Tonight, a woman was mixed into the political affairs hall.
Mu Huai has always been a person who can't rub his eyes. Zhai Shiyin pretended to be a eunuch tonight and broke into the Zhengshitang to seduce him.
His mind has always been deep and suspicious, and this incident not only made him feel blocked and uncomfortable, but also because he was a monarch for many years in his previous life, he hated the land he often stayed at for not being strictly guarded.
After Zhai Shiyin fled in a panic, Mu Huai's eyebrows became more serious. He glanced at the broken porcelain and residual tea on the ground, and secretly felt that there might be medicine in it.
He coldly called his attendants and all the servants of Zhengshitang.
In the middle of the night, when the rain had not subsided, Mu Huai stood in the hall with his hands behind his hands, tall and straight like a pine tree, his young and handsome face looked extremely gloomy.
The Heavenly Family is majestic and intimidating.
Mu Huai interrogated everyone, and soon found out the eunuch who was bribed by Zhai Shiyin.
He ordered someone to beat him to thirty sticks, kicked him out of the political affairs hall, and ordered him not to work for any noble master in the palace, but to go to Yeting to do the most vulgar work.
At the same time, he walked in front of a group of attendants with lowered heads, scolding them for not even noticing that a woman had sneaked into the political affairs hall.
This time, the salary will be fined first, as a warning.
If there is a next time, it will never be such a simple punishment.
The attendants should be one by one.
They neglected their duties tonight and offended the prince.
The prince has a cold temperament and a ruthless wrist.
But the punishment for them tonight is fair.
Since the prince is the crown prince of Daqi, the requirements for the garrison must be strict.
This time, all the attendants have raised their vigilance, and they dare not slack off their errands any more.
The news about Zhai Shiyin naturally reached the ears of Emperor Mu Zhen the next day. This matter was related to the safety of the prince, and because she was a young lady from a family, she did such a thing shamelessly.
After Emperor Zhuang learned about it, his usually calm and gentle face rarely showed a bit of anger.
He ordered people to call the queen to the Qianyuan Hall.
You know, the empress is the master of the harem after all, so she is treated differently from ordinary concubines.
Emperor Zhuang treated her with respect, even though he didn't love her, he still respected her as his first wife. Generally, if he had important matters, he would go to the Queen's Weiyang Palace and talk to her in detail.
The palace people saw that today Emperor Zhuang asked the empress to come to Qianyuan Hall to be reprimanded like ordinary concubines, so they knew that Emperor Zhuang was really angry because of the matter of the crown prince and the eldest daughter of the Zhai family.
Emperor Zhuang secretly felt that Zhai Shiyin, a boudoir lady, probably didn't have the guts to do such obscene things.
The only one who is familiar with everything in the palace and can understand Mu Huai's daily life is the queen, the lord of the harem.
Emperor Zhuang heard some details of this incident, and when he learned that Zhai Shiyin had sneaked into the Qianyuan Palace disguised as an eunuch, he became even more angry.
Many years ago, he was just a county king, and the old people in the palace's hidden residence used this method to get close to him.
Emperor Zhuang was young at the time, but he thought it was interesting for a woman to pretend to be a eunuch, so he pampered that concubine who was not well-born.
Now this concubine is still in the palace. Although she is no longer favored, she has given birth to a princess for him, and her current status is a fifth-rank Xiuyuan.
Emperor Zhuang understood Mu Huai's son, since he didn't like Zhai Shiyin, Zhai Shiyin's method would only irritate him even more.
The empress is already standing outside the Qianyuan Hall. Although she doesn't know much about it, she has been in a high position for many years, and she looks calm on the surface.
She originally wanted to create conditions so that Zhai Shiyin would have the opportunity to get close to Mu Huai before making further plans.
But it never occurred to her that her beloved niece usually looks like a calm and dignified young lady of a family, but she is so impatient in dealing with things, and doesn't understand the principle of step-by-step.
Mu Huai's temperament is also extremely ruthless, he didn't care that Zhai Shiyin was a young girl, he poured hot tea on her head without even thinking about it, he didn't understand compassion at all.
Thinking of this, the queen sighed slightly.
At this time, the chief eunuch of Emperor Zhuang walked out of the palace gate and said respectfully to the queen: "Your Majesty, the emperor calls you in."
The queen nodded, and with the help of the grand lady, she carefully stepped over the threshold and walked into the palace.
After Emperor Zhuang saw the queen, his attitude was quite peaceful.
He asked: "The empress knows about the eldest daughter of the Zhai family."
The queen's mood was a little calm, knowing that Emperor Zhuang still saved her some face.
Then he said in a soft voice with a little apology: "Your Majesty forgives the sin. It is the concubine's lax discipline, which also makes the prince feel dissatisfied. The concubine is not blessed... I have not been able to add a son and a half to your majesty. Up to now, Yin'er has committed a crime. After such a serious offense, although the concubine regards her as his own daughter, he can no longer protect her. But she is a young girl after all, and please His Majesty, for the sake of the concubine, confine her in the Shangshu Mansion. In the future... there is no need to let her enter the palace to visit his concubine. After all, this matter is disgraceful, and if it is spread out, it will be bad for the prince. This time, letting her think about the past behind closed doors is also to let her never miss the prince, and the concubine will also I decree that she is not allowed to enter Yongxi Palace again... Your Majesty, what is the arrangement of the concubines?"
Emperor Zhuang looked at the queen up and down, since she had already let go and refused to let the daughter of the Zhai family enter the palace, he couldn't say anything more, so he agreed to the queen's request.
The queen was disappointed with Zhai Shiyin, a niece. She had cultivated her painstakingly over the years. A while ago, even the Department of Neizhu took her to see her, and really put a lot of effort into her.
But who would have thought that Zhai Shiyin could not hold his breath and was not up to his expectations.
Up to now, she can only treat this niece as an abandoned child.
The queen thought, after a while, the limelight of Zhai Shiyin and Mu Huai's matter will pass, she just needs to fulfill her aunt's responsibility, find a noble family for her, and let her marry someone else.
But I didn't realize it, and within a few days, the news was unstoppable and even spread to the public.
There are many women's schools in Bianjing, and they all use Zhai Shiyin's case as an example to warn young girls not to be as disregarded as she is, and destroy their own future.
The good people in Bianjing naturally had a bad opinion of Zhai Shiyin, and no mistress wanted her precious son to marry a woman like Zhai Shiyin.
Let such a woman enter the door, it is really a disgrace to the lintel.
When Zhai Zhuo went to court recently, he felt that all his colleagues looked at him with unclear emotions.
Those eyes seemed to be contemptuous, but also seemed to be looking at him as a joke.
Zhai Shiyin will lose all his face!
This day, Zhai Shiyin was playing the piano well in the library of the Shangshu Mansion, but she felt lonely and lonely, she knew that her reputation had been ruined, and it took a long time for her to recover.
Fortunately, mother Zhai did not criticize her harshly.
It's just that the empress in the palace didn't comfort her, nor reprimanded her. Recently, she always called Zhai Shihua into the palace alone, and she already regarded her as an abandoned child.
Suddenly, the zither made a sharp braking sound.
Zhai Shiyin's hand hurt, and blood oozed out.
She looked down, and it turned out that the strings were broken.
She was about to leave the pavilion to bandage the wound, when she saw Zhai Zhuo, who had just returned from court, standing in front of her angrily.
"Daddy..."
Before Zhai Shiyin had time to say hello, Zhai Zhuo waved his sleeves and angrily slapped his eldest daughter.
He scolded angrily: "It's in vain that your mother and the empress have carefully cultivated you for many years. You did such a shameless thing, and you still have the leisure to play the piano here?"
Zhai Shiyin's face was already slightly burned by Mu Huai's cup of hot tea, but after being slapped, his face would swell for a few more days.
Thinking of his father's recent indifference towards him, Zhai Shiyin was also extremely unhappy. Finally, covering half of his painful face, he retorted: "Father... this matter is not the fault of the daughter alone. The empress and mother are involved. Now If the matter has not been accomplished, why should we blame the daughter alone?"
Zhai Zhuo was furious, and scolded again: "How dare you talk back?"
After all, he wanted to slap Zhai Shiyin again, but was stopped by Zhai's mother who arrived in time.
Zhai's mother showed a bitter look, and persuaded: "Master... Yin'er's words are true, but she is not the only one to blame."
Zhai Zhuo withdrew his hands, and the more he looked at her mother and daughter, the angrier he became, and he ordered in a cold voice: "You have completely disgraced the Zhai family. You are really ashamed of your ancestors. Today I will punish you to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days , ask for the forgiveness of the ancestors, kneel for a long time, and then eat."
After saying that, Zhai Zhuo raised his voice again, and said again: "Listen well, if anyone dares to bring food to the eldest lady, no matter who that person is, I will drive him out of the house!"
Zhai Shiyin was astonished, but he had no choice but to follow his father's order and kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment.
She was brought up pampered, so she has never been punished like this, she could bear it while kneeling in front of her head for a few hours, but after late at night, she felt as if her knees were being pricked by needles, and her stomach was screaming , Hungry staring at Venus.
Mrs. Zhai wanted to secretly deliver food to her, but Zhai Zhuo found out and stopped her.
Early the next morning, Zhai Zhuo came to the ancestral hall in person, wanting to check Zhai Shiyin's condition, but found that the eldest daughter was exhausted and fainted in front of the ancestor's spiritual tablet.
After all, it was the eldest daughter whom he had doted on for more than ten years. Zhai Zhuo finally ordered his servants to carry Zhai Shiyin into the boudoir. After being fed some hot soup by Mrs. Zhai, Zhai Shiyin gradually regained consciousness.
After waking up this time, she no longer had the same affection for a woman as she did in the past for the high prince in the palace.
Instead, hatred arose.
Although she hated him, she hated that bitch Rong Shi the most.
It's just that she is now trapped in Shangshu's mansion, and she can't leave the mansion for half a step, so how can she find a way to deal with that woman
Thinking about it, Zhai Shiyin burst into tears and threw herself into Madam Zhai's arms.
Mrs. Zhai caressed her daughter's back, and comforted her: "Yin'er, accept your fate, stay in the mansion these few years, and don't go out. Mother will buy you any food and gadgets you want. You can also relax." Xinxu, at least the Shangshu Mansion can give you a lifetime of wealth and leisure, so stop thinking about those thoughts."
Zhai Shiyin remained silent, letting tears overflow, and finally clenched her fists tightly.
*****
Before the early summer of Bianjing, all the scenes of the East Palace were finally renovated. Emperor Zhuang sent people to transport many precious lake stones. Those stones were eroded by the lake water for several years. All are naturally formed.
Then, the master stone-stacking craftsman in Bianjing chiseled it a little, transformed it into a rockery and transported interesting strange stones to the East Palace, which looks like a distant artistic conception of mountains and mountains.
Recently, people from Neizhu Division moved many potted plants of different shapes, and re-paved the ground with granite and pebbles. Originally, the trees in the East Palace were lush and luxuriant, but this time they introduced many precious flower trees.
There are orchids and bamboos, and there are red Polygonum and purple water chestnut.
Seeing that early summer is approaching, the night in the East Palace gets darker, and the fragrance of the flowers and trees becomes stronger, which is even more luxurious than the unrenovated Quyun Palace.
At three o'clock in the day, Rong Xi missed his nap due to calf cramps, and was afraid that if he took a rest in the afternoon, he would not be able to sleep peacefully at night.
Carrying Danxiang, he stood under the corridor of the floating pavilion in Bitan, sprinkled fish food into the water, and fed the fish swimming in the pool with a faint expression.
She has been working very hard recently, and she always has nightmares at night, and has not been able to sleep well for several days.
The day before yesterday, Mu Huai called the imperial physician up to this time, and asked why, but after the imperial physician diagnosed her pulse, he said that there was nothing serious about it from the direction of the pulse.
The imperial doctor said that maybe it was because she was too worried recently that she always had nightmares and insomnia.
Or maybe it was because he was always trapped in the East Palace and couldn't get out, which caused his bad mood.
Rong Xi still remembered Mu Huai's concerned expression that day.
It seems that he really cares about this child.
While watching the fish swimming in the pool, Rong Xi thought of Huanniang and Ye Yunlan. Recently, she asked Mu Huai side-by-side, and she was sure that Emperor Zhuang would not let him marry Zhai Shiyin again.
But she also learned the news that made her feel cold.
Although he will not marry her, Mu Huai always has to take into account the wishes of Emperor Zhuang and the Empress.
Zhai Shiyin committed a serious crime and her reputation was completely ruined, but Emperor Zhuang and Mu Huai would not take her life, they would still let her live.
Zhai Shiyin is still living the life of a rich lady in Shangshu's mansion.
Thinking of this, Rong Xi's movements of throwing fish food into the pool paused slightly, and his beautiful eyes were also slightly cold.
But she wanted Zhai Shiyin to die.
"—Your Highness Wanan."
The voices of the maids interrupted Rong Xi's thoughts. She realized that it was Mu Huai returning to the palace, so she bowed her knees subconsciously.
Mu Huai was already walking beside her, holding the woman's slender arms and letting her stand up.
The beauty's complexion this afternoon was much better than yesterday's, but her beautiful peach eyes were haggard.
Mu Huai knew that this woman was afraid that he would be worried, so she would always quietly put some powder on her face to make herself look better.
Rong Xi squeezed the brocade bag containing the fish food in his hand, his face returned to his usual gentle and docile, and asked Mu Huai in a soft voice: "Why did Your Highness return to the palace so early today?"
Mu Huai's tone was light, and he replied: "You have been ill recently, and I want to spend more time with you alone."
After Rong Xi heard this, dimples appeared on his cheeks, but he continued to feed the swimming fish.
Mu Huai really took good care of her recently. He came back earlier than usual. Knowing that she had trouble falling asleep, he held her in his arms and coaxed her to sleep like a child.
Rong Xi was in a sweet mood, but because Zhai Shiyin was not dead, there was some bitterness in it.
Mu Huai silently looked at Xiao Liangdi's delicate and beautiful side face, he couldn't see it anymore.
Rong Xi sensed that Mu Huai was looking at her, so she said a little shyly: "Husband... I still want to feed the fish for a while, if you feel bored, you can go back to the palace first."
Mu Huai said nothing, and finally shifted his gaze from the woman to the pool.
But he felt that the swimming fish and koi in the pool looked at each other dumbfounded.
If she is not pregnant, he can also reward her with a few playful pets such as baby rabbits, Siamese cats or Ying Ge for her entertainment.
But now, if he is not in the East Palace, this woman can only feed the fish for fun.
It's poor.
Rong Xi's jade-like fingernails were just dyed with light pink Koudan a while ago, and the warm setting sun shone on them, making her hand look more slender and fairer.
Mu Huai couldn't help but squeezed the woman's hand into his palm, and wrapped his other arm around the woman's waist, making her unable to move.
The servants at the side deliberately took a few steps back, not daring to look up at the master's intimacy, they all lowered their heads one after another.
Rong Xi laughed, and asked puzzledly: "Husband... How can I feed fish when you are like this?"
Mu Huai kissed her forehead, played with her soft hand, and whispered in her ear: "Forget it, don't feed the fish anymore, I will take you out of the palace to have a look."