Qin Zhou smiled bitterly, "It's as if I'm a useless person who can't help me with anything."
Zi'an didn't expect her to think this way. He held her hand and said seriously, "No, Qin Zhou, this time we are just trying to take down one or two little cats and dogs. You don't need to do anything. If I need you, how can I give up on you, a famous general?"
Qin Zhou looked at her hands, which were as white as scallions and had a completely different touch from her own rough hands, soft and warm.
My heart was inexplicably moved.
She quickly pulled her hand back and said unnaturally: "Okay, then I'll wait for you to fight the big tiger, and then I'll help you."
Zi'an looked at her expression and thought of what Su Qing and Lao Qi said, and he felt a little unnatural.
Although she always thought that Lao Qi and the others were overthinking, after spending the past few days together, she felt that Qin Zhou did seem to have some feelings for her.
She wanted to gain a friendship, not a gay relationship.
"By the way, I wonder how Emperor Kangping is doing now?" Zi'an changed the subject. She knew that Qin Zhou had been paying attention to the news in Beimo, and she had arranged all the people before coming to Beimo.
Qin Zhou heaved a sigh of relief, "Everything is under control for the time being."
"Chu Jing, is there anything special going on?"
Qin Zhou smiled and said, "He is under someone's control now, what can he do?"
"That's good!" Zian nodded.
Yilan Palace.
After hearing what the Queen said, Concubine Yi was also slightly surprised, "You said Concubine Zhao is pregnant?"
"Yes!" Hu Huanling said bitterly, "I never thought that even she is more blessed than me."
I thought Sun Fang'er was in poor health. Seeing that her face was always very pale, I guessed that she was infertile. After all, the emperor had been doting on her in Xiwei Palace for some time, and no good news had been heard.
did not expect…
Although Concubine Yi was not as worried as Hu Huanling, she also felt a little threatened.
Although she was not fully aware of the emperor's real intention of keeping Sun Fang'er, she believed it must be related to his illness.
If the emperor has to rely on Sun Fang'er to treat his illness, then Sun Fang'er will not lack honors and favors. If she gives birth to a prince, it is not impossible for her to use the opportunity of curing the illness as an inducement for the emperor to enthrone her son as the crown prince.
She had been planning for so long, she couldn't let anyone take the crown prince's position away for nothing.
Right now, the deposed crown prince is useless, Prince Liang is uninterested, and Mei Fei's third prince is smart and wise, but Mei Fei does not have much ability and is definitely no match for her.
There is no need to talk about the Fourth Prince, his mind is not clear. The Fifth Prince, son of Concubine Liang, has been sickly since childhood and is not capable of taking on important responsibilities. Moreover, Concubine Liang is narrow-minded and short-sighted, so it is easy for her to get rid of her.
In other words, if Sun Fang'er gave birth to a prince, he would be her biggest threat.
Hu Huanling did not beat around the bush and said directly: "My Royal Concubine, I have been in the palace for such a long time, and I am quite close to you. I might as well make it clear. Now that Sun Fang'er is pregnant, I am worried about sleeping and eating. If my Royal Concubine can help me get rid of this worry, I will definitely keep it in mind."
Concubine Yi smiled and said, "I am deeply honored by your kindness, but Concubine Zhao is deeply favored by the Emperor, and it may not be easy for the Empress to have no grudges."
"I know it's not easy, so I'm looking for the imperial concubine."
Hu Huanling grabbed her hand and said earnestly: "Don't worry, my dear concubine. As long as this matter is handled properly, you will benefit a lot."
There is one advantage of talking to Concubine Yi, and that is that she doesn't beat around the bush.
So, after hearing this, Concubine Yi smiled, held Hu Huanling's hand, and then wrote a number on her palm.
Hu Huanling was stunned for a moment, then became furious and had a huge appetite.
She suppressed her displeasure and said, "Your Highness has received a lot of benefits from me in the past..."
Before she could finish, Concubine Yi let go of her hand and said calmly, "Yes, then just pretend that I never wrote it. Don't worry, Queen, I will do my best."
We try our best, but it may not be perfect.
Hu Huanling gritted his teeth and raised a hand, "How?"
Concubine Yi smiled affectionately, "Your Majesty, don't be stingy with the money. For the Hu family, this little money is nothing."
She took Hu Huanling's hand and bent two fingers, "Seventy thousand taels to buy the queen a carefree sleep, I think it's worth it."
Seeing that she had reduced the price by 30,000, Hu Huanling thought that they could negotiate, so he said, "How about 60,000 taels?"
Concubine Yi laughed loudly, then lowered her voice and said, "When did the Queen become so stingy? Doesn't the Queen know how big the risk is? If you are not careful, I will die without a burial place."
Hu Huanling calculated that she only had 50,000 taels left on hand. If she asked her father and mother to chip in, she should be able to get 70,000 taels. However, it was already autumn and she still had to take care of things. The Empress Dowager also needed a sum of money. Also, the Emperor had mentioned before...
"My Lady, I can only take out 50,000 taels." She really had no way of taking out so much silver.
Concubine Yi smiled and said, "Don't worry. Sun Fang'er is pregnant anyway. It will take some time for her to give birth. Your Majesty, please go."
She also knew that Hu Huanxi had cut off her source of income, so this should be the last time she asked Hu Huanling for money. Hu Huanling could afford 70,000 taels.
However, after taking the 70,000 taels, Hu Huanling would have nothing left. By then, Hu Huanling would have fallen out of favor, and the Empress Dowager would also dislike her, so the position of Empress would be meaningless.
It posed no threat to her anymore.
How could she miss this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone
She had not intended to ask for one hundred thousand taels at the beginning, but she knew that Hu Huanling was no longer the same as before, so she expected her to bargain, and therefore offered a higher price.
Hu Huanling was so angry that his teeth were itching. He didn't expect that Concubine Yi would not give in at all.
However, Sun Fang'er must be dealt with.
After a long silence, she looked up at Concubine Yi and said, "Okay, I promise you, 70,000 taels, I will pay you 30,000 taels first, and I will give you the rest after the matter is done."
Concubine Yi stood up and bowed with a smile, "I will follow the Queen's orders."
After seeing Hu Huanling off, Concubine Yi held her hair with her hand and called Qingfu in, "Does Concubine Zhao have to leave the palace once a month?"
"Yes, Imperial Concubine." Qingfu said.
"Well, calculate it. When did she leave the palace last month? How many days will it take until she leaves the palace next time?"
Qingfu said, "My queen, this is too risky. Every time she leaves the palace, the emperor sends people to escort her along the way. It's difficult to kill her on the way."
"Who said to kill her?" Concubine Yi sat down slowly, watching the wind blowing gently on the treetops in the yard, "Keep her, hold her in your hands, maybe, in the future, the emperor will..."
She didn't say anything else, but she looked contented, as if she had everything planned out.
Sun Fang'er was the one who treated the emperor. After Sun Fang'er moved into Xiwei Palace, the emperor's condition got better day by day, so she was almost certain of Sun Fang'er's influence on the emperor.
Perhaps, Sun Fang'er can be exchanged for the position of crown prince.
Of course, she was not sure, but the more things she had in her hand, the greater her chance of winning. She certainly could not miss such a good opportunity.
(End of this chapter)