Taichu Palace was quite deserted at night.
A flute sound suddenly sounded, like an invisible hand, disturbing the night.
The palace guard who watched the night frowned at first, fearing that someone ignorant of life and death would disturb the emperor's sleep, but soon discovered that the flute player was Chunjia.
He half-opened the palace window, overlooking the dim moonlight that filled the courtyard. The jade flute lay across his lips, sobbing like he was sad, but full of alienation and indifference.
It seems to be telling a very sad and cold story.
But it has nothing to do with the flute player.
The steward listened to the sound of the flute and whispered to the palace attendants to be careful and not to make any noise and disturb the emperor's interest.
But Chunjia was not in a bad mood at the moment.
The method of plagiarizing Yun Fenghuang was very effective. No matter what Empress Dowager Yuan was thinking at the moment, it was impossible to prevent Mother Yuan and her son from becoming a thing of the past in this palace and disappearing from sight.
Now that his goal had been achieved, he didn't bother to think about it any more.
After all, neither Yuan Niang nor her child, whom he temporarily named Gong Xiangzhuo in order to impress the Empress Dowager Yuan, were actually not very important people to Chunjia - this was a secret that only he knew well. It has not been disclosed to anyone.
Nor can it be disclosed.
If the Queen Mother Yuan did not like Yuan Niang at first, but during the long period of getting along with her, she unknowingly fell in love with her niece, forgetting her anger at being coerced by the Yuan family when she agreed to the marriage; , they all treat Yuan Niang at a respectful distance.
The problem was that the then Empress Dowager Yuan could not refuse the Yuan family, and he could not refuse the Empress Dowager Yuan.
He knew very early that he was not the biological son of Empress Dowager Yuan. This was not the fault of any servant or Empress Dowager Qu, but from his direct grandmother, Concubine Fuyangzhuang.
When he was about to remember, Empress Dowager Yuan took him to pay her respects to Concubine Zhuang. Concubine Zhuang looked at them indifferently and said in front of Empress Dowager Yuan: "After all, he is not your biological child. He looks more like his biological mother... than me." When I was little, I was quite handsome."
Then, as if she didn't notice Queen Mother Yuan's pale face and Chun Jia's ignorance, she served the guests tea with a smile - there was clear intention and malice in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.
This is not over yet.
One day after King Duan of Fuyang passed away and during the funeral period, the sick Concubine Zhuang took advantage of the time when Empress Dowager Yuan was greeting the condolence guests and had Chun Jia brought to her.
The young Chunjia was very scared. Although he was Princess Zhuang's only grandson, because he was a commoner, he could not inherit the royal title according to the rules and was not favored by Princess Zhuang.
Except for greetings during the New Year, his direct grandmother didn't even want him to step into the main courtyard.
This was the first and last time he faced his grandmother alone.
Although Empress Dowager Yuan had been covering up for Concubine Zhuang in front of him, saying that Concubine Zhuang actually liked him very much, but she seemed to be stern and so on... But he was forced to enter the inner room, and faced the strong smell of medicine and the strange body odor of the dying old man. When Li Zhan trembled and kowtowed in greeting, he still felt instinctive fear and nervousness.
"I'm dying. Although I don't like you, you are my son's only flesh and blood." Zhuang Taifei changed her previous coldness towards him and spoke proactively, "That's why I plan to give you some advice."
Chunjia was at a loss and kowtowed, not daring to say anything.
He heard the maid in the room who had served Zhuang Taifei all her life cover her mouth and let out a suppressed voice, and he shivered subconsciously.
Concubine Zhuang ignored all this and just said to herself: "After I die, the Yuan family will be in charge of this palace. You are her support as concubine. She will not treat you poorly in public. At least you have a son." No. But if you don’t want to be her puppet and obey her words all your life, and your life or death is up to her, you must remember what I said - the descendants of my father-in-law, the Xiang family, even if they are just concubines, are not the daughters of the Yuan family in Fuyang. Take it easy!"
Chunjia said nothing.
He doesn't know what to say
Fortunately, Mrs. Zhuang did not need his intervention, and followed, "Since you became the crown prince, Fuyang Yuan family has hinted several times that she wants to betroth your legitimate daughter to you, but I have stopped her. But I am about to die now, Yuan Shi She will definitely help her mother-in-law, but no one can refuse this for you. I sent someone to inquire about the girl they want to marry you, and it is really not good. I mean, she is worthy of you, she is worthy of this house. I’m not qualified to be a steward either.”
She said with a cold face, "But after I die, if Mrs. Yuan tells you this, just agree. After all, if you don't agree, she will have many ways to make you have to marry her niece."
"...the mother-in-law is very good to her grandson." Chunjia bravely retorted.
He was so young at this time that he actually didn't understand the words very well. He only vaguely felt that his grandmother was speaking ill of Queen Mother Yuan.
Hearing this, Princess Zhuang sneered and did not reprimand. She just said lightly: "After a few days, when you get engaged to her niece, she will definitely bring someone over to her house to cultivate a relationship with you. When the time comes, you can Look, does she feel more sorry for you or her niece?"
When it came to Chunjia's future fiancée, the concubine gave a strange smile, "She chose you among the nieces whose appearance is not outstanding, and who has some conscience."
Even the young Chunjia felt something was wrong with these words, but before he could ask, a mother next to her sobbed: "Your Majesty, the concubine is your direct grandmother. Even though you are not allowed to come to the main courtyard, there is a reason. In my heart How could I not care about you? I’m afraid that the instructions I’m giving you right now will be... The prince won’t be able to hear them if he wants to hear them in the future... The prince should stop talking and just listen to the concubine!"
Chunjia lowered his head, feeling a little confused and frightened. He must not like Concubine Zhuang very much. After all, this grandmother had always been cold to him. Although Empress Dowager Yuan did not teach him to alienate his grandmother, she did not teach him either. Being close to grandma.
In his eyes, Mrs. Zhuang was actually not much better than a stranger.
But this is his grandmother after all.
The country governs the world with filial piety, and he has already been influenced by it at this age. If his own grandmother dies, he will never be indifferent.
Concubine Zhuang looked indifferent and continued to say: "You are talented and smart, and your body is strong. From now on, study hard and don't let your martial arts fall behind. When you grow up, you don't need anyone to tell you what is right or wrong. Say, you should understand. It only takes about ten years. I heard that you have been determined since you were a child. You never ask for supervision in your studies. Your teachers are full of praise for you. Don't you have any patience at all? Then It’s fitting that you won’t end up well in the future!”
She said slowly, "You are too young now. You have status but no ability. You can only count on Yuan for everything... but you can't count on her all your life!"
"The tree that hugs you is born from the smallest moth; the nine-story platform is from tired soil. I just hope you remember this sentence, no matter what, no matter how many people say good things to you, no matter how many people flatter you and what happens after you take the throne You can live a rich life without doing anything, don't listen, don't believe, treat yourself as nothing, and ask your teachers for advice as much as possible - when you grow older, Yuan will not care about you, you should also learn to build a reputation for being virtuous!"
"In this way, after ten or twenty years, I believe you will thank me."
For the first time in her life, Princess Zhuang smiled at her own grandson, but she didn't show much relief or kindness. She only stressed slowly, "Work hard and try to stop relying on your mother and concubine, the Yuan family, or even the Yuan family as soon as possible." Prince Fuyang's Mansion, you can stand between heaven and earth, and you will definitely thank me when the time comes."
She smiled, motioned to the mother not far away to help her, and with some difficulty reached out her hand to touch the top of Chun Jia's hair.
Chunjia was not used to her touch and subconsciously wanted to hide. She froze halfway through hiding.
He felt that his grandmother's palms were wet with cold sweat, and she almost wiped her hands with her hair, but he didn't dare to say it. In order to cover up the discomfort, he turned his head slightly, but happened to see the mother also tilting her head and turning her head. Remove the glitter from the corners of your eyes.
This scene quickly reminded him of how he was doing the same thing a few days ago, kneeling in front of the hospital bed and watching a room full of people shed tears as they bid farewell to his biological father, Prince Fuyang Duan.
Chunjia was lost for a moment and didn't hear clearly what Concubine Zhuang said next. When she came to her senses, Concubine Zhuang had already finished her words: "... Anyway, you go down."
Naturally, he didn't dare to ask the concubine to say it again, so he agreed casually, kowtowed and walked out hurriedly.
But when he went out, he realized that the concubine only asked him to leave the inner room, but did not let him leave the main courtyard.
And soon a servant came out and set up a brazier under the corridor, asking him to kneel down and burn paper for King Fuyang Duan.
It was still very cold at that time. Although Chunjia was wearing fur clothes, the corridor was drafty on three sides. The concubine did not ask for help, and the people below did not dare to bring him anything.
Not long after kneeling like this, he felt a little bit too much.
Her mother, who had been helping Mrs. Zhuang in the house before, came out and asked someone to look at the door. She just took off her waistcoat and gave it to her, and whispered: "Your Majesty, please bear with me. The princess will come later. alright."
Chunjia was ignorant at that time, thinking that he had offended his grandmother and was being punished. He was not close to Concubine Zhuang, and of course he was reserved with Concubine Zhuang's attendants. He thanked her gently and said nothing else.
But the mother stood beside him, looking at him intently, and after a while she said: "The prince was born after his biological mother, but his chin is exactly like that of a prince."
Chunjia glanced sideways at her, a little confused as to why she suddenly said that
He had met this mother before, but she had never looked directly at him, let alone started the conversation.
"... The concubine knows everything about the prince's affairs over the years." The mother finally said, "As for why it is not obvious to the public, you will naturally understand it when the prince is older. Please be cautious about today's matter after the prince returns. Tell the princess. Best not to say a word."
Then she went inside.
After a while, the little maid rushed in to report the news, and the mother came out and quickly took away Chunjia's waistcoat from under her knees. Soon Queen Mother Yuan came in with Zhan Liu to pay her respects. She saw Chunjia burning paper alone in the corridor, her face unable to be concealed. The angry look.
I don't know why the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were tearing Fa Chunjia apart that day. After all, they all wanted to save face. King Fuyang Duanwang's body was still cold, and his heir apparent was still out there, so everyone knew that they couldn't make any noise.
In short, when his grandmother and aunt were quarreling, he was thinking hard outside: Should he tell the Queen Mother Yuan what his grandmother told him
Later he decided to tell her that after all, Queen Mother Yuan was more trustworthy than Princess Zhuang.
Only then did she say: "Mother, my grandmother said, after she dies, will you promise me your cousin?"
Queen Mother Yuan's expression suddenly changed. She hugged him and asked repeatedly: "What else did she say?! Did she tell you something?!"
This hasty attitude made Chunjia confused, and he shook his head: "Grandma said that my cousin was not good, but the child wanted to listen to his mother and concubine... Grandma asked the child to go out and burn paper for his father."
Empress Dowager Yuan was clearly relieved - she had missed the confession this time, so she turned around and forgot about it for the moment.
When I remembered it, it was already at the funeral ceremony of Princess Zhuang.
After the funeral ceremony, Chunjia felt that it was better for his mother and concubine to treat him well, and he wanted to find the Empress Dowager Yuan to confess. However, before he could speak to his aunt, the Empress Dowager Yuan asked him with a smile: "How long does the concubine intend to take your cousin over to live with her?" Day, okay?"
He hesitated and said yes, but said nothing more.
He thought he only had a few days to spare, so why not take a look at his cousin's condition and judge whether his grandmother's words were true or false
Later... After meeting Ms. Yuan, Chunjia knew that Mrs. Zhuang's words should never be told to Queen Mother Yuan for the rest of her life.