Because the Empress Dowager had been suffering from severe illness since the summer banquet, she couldn't bear the tightness of the county office, so she tidied up a bit that day, and hurriedly set off to the palace early the next morning.
The emperor personally sent the man ten miles outside the city. He even greeted him when he was leaving. He behaved like a filial son and a virtuous grandson in public. He reluctantly watched Feng Jia go away until even the dust raised by the procession could no longer be seen. Then he took the left behind with him. One concubine and two concubines returned to the Yamen.
"My dear concubine, Ji Bin and Yi Fengyi are lower in rank than you. Since they are staying with me together, you can make arrangements." After arriving at the Yamen, he took the herbal tea handed to him by the palace attendant to cool down. , the emperor put down the tea bowl and said Wen Yan to Yun Fenghuang, "The county government is no better than the palace, but this time I am going to wrong you."
Yun Fenghuang and the other three people quickly expressed that they were not aggrieved and that it was their blessing to be able to stay and serve the emperor.
Emperor Chunjia chatted with them for a while - basically telling Yun Fenghuang that Yi Xingen was not from a high family background and had a low status, and he was not the kind of master who didn't have long eyes, so it was natural for him to lower his eyebrows at this moment.
However, what surprised Yun Fenghuang was that Ji Muzi seemed to be a different person after he was demoted, but like Yi Xingen, he remained silent and wooden.
"Your Majesty, Cui Shangshu wishes to see you." Not long after, the waiter came to report, so the emperor interrupted the chat and asked the concubines to stay away.
The three of them led the palace servants out of the door and walked halfway down the corridor. Ji Muzi, who was half a step behind Yun Fenghuang according to the rules, suddenly speeded up, passed Yun Fenghuang three steps at a time, and went straight to the courtyard where he lived. .
Yun Fenghuang looked at it indifferently and didn't say anything. He only said to Yi Xing'en: "The county government office is only a small place. You can go on your own. I don't need to accompany you here."
Yi Xingen lowered her head and said respectfully, "I obey."
But he didn't move, maintaining his saluting posture, and waited until Yun Fenghuang finished walking the corridor in front and went in a different direction than her, then turned around and left.
So back in the house, Xijing brought Yun Fenghuang some fruit that he had just passed out of the well, and said, "Yi Fengyi is pretty well behaved, but Ji Bin is a bit arrogant after all."
Yun Fenghuang took a fruit in his hand, but did not eat it. He only smiled and said, "I thought you would say that Ji Bin has such a temper, and asked me not to argue with her."
"This servant is yours, how could she help Ji Bin speak?" Xijing's face stiffened when he heard this, and he was a little embarrassed, "Besides, what Ji Bin did today was not in line with the rules. Even if the Queen is here, she must That’s what he said.”
Yun Fenghuang didn't care that she was in the Huanhua Palace, and his heart was towards the Yanfu Palace. He finished the fruit slowly and waved everyone to leave, leaving only Xile to serve.
"What's going on, Concubine Ji?" Cicadas were chirping everywhere this season. The county government might have been in a hurry to receive the imperial concubine, but they didn't send anyone to remove the cicada. Although there was no one around, it was still noisy.
Yun Fenghuang leaned on the bamboo bed under the eaves, and asked Xile to bring a fan to fan for him. While peeling grapes and eating them, he asked in a low voice, "Why do you think this Zhaoyuan seems to be a different person since the summer party? I thought she was going to cause trouble just now."
You must know that she had just come out of Xiaoyingzhou, and after learning about Ji Muzi's demotion, she was always ready for the Ji woman to come with her people.
There was no movement at that time, and it could be said that Ji prevented her daughter from committing the crime because of the situation - but hasn't time changed
This time, Empress Dowager Ji specially left someone with Yun Fenghuang. In Yun Fenghuang's view, the eighth achievement was a chance for Ji Muzi to vent his anger.
After all, even if Ji Muzi didn't know who the real culprit was for her demotion, didn't she still know whether she had done it or not
As far as Yun Fenghuang knew about this master, he was not a very reasonable person. When the instigator could not be found, it was only natural for him to vent his anger on the person who had benefited... When she was sent out by the emperor just now, she was He was already ready to fight with Ji Muzi on the verandah, because the noise was so loud that Emperor Chunjia came over to break up the fight.
In the end, Ji Muzi just walked past her and walked away
Could it be that this Ji girl has changed her gender
"My maid also feels strange." Xile pondered, "Could it be that Empress Dowager Ji gave her instructions before she left? After all, Cui Shangshu's students had just impeached the adopted son of General Hussar, so it's hard to say what Ji wanted to do inside. ... If Ji Concubine caused any trouble at this moment, how could the former government not seize the opportunity to make a fuss? Moreover, the empress is not comparable to Wei Jieyu Yue Jieyu and others. Ji Concubine wants to cause trouble for the empress, but she can't I'm afraid I won't even be able to make splashes if I have any skills at all, and it will only make people laugh in vain."
Yun Fenghuang thought for a while, then chuckled and said, "Don't you dare say it's impossible? I don't know what's going on in my heart, so why would I care about such a thing with you?"
She sat up and said calmly, "The queen is still worried about me. In this situation, I was left to act as an eyeliner. I will report back to her some of His Majesty's actions during his stay in Wannian County. The reason for keeping this record is The concubine came here just because she felt that I was not reliable enough. When the time comes, one of Ji's own people can give a confession to confront me, which can prevent me from being treacherous."
"But Concubine Ji didn't stay close to your Majesty or the empress." Xile said hesitantly, "She didn't even mean to talk to the empress. The maid felt that as far as the eyeliners were concerned, the empress already had Xijing and the maid on her left. There is no need to openly distrust the empress. The reason why Concubine Ji is here is probably to take advantage of the fact that there are not a large number of new prostitutes in front of His Majesty these days to please Concubine Ji, so that Concubine Ji can sleep with him a few more times... "
Yun Fenghuang said: "Then you still want to keep Yi Fengyi down?"
Originally, the emperor had no feelings for the concubines in the harem, except Yuan Niang.
But as the emperor, it is his duty to favor the Sixth Palace. Considering the difference in appearance between Yi Xingen and Ji Muzi, she would prefer to sleep with the former if it were Yun Fenghuang.
If Empress Dowager Ji had left Yun Fenghuang and Ji Muzi here this time, Yun Fenghuang might even share the responsibilities of attending the bedchamber with Ji Muzi.
But with Yi Xing'en here, both a stunning beauty and a new love, if the emperor were to choose her without considering any other factors, Yun Fenghuang might not even be able to win, let alone Ji Muzi
"..." Xile was speechless for a while and said, "My servant is stupid."
Immediately his voice lowered, "There are also people from the Imperial City who are staying in Wannian County at the moment. Do you want a maid..."
Yun Fenghuang thought for a while and said softly: "Tell them to pay attention and don't let the Queen notice it."
Xile said: "Don't worry, Madam. Even if there are any flaws, it's just the regent's commission. What does it have to do with us?"
The master and servant looked at each other and smiled tacitly.
At this time, footsteps happened to be heard outside, and Emperor Chunjia walked in sweating profusely. Seeing the fruits and drinks at Yun Fenghuang's hand, he lifted up his robe and sat down, letting her serve him to relieve the heat.
Yun Fenghuang was actually very impatient to do such a servant's job, but he didn't show it at all on his face. He held a handkerchief to him with a smile and pressed the sweat on his forehead, with a distressed look on his face: "Your Majesty, you have worked really hard. It’s true that Cui Wan, it’s such a hot day, I can’t say anything later, and I have to rush to the middle of the day. I can’t sleep at my age, but I don’t ask His Majesty to take a nap.”
"Of course Cui Shangshu was talking to me about important political matters." Emperor Chunjia drank more than half a bowl of snow bubble shrinking drink in one breath. He felt that the heat all over his body had dissipated, and Xile cleverly came over. As she fanned herself, her heart suddenly felt relaxed, and she smiled and said, "Jieyu is not allowed to talk nonsense and slander the pillars of the court."
"Dongliang, in this whole world, who is more important than Your Majesty?" Yun Fenghuang disapproved and said disdainfully, "No matter how important a minister is in the temple, he can't help but take His Majesty's body at heart? Where can I get this? Let’s see who will say what I said is wrong?”
The emperor did not argue with her. He smiled and rubbed the top of her hair and said, "Why are you the only one here? I thought you would talk to Ji Bin and the others."
Yun Fenghuang said: "They also disliked the heat, so they all went back to their houses to enjoy the cool air."
The two of them chatted randomly, and Yun Fenghuang asked how long the emperor would stay in Wannian County.
"It will take at least seven or eight days." The emperor calculated and said, "I didn't expect to encounter such a thing before setting off. Since I promised to personally examine it, and the investigation will get to the bottom of it, I can't break my promise. In this way, the evidence here in Wannian County is convenient. Magistrate Du is a capable person, and all the evidence in the files is neatly prepared. Zheng Fengpi, on the other hand, rode his horse from the Imperial Capital that day, and the evidence along the way But you have to ask them one by one, which is quite time-consuming."
"Then Your Majesty will wait for them to report back in the next two days or so. Why don't you go out with me for a walk?" Yun Fenghuang pulled his sleeves and begged, "The county government is only so big, so it's boring."
The emperor glanced sideways at her, trying to smile or not remind her: "Didn't you just feel sorry for my hard work?"
Wouldn't it be hard to go out for a walk in the bright sun with you
Yun Fenghuang's face did not change, and he said with a smile: "Your Majesty, why am I doing this for myself? Isn't it because your Majesty is the emperor, and you are a mere county government official, and I feel that you are a little aggrieved? After all, the Imperial City Secretary is always busy You can't come back for a while, so your Majesty can't just wait like this? Why don't you go out for a walk and see the people's livelihood with your own eyes?"
"It doesn't matter, I know you are restless." Emperor Chunjia lazily watched her pester for a while, then smiled and said, "Then I will take you out for a walk tomorrow... But first, let's talk Okay, don’t mess around outside, you have to obey me in everything!”
Yun Fenghuang naturally made another vow.
After all, the Queen Mother and the Queen were not here at the moment. As a concubine, she persuaded the emperor to travel incognito and took her with her, which somewhat meant "treacherous concubine". Yun Fenghuang felt that he could not bear this crime alone, so he turned around and sent someone to ask Ji Mu Zi and Yi Xingen, do you want to go together
Yi Xingen's answer was very cautious and satisfactory: "I will listen to Empress Jieyu's arrangements for everything."
It was Ji Muzi who went to notify Liu Hong. According to her description: "When the maid went to tell the story, she did not see Ji Bin. It was the maid in front of Ji Bin who came out and told the maid that Ji Bin had been there for the past two days. I was a little dizzy, probably because of the heat, so I didn’t plan to go out. But the maid resigned and almost reached the door of our courtyard when she sent the quick-legged servant to catch up with her and told the maid that Ji Concubine had changed her mind. We decided to drive together."
"This Concubine Ji really seems like a different person." Yun Fenghuang smiled and said, "I remember that she was not so hesitant before."
Xijing guessed: "Maybe it's really hot, but you don't want to lose the opportunity to accompany the driver?"
Yun Fenghuang said: "Then tomorrow you will bring all the medicine packs to relieve the heat, and then ask the imperial doctor to carry your belongings and follow behind. Don't worry about concubine Ji doing something wrong in the middle, and I can't tell the empress and empress dowager. The queen and the others told me."
Xijing quickly agreed.
Next, Yun Fenghuang told her some things to prepare for tomorrow's trip, and naturally sent her to pack them up. He dismissed the people around him, waved Xile to him, and said in a low voice: "I'll leave tomorrow for the Imperial City Secretary to arrange some accidents. Look at how far Ji Bin’s temperament has changed? Is she pretending on purpose or has she received some blow in private that caused her temperament to change drastically?"
Xile agreed, but stopped talking.
"What's wrong?" Yun Fenghuang noticed it and raised his eyebrows.
"Your Majesty wants to test Concubine Ji, why don't we try another method?" Xile whispered, "I'm going out on a hot day, and if something happens, I'm afraid it will be bad for Your Majesty..."
Yun Fenghuang shook his head slightly, interrupted her, and said softly: "Do you think His Majesty was really persuaded by me to go out and walk around? He wants to stay in Wannian County for ten or eight days. How can he stay there forever? In the county government office? Since he is going out, why should I hide in the county government office like a prison? Let him take him out, so that I can relax and keep an eye on him to figure out what he is planning... Testing Ji Concubine is just incidental."
Xile didn't say anything after hearing this.
However, the next day, Yun Fenghuang's master and servant followed the emperor into the carriage excitedly. Before they left the Yamen, they heard several familiar voices coming from outside, saying they were greeting the emperor.
Lifting the curtain at Qidian and looking outside, Gong Xiangxiao, Deng Chengzhai, Ji Minggan, Yuan Ke and Yun Qike were all present. Except for Zheng Fengfen, who was troubled by his younger brother, the emperor's companions were all here.
The point is, Qi Jiulu is standing behind Gong Xiangxiao!