After Xia Chu left Wuma Huacai's courtyard, he wrote a new letter, asking Xiao Zimu to inform the emperor in private that the green bamboo lamp in the study room had been replaced, and to request the emperor to investigate quietly so as not to alert the emperor.
He gave the letter to Han Hong and asked him to hurry up and send it to the Hou Mansion to be handed over to Cong Ting. If it was still too late, he would replace the letter that had been handed over to him before.
Han Hong accepted the order and left. Xia Chu then went to Xiao Mubai's room and talked to him about the conversation he had with Old General Zhao in the General's Mansion.
Han Hong, who was working hard all the way, caught up with Cong Ting on the way to the Hou Mansion and the palace gate, handed the letter to him, and relayed Xia Chu's words.
Cong Ting brought the letter to the palace again. Xiao Zimu was still visiting Concubine Lian in Yaohua Palace at that time. On the one hand, he also heard that Concubine Lian and the emperor had been having some unpleasant troubles recently. On the other hand, he also wanted to see her in person. Next to the palace maid Zhu'er.
Xiao Zimu asked Concubine Lian why she had some trouble with the emperor that night.
"What's the problem between me and your father?" Concubine Lian looked calm. After speaking, she raised her eyes and asked with a little doubt: "But you, since a few days ago, have been at the forefront of the storm. You used to not like to be caught in the middle. In the center of power, haven’t we always stayed out of it?”
Xiao Zimu could see that Concubine Lian was a little displeased, and also knew that these incidents would inevitably make her heart palpitate. She thought about her words before speaking: "In the past, I just thought that I stayed out of the matter, Concubine, ever since I was born as a prince. , whether I like it or not, I am already in this whirlpool. If this country is succeeded by the fourth brother in the future, can we really be alone?"
If he hadn't known Xiao Yanjun's methods and the sufferings of the people in the past, he might have stayed out of the matter as Concubine Lian said, and when he was weak, he would be crowned king, and he would ask for a fiefdom to become an idle prince.
But now, he has experienced several lives and deaths before he knows that without Xia Chu's protection during this period, the body would have been completely cold, and he has never fought for it in these years.
But as for them, even Zheng Zhongguang never let go.
His existence itself is an obstacle in the eyes of others. Instead of waiting for others to give him a fatal blow, it is better to give up the naive idea of being an idle prince and give it a try.
Concubine Lian sighed after hearing what he said: "You have seemed gentle since you were a child, but you are actually more stubborn than anyone else."
Xiao Zimu couldn't see her sad look and called out worriedly: "Mother Concubine."
Concubine Lian gave a light smile: "That's all, I thought you were always proud and unwilling to fight for the imperial power. Since you have chosen this path, you can't look forward or backward."
Xiao Zimu smiled helplessly: "Mother and concubine, we have no choice."
Concubine Lian looked at him lovingly, but Xiao Zimu didn't know that he had a choice.
Although the Ju family has been dormant in the court, not to mention that they can protect him from the throne, but if he has no intention of fighting for the throne, it can still protect him from wealth and safety for the rest of his life.
But now, he has entered the emperor's sight, which is not what he used to be. Now that he has this idea, there is no way out other than fighting through thorns and thorns.
"If you need anything, just tell Concubine Mother, our Ju family can still handle things." Concubine Lian was silent for a moment and finally spoke.
Xiao Zimu had no intention of asking Concubine Lian to help him. He wanted to fight for the throne. To put it bluntly, he saw the suffering of the people in ancient Anhui and wanted to do something for the people.
To put it lightly, he just wants to hold the supreme authority and be able to protect the people he wants to protect.
However, since the mother-in-law said this, Xiao Zimu thought about it and asked tentatively: "Have the maids who serve in the mother-in-law's palace been with you for a long time?"
Concubine Lian picked up the tea that had been sitting for a long time and took a sip: "You want to ask Zhu'er, right?"
Xiao Zimu's eyes lit up: "Does the mother and concubine know?"
Concubine Lian chuckled: "You discovered it quickly."
If Zhu'er secretly exchanged for other items, he might not be able to know so quickly. But what she exchanged was the green bamboo lamp. Xiao Zimu smiled bitterly: "Concubine Mother knew but kept her by her side on purpose?"
Concubine Lian glanced towards the direction outside the palace: "What palace doesn't have some nails? If you remove one, you will put another one in, or else just keep them all. She belongs to Concubine Li and has been with me for seven or eight years. , she has not done anything outrageous in these years. Yesterday, Yu Rui told me that she sneaked into Yongning Palace while you were guarding the gate of Ci'an Palace. I originally wanted to find out what she wanted. , you took the initiative to flirt with me today."
Xiao Zimu looked a little shocked. He had always thought that his mother-in-law was a careless woman.
I never thought that my mother-in-law could be so shrewd.
Xia Chu told him for the first time that Xiang Xun in Yongning Palace was planted by Xiao Yanjun. After he found out, he wanted to get rid of him. Xia Chu also told him at that time that raising him also had its benefits. …
Seeing his expression, Concubine Lian took his hand, put it in her palm and patted it gently: "Why, do you think Concubine Mu is not as pure in mind as you imagined?"
Xiao Zimu still didn't recover from the lingering fear, and lowered his head slightly: "No, no."
Concubine Lian's expression suddenly became solemn: "Mu'er, you have to know that in this harem, anyone who can still live safely will never be innocent. The same is true in the court. If your thoughts are still so simple, mother Concubine, it is better to go and ask the emperor to grant you a fief to spend the rest of your life, rather than to die."
Xiao Zimu raised his head when he heard this: "I have remembered what my mother and concubine said. I was just shocked for a moment."
Concubine Lian pursed her lips with a trace of bitterness, and reached out to touch his forehead: "Although Concubine Mu is not as clean as you thought, she only wanted to protect herself and never did anything to him. She originally wanted to protect you all her life, but she always had a simple mind. , but in the end, you still chose this most difficult path."
Xiao Zimu held the slender jade hand that was touching his forehead, and suddenly there was a surge of sourness in his heart.
He originally thought that the stability he had enjoyed since he was a child was the stability he should have had. Little did he know that perhaps there were many things behind his proud and self-proclaimed years that he didn't know.
And these things were all shouldered by Concubine Lian.
When Xiao Zimu thought about this, he suddenly felt that he had not been familiar with the world in these years.
In the past, he was self-righteous and proud of his aloofness. At this moment, it was like a joke mocking his naivety.
At this moment, he understood what he really wanted and what he should do. If the desire to fight for position was in his heart in the past, he just followed the trend with the help of Xia Chu. So now, it is a matter of self-reliance with a firm mind.
Xiao Zimu suddenly saluted solemnly: "When I grow up, I will protect my mother and concubine from now on."
Concubine Lian watched his expression change from confusion to determination, like the fog breaking through the clear sky. She stretched out her hand to help him stand up, and responded with a happy smile on her lips: "Okay."
(End of chapter)