mercy of others.
Li Wei said: "Today is a good day for you. After today, you will be one year older. Study well with your husband and help me teach the princess."
Li Xing said: "Don't worry, Queen Mother, I am the princess's companion, so I will naturally do my best."
"Well, I also sincerely hope that you can learn something that will be beneficial to you throughout your life. Today my mother came and told me about you..." After the words started, Li Wei hesitated again. Should she talk to her? My sister said the following.
"What did mother say about me?" Li Xing blinked his bright eyes, full of expectation.
"You... said that when you grow up, let me take good care of you and make good plans for your future." Li Wei hesitated as he spoke.
Li Xing also knew very well in his heart that the future of a woman who had passed her hair age was not just about getting married. Li Xing was still very concerned about who she would marry in the future. She knew that ever since she was selected into the palace as a companion to the Ninth Princess and asked her to be a companion to the Queen Mother, she knew very well that her future lay with her eldest sister, and her parents did not necessarily have the final say.
Li Xing's heart beat so fast when she thought about her life-long event. She said shyly, "What are your plans, Queen Mother?"
The appearance of another person appeared in Li Wei's mind, and she remembered her sister's love for the ruby hairpin. Her heart sank, and then she asked: "Fifth sister, what do you think of the regent?"
"Prince Regent?" Li Xing's chest was beating harder and harder, as if it was about to overflow. She said nervously: "Prince Regent, he has a high and powerful position, and no one in the world is more powerful than him."
The look in my sister's eyes is exactly the same as that of Wang Yulan and Bian Ling back then. It seems that Li Xing likes the regent very much. Taking care of Li Xing's face, she didn't want to say anything. She just said: "He was physically weak in the early years, but he looks better here. Now he is the regent, and all military and national affairs are on him, and he is really working hard." ”
"Yes, the regent is not something that ordinary people can do. The prince has real talents and learning." Li Xing was still happy when he mentioned this person. She was waiting for her sister to tell her personally that she would decide the future for her and the regent. However, Li Wei did not continue to talk to her about the regent, but said: "Okay, go to sleep. You will have to wait for tomorrow." I have a lot to do when I go to school.”
Li Xing couldn't help but feel a little unmotivated. She wanted to be with the regent for a long time, so she had to ask her eldest sister to marry her. If she wanted her eldest sister to agree to the marriage, she had to serve her more carefully and please her eldest sister. yes. Li Xing felt that one of the smarter things about her than the dead fourth sister was that she could clearly understand her identity and situation, what she wanted, and see herself clearly.
Li Wei did not say that she wanted to make the decision for her sister to make the marriage. In her opinion, the eldest princess still wanted to be a matchmaker for her sister. The future was still very long and there were endless variables. After waiting for this year, there would be no mention of it until next spring. Late. At that time, she must have completely let go of Zhao Qian in her heart, and it would not be too late to offer him a marriage by then.
The two sisters slept on the same bed, but they had different thoughts. Li Wei lay face inward, closed his eyes and waited to fall asleep. Li Xing also turned around, facing outward. The dim candlelight in the corner made her open her eyes. What the future will look like is a test for the sisters.
As soon as it was dawn, Li Xing wanted to help Li Wei comb his hair and change clothes, but Li Wei stopped him: "With Qingxiang and the others, I won't bother Fifth Sister."
Qingxiang brought the maids in to comb Li Wei's hair, and Li Wei changed into a blue-gray plain shirt and skirt. All the hair was combed up and tied into a bun with carved sandalwood hairpins. Don't even apply any powder. Completely dressed as a widow.
There was no need to be particular about what Li Wei was wearing. He cleaned himself up and rinsed his mouth. She bowed several times before the Bodhisattva. Then he had breakfast with the princess and Li Xing. She personally escorted the two of them to the car, and then they went to the Wenhua Pavilion.
Immediately afterwards, the concubines came to Chongqing Palace to greet her. Concubine Dun did not show her face, but sent a nun to come to greet her. It turned out that King Fu was ill again.
Li Wei sat at the top and slowly said to the people in front of him: "I talked about the division of divisions a while ago. Almost two months have passed, and the results have been achieved, but they are not obvious. The expenses in the palace are still too high. It’s a big burden, so I’m thinking of reducing the number of people serving in Chongqing Palace by another third.”
Whenever Chongqing Palace introduces any new measures, other palaces can only follow them.
When everyone heard that the Queen Mother was going to lay off people again, Concubine Ning said first: "A number of people around the Queen Mother have already been laid off. If we continue to lay off people, we may not have enough manpower. There are rules set by our ancestors."
Li Wei said: "Rules are dead, but people are alive. In addition, the harvest in recent years has been poor, wars are still going on in the border areas, and the national treasury is empty. If we continue to blindly be extravagant, it will increase the burden on the country, and we women will not be able to achieve great achievements." , we have to start from the things around us and reduce as much as we can.
These concubines and concubines in the palace are all girls from aristocratic families. When they were daughters at home, they were pampered in every possible way. They grew up among beautiful things. Nowadays, many of them are reluctant to be frugal, but because of the face of the Queen Mother, they are unwilling to do so. Dare not say anything more.
(End of chapter)