Rong Xi thought that Mu Huai probably didn't like women acting like weeping in front of him, so he shook his head and replied, "I didn't cry..."
Her voice was already soft, but her words were filled with tears, which made her sound even more pitiful.
Mu Huai had already straightened her body so that she faced him, those eyes were clearly shining with tears, are you still crying
If the woman next to him dared to cry and feel wronged in front of him, he would definitely say hello to her.
But facing Rong Xi, he was a little helpless.
His right hand could strangle an eunuch to death with a little effort, but now, this bloody hand was wiping a woman's tears.
Mu Huai's voice was low and hoarse, with a little helplessness, he said, "It hurts? Forget it, I won't touch you again tonight, don't cry anymore..."
The feeling in his heart was unspeakable, from the moment he accepted Shunfu's suggestion to let this young girl serve him, everything became much more troublesome than before.
It was the first time for him to coax a woman, so he just wiped her soft cheeks indiscriminately a few times, and seeing that the tears in her eyes finally stopped welling, he asked her again in a low voice: "Finally, what are you talking about?" Whatever reward you want, as long as you mention it, I will reward you."
Mu Huai thought, in this way, this woman should be happy.
Rong Xi lowered her eyes, her thick black eyelashes fluttered up and down, and her white and round snow chest also rose and fell in the clear hot water.
So charming and seductive, but the beauty doesn't know it at all.
Mu Huai's eyes darkened slightly, he had been holding back his anger all the time, but what this woman said was true and confusing.
His Adam's apple rolled slightly, his tone sank a bit, and he threatened Rong Xi: "I said I won't touch you, but if you insist on doing this deceitful behavior, I'm not some kind of Liu Xiahui who can sit still." .”
After finishing speaking, the man punched heavily like venting his anger, and a lot of water in the tub splashed out.
Rong Xi was startled.
She has been obediently soaking in the water, not even daring to move, how did she become a seductress
Rong Xi shook her head hastily, and explained in a soft voice: "Your servant...Your servant did not do this."
Mu Huai grabbed her slender arm, interrupted her, and asked coldly: "Say, what reward do you want?"
Rong Xi calmed down and forced himself to calm down his heartbeat.
Mu Huai obviously wanted to reward her, but the tone of his words was more like: Say, what method of death do you want to choose.
This is a man who can always turn a good reward into a terrible punishment.
Under Mu Huai's stare, Rong Xi's scalp was numb, she turned her beautiful eyes slightly, she dared not return to him immediately, and blurted out: "Please Your Highness...send someone to repair the servant's bed..."
After Mu Huai heard this, the corners of Mu Huai's lips curled up in amusement, and he couldn't help recalling all the violent actions with her in that corner just now.
He thought, if it was on the bed in his bedroom, this kind of thing would never happen.
Seeing Rong Xi's eyes begging, Mu Huai let out a muffled laugh, and asked again: "Aside from this, what else do you want me to reward you for?"
The voice is no longer the same as before, and the hostility is faintly suppressed.
The man's breath made her face hot, and it was difficult for Rong Xi to think calmly.
Working by Mu Huai's side is really frightening, exhausting both heart and body.
Since it was mentioned to reward her, then she should make good use of this opportunity and not let it go easily.
Rong Xi bit her red lips, and while examining Mu Huai's uncertain expression, she asked in a soft voice: "...Since Father-in-law Shunfu left, the servants have been doing his errands and taking care of Quyun Palace. The big and small things. The servants don't know, the monthly salary of the father-in-law was... "
"You want me to raise your monthly salary?" Mu Huai asked.
Rong Xi nodded at Mu Huai.
Mu Huai was puzzled: "I agreed to this, but there is nothing to spend money in the palace, what do you want so much money for?"
As soon as the questioning was over, Mu Huai grabbed Rong Xi out of the water with his arms.
The snow-like skin on her body has already been ironed with hot water to a glowing pink, and she looks extremely beautiful.
Mu Huai deliberately avoided looking at her, threw a silk scarf casually, and ordered her to cover her body.
After Rong Xi wrapped it around her body, seeing that Mu Huai didn't ask any more questions, she followed behind him and fell silent in time.
She wanted money, so she had to save up to two hundred taels early, and then when Mu Huai got married, she begged her wife to let her out of the palace.
Mu Huai's attitude towards her today is still condescending, a little harsh.
Although he discovered her true appearance, he did not change his attitude.
Rong Xi prayed in her heart, hoping that Mu Huai and her would continue to maintain a pure master-servant relationship.
The absurdity of tonight will stop tonight. After tomorrow night, he should never touch her again.
*****
next morning.
Early in the morning, the palace maid's shrill screams came from the palace gate of Jihua Palace, causing all the passing palace people to tremble with fright.
It turned out that on the bluestone slab in front of the gate of Jihua Palace, there was actually the corpse of an eunuch.
The eunuch's death was miserable, his eyes were still open, and he had a gloomy look of death.
Concubine Li Gui was alarmed, and before she had time to dress up carefully, she simply tied her hair up in a bun, inserted a crested hairpin, and hurried out of the palace.
When she saw the eunuch's body, Concubine Li frowned.
After yesterday's banquet, she took the initiative to mention to Emperor Zhuang that it's better to go to the side hall to see how the fourth prince Mu Huai is doing.
Emperor Zhuang loved his son the most, so he complied with Concubine Li Gui's suggestion, and took the Empress and Mu Tao's biological mother, Concubine De, to the side hall.
But who knew that when they arrived at the side hall, there was no one there.
Concubine Li Gui's expression changed slightly when she saw this, she wanted Emperor Zhuang to see Mu Huai messing around with the eunuch, but now not only is there no Mu Huai in this side hall, the little eunuch is also missing.
Emperor Zhuang became suspicious and couldn't help asking Concubine Li Gui: "Why are you so concerned about the matter of the Fourth Prince today?"
Concubine Li Gui's face was resentful, but in the end she pretended to be polite and said to Emperor Zhuang: "The fourth prince's biological mother passed away early, and the concubine and empress should show some kindness to him."
The queen heard Concubine Li Gui return to Emperor Zhuang in this way, she didn't say anything, but secretly sneered.
When Emperor Zhuang heard her mention Concubine Xian, he finally didn't ask any more questions.
At this time, it happened that Mu Qian was going to study in the Imperial Academy, and she had been avoiding her hand injury for the past few days. Concubine Li Gui noticed her careful thoughts, and threatened Mu Qian last night to continue to get up early and go to the Imperial Academy to listen to the teacher's lectures .
Mu Qian left the palace with a sleepy expression, but when she saw the eunuch's corpse at the palace gate, she also jumped.
People died in the palace almost every day, and Mu Qian was well protected by Concubine Li Gui, and she rarely saw the corpses of her servants.
The eunuch's death was grim, and Mu Qian was so frightened that she quickly hid behind Concubine Li Gui.
Just in time, Mu Huai and his guards passed by the gate of Jihua Palace.
When seeing Concubine Li Gui and his party, Mu Huai stopped the wheelchair.
If he wanted to go to the Hanlin Academy, he would have to go far after passing through the Jihua Palace. Rong Xi followed him all the time, and after seeing the eunuch's corpse on the ground, he had a rough idea.
That aphrodisiac should be given to Mu Huai by Concubine Li Gui.
After Mu Qian saw Mu Huai, she also understood something in her heart, but she was always clueless, so she immediately shouted at Mu Huai: "Quyun Palace doesn't need to go through my mother's concubine's bedroom to go to the Imperial Academy. You deliberately walked this way today, and this eunuch has a grudge with you, you must have killed him!"
After Li Guifei heard this, she turned her head and gave Mu Qian a gouged look.
Although Mu Qian didn't understand the intention of Concubine Li Gui's move, she still kept silent.
Concubine Li Gui looked at Mu Huai with unclear eyes.
Seeing his unrestrained expression, he glanced at the mother and daughter with those sharp black eyes as if watching a play.
With a sneer in his eyes, Mu Huai said, "The imperial concubine should know why he was killed."
Concubine Li Gui was not in the mood to talk to Mu Huai right now, she just called for someone to take the eunuch's body away in a cold voice.
Mu Huai raised his eyebrows slightly, with a bit of disobedience in his eyes, and said again: "What's the use of taking his body away, it's too late."
Concubine Li Gui was about to refute Mu Huai, when she saw the eunuch who was next to Emperor Zhuang come here, and said respectfully to her: "Your Majesty, the Emperor invites you to go to Qianyuan Hall after the imperial court."
Qianyuan Hall is the sleeping hall of Emperor Zhuang, and it is also the place where Emperor Zhuang usually criticizes his son and governs.
Concubine Li Gui looked at Mu Huai with her beautiful eyes, and said to the eunuch: "I know, I will go to the Qianyuan Hall after the emperor comes down."
*****
At si o'clock, after the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty came from His Royal Highness Jiazheng, Concubine Li Gui was fully dressed and arrived at the Qianyuan Hall where Emperor Zhuang lived.
The melodious ambergris was burning in the hall, and the interior decoration showed the nobility of the heavenly family. Emperor Zhuang was dressed in a dark red crown, wearing a sky-reaching crown, and stood beside the desk with his hands up and down.
Concubine Li Gui adjusted her facial expression, looking at the tall and straight Emperor Zhuang, she couldn't help thinking that when she first met him, he was completely different from the Emperor she imagined in her boudoir.
Emperor Zhuang Muzhen has clear eyebrows and gentle disposition, unlike the monarch in his impression who always has a daunting and aggressive aura.
A handsome man as gentle as jade will always make the heart of a girl in a boudoir.
Emperor Zhuang was nearly twenty years older than Concubine Li Gui, and now he was at the age of knowing his destiny. Although his appearance was gradually fading, the temperament that had accumulated over the years still made people feel that he was extravagant.
Concubine Li Gui was born noble, so she was arrogant and domineering in her boudoir. She never thought of being a concubine.
But the day when she became Emperor Zhuang's concubine was the happiest day in her life.
- "The concubine has met His Majesty, Your Majesty is safe."
Concubine Li Gui said respectfully.
After finishing speaking for a long time, Emperor Zhuang didn't call her to get up.
Concubine Li Gui knelt quietly for a long time, the hall was eerily quiet, only the sound of her own flustered breathing could be heard beside her ears.
"Kangdang -" a sound.
The sapphire long-necked wine jug fell to the ground with a sound, and the liquor scattered along the broken porcelain.
The tip of Li Guifei's nose was filled with the mellow aroma of wine, and her heart beat faster.
Emperor Zhuang is a person who seldom gets angry, and he has always been kind to court ladies and eunuchs, but today he threw weapons in front of her in anger...
"Your Majesty..."
"I ask you, what did you put in the fourth prince's wine at yesterday's banquet?"
Concubine Li Gui pursed her lips tightly, she dared to admit what she did, she was not afraid of being found out.
She just wanted Mu Huai's reputation to be ruined again, until it was irrelevant to that position.
What she hates the most is that Emperor Zhuang still thinks that the man's leg disease will be healed, and he still wants to leave that position for a wicked concubine.
The fear in Concubine Li Gui's eyes gradually disappeared, she secretly gritted her teeth and said nothing.
Emperor Zhuang focused his eyes, and said again: "I can find out everything as long as I torture the palace servant who handled the chrysanthemum wine yesterday."
"Yes, my concubine drank acacia in his wine..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Zhuang raised his hand and slapped Concubine Li Gui.
"You...you poisonous woman..."
Li Guifei covered her hot face sideways, and as the pain intensified, the last feelings she had for Mu Zhen in her heart slowly melted away.
What he did was really chilling.
It was as if only Mu Huai was his parent and child.
His Ji'er is not his own flesh and blood.
Emperor Zhuang stared at Concubine Li Gui coldly, raised his voice and ordered: "Decree, demote Concubine Li Gui to Xiurong, and confine her to Jihua Palace. Without my order, you are not allowed to leave Jihua Palace!"
Concubine Li Gui couldn't believe it, Emperor Zhuang actually lowered her status by six ranks.
The eunuch who received the order hesitated for a moment, but still said to Emperor Zhuang: "Your Majesty... Privy Secretary Li Rui and General Protector Yin Cheng are asking for an audience outside the palace. Will the Emperor announce them to enter the palace?"
When Concubine Li Gui heard her father's name, she calmed down a little.
With her father around, Mu Zhen couldn't move her position.
Emperor Zhuang looked at Concubine Li Gui coldly, and said in a deep voice, "Back off."
Concubine Li Gui slightly raised her exquisite crescent eyebrows, got up and saluted Emperor Zhuang, then stroked her loose temple hair and returned to Jihua Palace from the back hall.
The eunuch who received the edict looked at Concubine Li Gui's slightly smug back, and asked Emperor Zhuang: "Then this imperial edict... will the emperor still announce it?"
Emperor Zhuang stared at the eunuch who received the order and said nothing.
The eunuch who received the order knew in his heart that the position of Concubine Li Gui was preserved.
After Li Rui and Yin Cheng entered the palace, Mu Huai had just finished school, and Emperor Zhuang also announced that he was going to Qianyuan Palace at this time.
Rong Xi followed Mu Huai there, but was told to wait outside.
Since talking with Li Rui, the privy envoy, Rong Xi already had a guess in his mind that Daqi might have another war soon.
The territory of the Central Plains was divided by five countries.
Daqi is located in the hinterland of the Central Plains and is the country with the largest territory.
The remaining four kingdoms also include the Yan Kingdom in the north, which is second only to Daqi in terms of territory, the Hu Kingdom after the integration of the Tubo tribes, the Ye Kingdom bordering on the Yan Kingdom and located in the northeast, and the small country Jin Kingdom in the southern corner of the Central Plains.
The first emperor, Chengdi, had the ambition to annex the Kingdom of Jin before his death, but on the way to conquer Jin for the first time, the wife of Chengdi, Empress Yuzhen, was told by the imperial doctor that she would not survive for three days. Give up the country.
In order to see his dying wife for the last time, Emperor Cheng resolutely withdrew his troops and rebelled against Qi.
This anecdote is still being talked about by the common people even now, no one would have thought that such a decisive emperor is actually a kind of love.
There is also a reason why her father was exiled because he failed to supervise the construction of Empress Yuzhen's tomb.
After all, this Empress Yuzhen was the late Emperor's true love.
When Rong Xi thought of his father, he saw that today's day is really the first, it was cold a while ago, and it is hot again this time, which really echoed the folk saying "Autumn Tiger".
Xu Ri hit Mu Huai's body, shaking his eyes, and he couldn't help frowning.
Rong Xi looked around and asked Mu Huai in a low voice: "Does Your Highness go back to the palace to rest first, or wait outside the palace for the emperor to finish talking?"
Mu Huai frowned, and said to the attendant, "There's an ancient cypress over there, push me under that tree."
After the attendant answered, he pushed Mu Huai there.
Rong Xi didn't dare to ask Mu Huai why he pretended to be lame, so he did his part and followed behind him.
The leaves on the ancient cypress branches had already turned yellow, and occasionally two or three fell on Mu Huai's body, Rong Xi carefully picked them up for Mu Huai when he saw them.
At this moment, Mu Huai lowered his eyes and looked at Rong Xi's slender wrist.
There were bruises and bruises on every wrist.
Looking at her side neck again, she also fainted a few blushes.
Rong Xi didn't notice at all that Mu Huai looked at her with somewhat ambiguous eyes.
After she tidied up Mu Huai's clothes, he slightly hooked his index finger.
Rong Xihui had Mu Huai's thoughts, he had something to say to her alone.
He bent down, ready to listen respectfully.
There was a playful smile in Mu Huai's eyes, and then his thin lips pressed against her ear, and said in a low voice, "Come to serve me in my bedroom tonight."
Seeing that Rong Xi didn't react much, he just nodded, Mu Huai pursed his lips, and added another sentence: "Wash your face clean, wear your hair in a bun, and come to my palace in obscene clothes."