Caught off guard, Yun Fenghuang froze.
The first thing that came to her mind at this moment was not guilt, explanation, fear... but suspicion.
Well, just now she lost her temper and was about to leave. Chunjia pulled her back and sat on his knees. At that time, he just said it was to coax her, but he didn't take it seriously, and she was just hugged by him.
At this moment, in a flash of lightning, Yun Fenghuang realized how stupid this move was: because he was leaning in Chunjia's arms, the slightest abnormality could be felt, and there was no chance to cover it up!
"Your Majesty, just tell me when you are tired of me, why do you need such excuses?!" At the moment when the imperial concubine noticed her stiffness, Yun Fenghuang instantly pushed Chunjia away, stood up from his knees, and quickly He took two steps back and stood still. When he looked up, his face was full of anger, and he said in a hateful voice, "I felt that I was unlucky this morning. Otherwise, if I were living a good life, why would it be either this storm or that accident?! I just thought that after meeting His Majesty, , thanks to the great love, I will be able to turn things around, and there will no longer be the days of trouble! However, I didn’t expect that Your Majesty doesn’t trust me after all!!!”
Chunjia looked at her dumbfounded: "Concubine, do you think I am testing you?"
Yun Fenghuang said firmly: "I don't dare. Your Majesty is so eloquent that of course he means what he says."
She thought rapidly in her mind where was the flaw
But I couldn't remember it for a while.
The meeting with Empress Ji was extremely confidential. Even the attendants who were sent to the palace by the Jiang family, not everyone knew about it.
Jiang is very careful in her work, and those who can be sent to the palace to serve her are not only sensible, careful and loyal, but also have enough hostages in her hands.
It cannot be said that these people will never betray, but it has only been half a year since they entered the palace, and Yun Fenghuang has not shown any signs of decline, so it is really unlikely that someone will cheat on him.
Could it be the problem with Queen Ji
But would the queen be so careless
Or... did the queen betray her on purpose
Could it be that Ji found other collaborators in the harem
But who would be more suitable than her
Or is there a secret here that she doesn't know about
Yun Fenghuang's thoughts were whirling in his mind and his expression remained as usual. Not far away, Chunjia took a sip of tea and said An Ran: "No need to guess, no one will tell me."
"..." Yun Fenghuang quickly thought about how to answer. Should he continue to attack to show his innocence and clear conscience, or... follow his tone
But before she made a decision, Chunjia had already continued: "Empress Mother has been quite cold to you these days. At the Jie Feng Banquet just now, she even spoke for you to help the Queen instead of supporting Concubine Xuan and Concubine Rui. The Ji family is not stupid. How could you not know that allowing you to follow the queen will inevitably have a great impact on the queen? They tried every means to build momentum, even burning the palace, so that they could use the momentum of their return to help the queen regain the palace power. How could I let you be a slave to me? On your side?"
Yun Fenghuang's achievements were recognized by Empress Dowager Yuan, who was deeply prejudiced against her.
And Queen Ji and her sisters had all been stabbed by this concubine personally - to say that the third-generation Phoenix Master of the Ji family didn't have a long memory, Chunjia felt that they were not qualified to cause such trouble for herself.
"As a result, the mother-in-law and the empress dowager argued about Rang'er for a long time, but she downplayed the fact that you were temporarily promoted to the virtuous concubine by me... Is this possible if there is no inside story?"
Chunjia was very calm, as if she was not talking about her favorite concubine colluding with outsiders, but an extremely common thing, "What's going on? Huh?"
Why can't he be a fool who doesn't know the difference between wheat and rice? ?
Yun Fenghuang clenched his wrists again.
But I felt a little more at ease because Chunjia said it was just suspicion, but there was no proof.
"The Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother were unable to stop His Majesty from speaking. Is it my fault instead?" She retorted confidently, "Besides, His Majesty just advised the Empress Dowager, the loving mother, in Chunwu Palace. How could you have known that? Didn't Mrs. Ji do this intentionally so that I could be suspected? In this way, your Majesty can help them solve this problem without waiting for the queen to figure out how to target me?"
She thought as she spoke, and added, "If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can either kill me now. Or I will be sick from now on and cannot leave the house, and Your Majesty will choose another virtuous concubine to help the Queen." , is it done?”
Chunjia smiled and said to her: "Where did I learn how to cry, make trouble, and hang myself at every turn? I don't know any taboos."
He was so calm and calm, as if he didn't care at all. Yun Fenghuang became increasingly unsure, and laughed and said: "What else? I don't have any important ministers, father or brother, so I have to suffer some grievances for my sake and chase after Your Majesty. I want justice. Apart from dying to prove my innocence, what else can I do?"
"I haven't asked you about your crime yet, but you gave me a blow with a gun and a stick!" Chunjia smiled good-naturedly, "Concubine Xuan and the others have fathers and brothers who are important ministers, but you see, at the critical moment, even I, Empress Yuan Mu, who cares about them?"
It's okay that he didn't mention this. When he mentioned this, Yun Fenghuang's tears came down again: "The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are back. In the way of filial piety, even Your Majesty has to be honest. In this case, I will go. The queen came to attack, and if you were not careful, you would end up badly! Originally, in terms of status, I was only under the queen, in terms of having children and children, and in terms of favor, I would be comfortable even if the queen regained power. Live your life!”
"After all, the concubines at the same level are supported by Concubine Xuan and Concubine Rui. They are all people with important fathers and brothers who can threaten the middle palace."
"As long as I don't show up, will the queen target me first?"
"Do you think I know this?"
"I just stood up rashly with the idea of sharing His Majesty's worries."
"Now, the three generations of the Ji family probably hate me very much... As a result, from the loving mother, the Empress Dowager, to your majesty, there is no one who does not doubt my identity!"
"If I had known this, why would I do this?"
"Just be a true concubine quietly!"
Chunjia listened quietly, then smiled for a while and said: "My dear concubine, what you said is so sincere, I almost want to believe you."
Yun Fenghuang said with tears: "I don't dare to hope for this."
"That's all, let's not talk about it anymore." Chunjia waved her hands indifferently, "Today, Rang'er and Jinger were held at the gate of the palace to greet Feng Jia. The cold wind blew for a while. Can the imperial doctor take a look at her when she comes back?"
"..." Yun Fenghuang was ready to fight hard to prove his innocence. Unexpectedly, he took the initiative to change the subject. His mind was in a mess, and he wiped his face and said listlessly, "I told you before to let the imperial doctor immediately after bringing them back." Look...if the people below didn’t say anything, I guess it’s okay.”
Chunjia stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."
Then they naturally walked around the children for a long time, and when it was time to eat, they passed around the food.
He stayed at Huanhua Hall that night, as gentle as ever, as if he had never mentioned Yun Fenghuang's collusion with the Ji family.
He acted as if nothing had happened, but Yun Fenghuang was suffering in his heart.
Because it's not sure whether Chunjia has evidence or is very suspicious, or is he just trying to follow the trend? ?
She spent 120,000% of her energy before calmly persevering until they both fell asleep.
When he got up to see Chunjia off the next day, Yun Fenghuang called the Qing people to him and whispered: "Check thoroughly to see if there is anything leaked when Empress Ji comes to Xuanqing Palace!"
Qing Ren was startled: "Mother, has the news spread?!"
"Don't worry about this." Yun Fenghuang was worried that telling the truth would make her confused and more vulnerable, so she frowned and said, "Just go and investigate."
At this moment, in the Taichu Palace, Chunjia, who was sitting high on the throne and watching the ministers arguing over a political matter, turned his head slightly and told Yan Yin: "Ask the Imperial City Secretary to pay attention to the manpower that the Queen can mobilize among the Ji family. Let’s see if they have anything to do with Xian Fei’s family.”
Yan Yin's heart was shocked, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions and just said: "Yes."
He paused and then asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, in the palace confinement, over there at the Xuanqing Palace..."
Since it is suspected that there is a relationship between the Ji family and the Xian Concubine's family, then the relationship between the Xian Concubine and the Queen in the palace...
"... Keep an eye on it, but don't do anything." Chunjia thought for a while and said softly, "By the way, Prince Xingning was also involved in the fire in the palace?"
"Yes, but the Imperial City Secretary reported that there is something hidden inside, and the prince is probably framed." Yan Yin whispered, "If he is exonerated..."
Chunjia shook his head slightly: "No need."
The beads swayed lightly, covering the emperor's face, and I could only feel that his eyes were dark and dark, and he said in a calm tone, "How can I investigate and report it later? There is no need to waste extra time and effort on it."
Yan Yin lowered his head: "Yes."
The emperor said nothing more, and turned his attention to the ministers under Danqi, listening intently to their arguments to refute each other.
When Chunjia was calm, Queen Mother Yuan was throwing a tea bowl out in Chunyou Palace: "Ji's wretched maid! How dare you bully me like this!!!"
I couldn't blame her for being so angry. Although I knew that the Queen Mother and Queen Mother Ji's return would definitely have a great impact on her status and power, but - it was only the second day, what did Queen Ji do
In the morning, the concubines gathered at Yanfu Palace to pay their respects. Empress Ji gave some instructions and then led them to... Mianfu Palace.
Then Empress Dowager Ji of Mianfu Palace gave some instructions, got up, and personally led a huge team to Qingci Palace.
The most terrible thing is that Queen Mother Yuan did not receive any news during this period. When the concubines came over on weekdays, no one came. She only said that they went to Mianfu Palace. Although she was a little unhappy, it was not expected. I was so sad that I went into the bedroom to lie down and catch my breath.
As a result, someone came from Qingci Palace at this time, and they spoke very politely. They probably meant that all the harem members had gone to Qingci Palace to pay their respects. Queen Mother Qu had to take care of the twin princes and had no time, so she just paid them back. Nothing happened. Empress Dowager Yuan did not go there either, which made the Empress Dowager quite worried. She was afraid that she might be sick, so she sent someone to have a look.
Queen Mother Yuan: "...????"
She suppressed her anger and said, "In the past, the Empress Dowager was so gracious that she was exempted from greetings except for New Year's Day ceremonies. The Ai family only said that the Empress Dowager came back yesterday and didn't say any new rules. It's still like this."
The visitor smiled and said: "The Empress Dowager did not ask the harem to go to Qingci Palace to pay her respects today. It's just that you are filial and sensible, and the Empress Dowager cannot refute it. This morning, except for those who can't get away, In addition to the Queen Mother and you, the Sixth Palace has already passed. The Queen Mother, so thinking of such a big movement, you must know that there must be a reason for not going there. You can't just not go there on purpose, right?"
There was nothing more to say next. Empress Dowager Yuan knew in her heart that the Empress Dowager had deliberately sealed the news to prevent her from knowing, and used the excuse of having twin princes to extract it for Empress Dowager Qu, so that she could focus her firepower on her, the loving mother Empress Dowager!
Now that I come back, I will be labeled as unfilial and disrespectful!