Since Yan Lan became a concubine, Mrs. Liu was promoted by her and became the steward of the courtyard, which was much more prosperous than before.
Mrs. Liu has been working in Prince Qing's Mansion for many years and is very familiar with the human relations in the Mansion. Yan Lan is a newcomer and is afraid of making mistakes and needs her guidance, so she is very helpful. Not only has her status been improved, but her monthly salary has also increased several times.
Now there is only Yan Lan as a concubine in the mansion, and since she has a son, Prince Qing will naturally treat her more favorably.
Even if Nanny Xue occasionally said something, she would be patient for the sake of her children.
In addition, Yan Lan is a good person and never dares to be arrogant. At least on the surface, she is very responsible. Her life in the house is quite comfortable, and her food and clothing are of good quality, no worse than Cui Wenxi's before.
I originally thought that Ms. Cui would probably regret leaving Prince Qing's Mansion, but she never expected to hear such rumors. She was really shocked and said to Mrs. Liu: "Aren't Ms. Cui and the prince related to each other as aunt and nephew? How could they get together?"
Mrs. Liu slapped her thigh and said, "Hey, madam, don't believe it. I heard that it was Yuan Wulang from the Xibohou family who broke it."
Dangsi told Yanlan the gossips that had been rumored in the market vividly and vividly, which made her startled.
Like most women, no one can resist such explosive rumors.
Even if you don't care, you can't help but mention it. After all, it's Dong Gong and his former aunt. Firstly, they have a lot of status. Secondly, it involves ethics and education, which is completely challenging the public's ethical and moral bottom line.
No, Yan Lan was immediately attracted by this rumor, "This is really ridiculous. If Shiro knew about it, I don't know how angry he would be. What kind of behavior would it be for my nephew to hang out with his ex-wife?"
Mrs. Liu also said: "Yes, the old slave talked about this matter with the lady, just to let you know in your heart that if the husband comes back and gets angry, you can deal with it."
Yan Lan picked up the teacup and said, "That's the truth." He added, "It's true that Mrs. Cui is several years older than the prince, and she can actually do it."
Mrs. Liu said: "Now the Cui family has been completely disgraced in the capital. The people in the city are all slandering the Cui family behind their backs, accusing the Cui family of being ridiculous. They congratulated Wang Heli on the front foot, but hooked up with the prince and wanted to climb a high branch without even looking at it. My situation is really ridiculous.”
Yan Lan didn't say anything, thinking that when the two were not reconciled, she acted like a monster every day. Now that Cui had done such a bastard thing, could she be deliberately taking revenge on Prince Qing
Seeing her deep in thought, Madam Liu asked curiously: "What's wrong, Madam?"
Yan Lan came back to her senses and said, "It's nothing." He added, "Since this matter has been spread out, Shiro will know about it sooner or later. It's better to wait for him to come back and let me expose it and see how he reacts."
Mrs. Liu: "Madam, please think twice, it will be bad if you are angered."
Yan Lan laughed, "Why should he anger me? It's not me who brought the prince and Cui together."
Mrs. Liu shut up and said nothing.
Yan Lan stood up and said, "I'm going to see Hong'er."
Only then did Mrs. Liu retreat.
Zhao Hong was looked after by two wet nurses. In the cold winter, he was not brought outside. Unless there was a sunny day, he would be allowed to see the sun.
Now the baby was snoozing, lying peacefully in the cradle, being nourished extremely well by the nurse. Although he was born prematurely, the family took good care of him and raised him to be fat and lovable.
When Yan Lan came into the side room to take a look, the wet nurse had just put the child to sleep.
Seeing the master come in, the nanny bowed to her and called her ma'am.
Yanlan asked softly: "Are you asleep?"
The wet nurse replied: "I just finished eating and was put to sleep."
Yan Lan sat on the chair and made a gesture, and the nanny withdrew.
She gazed tenderly at the sleeping baby in the cradle. The little guy was sleeping soundly with his hands in a surrendering posture. Perhaps he was sucking breast milk in his dream. His little mouth suddenly made sucking movements, which made her look lovable.
This child looks very much like her.
Yan Lan stretched out her index finger and gently touched his fair face, her eyebrows and eyes full of tenderness.
Mother is more valuable than her son, and this child is her future. She must use him to firmly capture Prince Qing. As long as he is made the crown prince, so what if he is a concubine
For the sake of her child's future, she will rack her brains to capture Prince Qing.
When she thought about it, she was surprised that Mrs. Cui got involved with the prince.
If Mrs. Cui was happily married, she wouldn't be nervous, but now that such a commotion has happened, she is actually worried. After all, the prince is the nephew of King Qing. Cui's move is really unbelievable. How can King Qing give up
Yan Lan's mood felt a little heavy for a moment. She knew very well how cunning Cui was. If she tried to turn around, even if she had children as bargaining chips, she still wouldn't be able to defeat him.
Who said she was a noble daughter from a noble family? Both her vision and knowledge were superior.
Just like now, even if she enters Prince Qing's Mansion, sometimes she still can't stand up in front of Prince Qing. She can't understand or understand what he says.
This is the class gap caused by two different family backgrounds. She is just a country girl, while he is influenced by an aristocratic upbringing. Apart from sexual intercourse, she cannot satisfy her in spiritual communication.
Thinking of this, Yan Lan felt a little unwilling to accept it. How could the future she had worked so hard for be knocked back to its original shape
In the evening, King Qing Zhao Chengyan came back from work. The first thing he did every day when he came back from work was to see the children.
At that time, the infant Zhao Hong had already woken up, and Zhao Chengyan teased him happily for a while. The child was made to giggle and babbling in response.
He looked at Huanxi and rubbed Zhao Hong's face affectionately, but was caught.
Zhao Chengyan let out an "ouch" in pain, and Yan Lan hurriedly stepped forward to check and said to the nanny, "Why are you so negligent? You should cut Hong'er's nails shorter."
The wet nurse was in a hurry.
Zhao Chengyan said with a good temper: "It doesn't hurt."
The voice of the maid came from outside, saying that dinner was ready. Zhao Chengyan handed Zhao Hong to the nanny and went to eat with Yan Lan.
In the past, when Mrs. Cui was around, he always felt that his life was dull when he was sandwiched between Yan Lan. Now that he got his wish and had an heir, Yan Lan also brought him into the house without any hindrance, and the two sides got along peacefully.
It's just that there is a big gap between the two people's status and background, and they talk a lot about each other. They gradually lose their original impulse. Apart from the comfort of their children, they are not really enthusiastic about Yanlan.
From the bottom of his heart, he never regarded her as the mistress of the palace. He clearly distinguished between a wife and a concubine. How could a person like Yan Lan, who had neither knowledge nor family background, be the first wife
Carrying a concubine is already good enough.
Yan Lan served him chicken soup and said, "The mushroom chicken soup made in the small kitchen today is very delicious. Please try it, Shiro."
Zhao Chengyan took it, tasted a little with a spoon, nodded and said, "It's really good."
The two chatted for a while as usual, and the topic was all related to Zhao Hong.
After it was almost used, Yan Lan tentatively said: "Today, I heard rumors in the market. It is said to be related to the prince. I wonder if Shiro has heard of it?"
Zhao Chengyan frowned, "What rumors?"
Yan Lan hesitated and said: "I dare not say, after all, I have something to do with Shiro."
These words made Zhao Chengyan even more curious, "Just say it, I won't offend you."
Yan Lan hesitated and said: "I said it, Shiro, please don't be angry."
Zhao Chengyan nodded, "I won't offend you."
After receiving his accurate words, Yan Lan carefully considered her words and said: "It is rumored that the prince stayed at Cui's house at night, and in the middle of the night, Yuan Wulang from the Xibohou Mansion climbed up the back wall and broke into it..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhao Chengyan interrupted: "Absurd!"
Yan Lan shut up and said nothing.
Zhao Chengyan: "Where did you hear the rumor?"
Yanlan showed a panicked expression.
Zhao Chengyan said impatiently: "Just say it, I won't offend you."
Yan Lan then said: "I heard it from Manager Liu in the courtyard."
Zhao Chengyan immediately said: "Find her, I want to ask her face to face."
Yan Lan then anxiously ordered her maid to go find Mrs. Liu.
Zhao Chengyan originally wanted to use something else, but lost his appetite. He put down his chopsticks and said: "This rumor is really ridiculous. Everyone knows that the prince abides by etiquette. I have been married to Mrs. Cui for seven years. I also know what kind of temper she has. How could she do this?" Such a ridiculous thing happened?"
Yan Lan pursed her lips and said cautiously: "I didn't believe it at first, but I heard that Yuan Wulang of the Xibohou Mansion did have his hamstring broken, and it was ordered by the prince. The people on patrol also Know.”
Zhao Chengyan was silent.
Yan Lan saw his gloomy expression and said no more.
Later, Mrs. Liu was found, and she saluted Zhao Chengyan anxiously.
Zhao Chengyan looked at her and said, "Tell me about the rumors you heard outside. Tell me every word."
Mrs. Liu responded yes, and even recounted the rumors she had heard in detail, which made Zhao Chengyan's face darken. Afraid of being implicated, she hurriedly knelt down and said, "This old slave deserves to die. This old slave shouldn't follow others' opinions and get into trouble with his words."
Zhao Chengyan didn't express his anger at her, he just said, "Get lost."
Mrs. Liu immediately retreated.
Zhao Chengyan could no longer sit still and stood up to listen to Xuetang.
Yanlan shouted: "Silang..."
Zhao Chengyan ignored it and left with his hands behind his back.
After he left, Mrs. Liu sneaked into the side room and said in a complaining tone: "My wife didn't listen to my advice. Now it's time for Prince Qing to be angry with you."
Yan Lan sat at the table and said unhappily: "I didn't do this, why are you annoying me?"
Mrs. Liu didn't want to offend others, so she stopped talking.
On the other side, after Zhao Chengyan returned to Tingxue Hall, the more he thought about it, the more unbelievable it became.
Seeing his gloomy expression, Nanny Xue frowned and asked, "What's wrong with Mr. Lang, but Yan Lan has made you unhappy?"
Zhao Chengyan glanced at her and didn't answer.
Nanny Xue is not in a hurry. As long as she wants to say something, she won't hold it back.
After a long while, Zhao Chengyan said: "Mommy, what do you think of Ms. Cui?"
Nanny Xue was stunned. She hadn't heard him mention Cui for a long time. Today, she suddenly heard him mention it. She couldn't help but feel a little curious, "What did Mr. Lang mean by this?"
Zhao Chengyan thought for a while and said, "How is Cui's character?"
Aunt Xue answered inexplicably: "Naturally she is excellent, dignified and dignified, and is recognized as a model of noble women in the capital." After a pause, "Why do you talk about this?"
Zhao Chengyan showed a strange expression and asked tentatively: "Have you heard any rumors in recent days?"
Nanny Xue shook her head, "I didn't hear it."
Zhao Chengyan pondered for a long time and then said: "There are rumors that Cui and the prince are sleeping together, and it was discovered by Yuan Wulang of the Xibohou Mansion."
As soon as these words came out, Nanny Xue had the same reaction as him and blurted out: "Absurd!"
Zhao Chengyan: "Mommy doesn't believe it."
Aunt Xue replied: "I don't believe it. Who is the prince? He is the crown prince, and his conduct is generally recognized as being clean and abiding by etiquette. If it is said that Yuan Wulang covets the Cui family, I do believe it."
Zhao Chengyan's Adam's apple rolled, and he said in a more serious tone: "They said that Yuan Wulang climbed the back wall of Cui's house in the middle of the night, and was accidentally caught by the prince staying in Cui's house. In anger, he broke Yuan Wulang's hamstring, but he was still on patrol. Sent back to Xibohou Mansion."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Xue's eyes widened in confusion, and her face changed.
Zhao Chengyan: “I didn’t believe it at first, but it’s probably not groundless when it’s said like this.”
Aunt Xue waved her hands repeatedly, "This is impossible! The prince and the husband are nephews. Then Cui and you were also husband and wife, and they were his ex-aunt. If they got together, wouldn't they deliberately Aren’t you happy to find Mr. Lang?”
Zhao Chengyan also said: "That's why I don't believe it. No matter how ridiculous Cui is, she will not seduce the prince. She would not dare even if I gave her ten courages. She acts steadily and will never mess with the Cui family's future.
"Let's talk about the prince again. Although he is very scheming, he has an excellent reputation. Everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty knows that he is of noble character. Even if he is in a high position and has great power, he will not mess around with women.
"How could such a person who values reputation go to play with Mrs. Cui, and she also had a marriage with me, the uncle of the Fourth Emperor. If there is a quarrel, where will the saint in the palace put his face?"
This makes sense, so Nanny Xue said: "What Mr. Lang said is absolutely true. There must be a misunderstanding. The Cui family has a good reputation in the capital, and they will definitely not allow the Cui family to cause such a big disaster."
Zhao Chengyan nodded, "If Mrs. Cui had never left the government, she could have had a chance at the East Palace's future with her wealth and talent, but she has already been married, has no children, and is much older than the prince. She has an aloof and arrogant temperament, and even I If I can’t tolerate even one of my aunts, how can I tolerate the beauties in the harem in the future?”
Nanny Xue frowned and said, "She shouldn't act like this."
Zhao Chengyan's confusion completely outweighed his annoyance. Zhanger Jingang was confused and said: "You said that two people who can't be beaten with eight poles were defeated by Yuan Wulang?"
Nanny Xue thought for a while and said, "Mr. Lang, you might as well think carefully about it. Did you have any signs of it before you two reconciled?"
After hearing her reminder, Zhao Chengyan couldn't help but fall into deep thought. He carefully went through every bit of the past and found nothing unusual.
"In the past, the prince and Mr. Cui had never had any contact. Even if they did meet, there would always be other people present." After a pause, "The only time they had contact was at the spring banquet when Mr. Cui and I were fighting each other, and the prince teamed up to shoot the ball, but that This time there were many people present, and the two of them had never met in person."
"So, there was no sign of it in the past."
"I didn't notice it."
Nanny Xue asked again: "After the reconciliation, have you two met?"
Zhao Chengyan said: "Yes, I have seen her at the Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner. Mrs. Cui and I were talking and laughing, but we couldn't tell anything."
Nanny Xue frowned and said half-believingly: "Mr. Lang and Mrs. Cui have been married for seven years, but in the end they divorced because of an extramarital affair. Mrs. Cui is probably unhappy in her heart."
Zhao Chengyan shut up and said nothing.
Nanny Xue speculated: "Is it possible that she is angry with Mr. Lang, so she deliberately did something stupid to piss you off?"
Zhao Chengyan was stunned.
Aunt Xue: "If it is true that she is hanging out with the prince, there is always a reason. I really can't think of a reasonable reason. Only if she has the desire for revenge will she do such a thing. Otherwise, it cannot be explained. Her motive for doing this."
These words really made Zhao Chengyan feel complicated, "She shouldn't be like this."
Aunt Xue said sternly: "Langjun doesn't understand the girl's thoughts." She added, "You are a prince after all, and your rank is considered to be among the top in the capital. After she left Prince Qing's Mansion, where could she find someone like Langjun?" An average net worth?"
Zhao Chengyan remained silent.
Nanny Xue continued: "She has a very strong and aloof temperament. If she wants to overpower you, she will probably look for her in the circle of the royal family. Although the prince is noble, he has never touched women. If she really wants to use some tricks, the prince will not You must be able to withstand it, he is a young boy after all, no matter how old-fashioned he is, he is still a boy."
These remarks made Zhao Chengyan annoyed, "If this is really the case, it is really too much."
Aunt Xue: "No matter what the reason is, it is really inappropriate for the Cui family to mix with the prince. You, the fourth emperor uncle, are still doing well under their noses. Who can bear it after this?" ?”
Zhao Chengyan said with a face: "I must get to the bottom of it and ask Mr. Cui personally what he meant."
Nanny Xue: "You really should ask."
So the next day, Zhao Chengyan ordered someone to check whether the rumor was true. He originally wanted to avoid the prince, but he never thought that he would bump into him at the Yamen of Yushitai.
The atmosphere at that time was a bit subtle. Zhao Yue was very cheeky and greeted Prince Qing as usual, without any abnormality at all.
Zhao Chengyan saluted him and felt a little complicated when he saw his nephew.