The four concubines are very sensible, or in other words, they have sensible people around them to give guidance.
Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of the little chamberlain who was running errands, he quickly promised a bunch of benefits, and some of them were paid in time. Only then did Yun Fenghuang tell them the outline of the conversation with Empress Dowager Yuan, including his own ideas. "Don't blame me, I had to say that at the time. Otherwise, who do you want me to say good things about? I promised not to get involved in this matter."
This made the fourth concubine regret it: if I had known that the empress dowager, a loving mother, would actually ask the concubine Xian for her opinion, it would be better to do more private favors and ask her to help beat the drum at the critical moment!
But the opportunity had been lost, and they did not fully trust the words of Concubine Xian, so they quickly adjusted their mood and began to discuss, what should we do now
"Your Majesty is becoming more and more wise!" Luo Hanyi's wet nurse Yin Shi contacted Luo Shi, returned to Xinli Palace, and told her master with a sigh, "My family speculates that this matter is His Majesty's intention. . It was just revealed to us through the empress dowager and the virtuous concubine."
"My servant has just inquired. The reason why the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned Concubine Xian is because Her Majesty went to Chunhuo Palace before and had a private discussion with the Empress Dowager. And there may not be any big discrepancies in what Concubine Xian told us. . But please think about it, my dear concubine, the wise concubine is cunning. She has received benefits from our four families and promised not to interfere in this matter."
"Now that the loving mother Queen Mother is asking her for her opinion, she will definitely not be able to express her opinion."
"But since the empress dowager has asked, how can she be allowed to be vague? In this case, with the shrewdness of the concubine, she really can't avoid it, so she naturally throws the question to the four of us... In this case, don't just hand over these words. Are you in front of us?"
"When the Empress Dowager, a loving mother, made a promise to Your Majesty about the succession, she tactfully hinted that there could only be one successor. Whoever's family has made the greatest contribution would naturally choose the daughter of that family."
Therefore, in this battle for succession, the performance of the harem and concubines is actually secondary, and the main thing depends on the performance of the mother's family in the previous dynasty.
After all, the emperor's mother and son used the position of successor as a bargaining chip. Wasn't it just for the support of the previous dynasty
The reason why the fourth concubine still has to compete overtly and covertly after entering the palace is actually to prepare for the current situation. "Now that the Ji family has been destroyed, it is time for the royal family to fulfill its promise, but the contributions of the four of us are counted. It's half a catty to eight ounces. I originally thought that at this time, it would be up to the concubines, who is more popular with His Majesty and the empress dowager, who is the most outstanding in the palace... But unexpectedly, His Majesty still plans to decide by the previous court! "
Mrs. Yin sighed again, "The old man said, I'm afraid that the merits of the four families also have His Majesty's plan. Watching Your Majesty's actions, it's like still water flowing deep. At first, you didn't notice it. Only then did the clues appear. It was a thunderous attack, and then a chain of events followed. One link: Without the temptation of being inferior, our four families would not try their best to contribute to His Majesty these days; if it were not for similar merits and it would be difficult to distinguish between them, His Majesty would not be able to legitimately throw the issue back at this moment."
"Actually, for Your Majesty, whoever becomes your successor among the four concubines is probably the same."
"The most important thing is that our four families were originally family friends. After this incident, we will inevitably start fighting among ourselves."
Luo Hanyi was speechless for a long time, and then said after a while: "Can't we discuss it carefully? It's okay for me to feel wronged."
Although her performance in palace battles was not as impressive as that of Yun Fenghuang, she was still a noblewoman and she still had a good vision.
I understand that the reason why the Ji family has been famous for three dynasties, but their family has still stood firm all these years, is that the Luo family, the Ouyang family, the Meng family, and the Yin family immediately joined forces to keep warm after the Ji family relied on Shenzong's support. , to resist Ji's pressure.
When the Ji family demoted Ouyang Yanran, who was loyal to Xiaozong, to a remote place, he did not kill them all. Part of the reason was that the Luo family, the Meng family, and the Yin family extended a helping hand and involved the Ji family from the side, causing them to miss out. Opportunity to intercept midway.
Otherwise, even if they were from the same aristocratic family, given Ouyang Yanran's talents, since they were unwilling to be used by the Ji family, how could they keep such a loyal minister of the Gongxiang family
So if this time, according to Chunjia's calculations, the four families have a grudge over the position of successor, it may not be a good thing for the Luo family, even if a queen is born in the family.
After all, Luo Hanyi had only been in the palace for less than a year. Chunjia couldn't say anything bad about her, but there was still Yun Fenghuang who was overpowering her in terms of doting on her. The most important thing is that her relationship with Yun Fenghuang is not good. She dare not say that she is dissatisfied with Chunjia's doting on the concubine Xian, but because of this, she has lost some girlish feelings towards the emperor.
She is not pregnant yet, and the princess under her knees is just the daughter of a palace concubine, who came from Yunfenghuang Palace.
Therefore, my position is still more on the side of the family.
"Empress, this is not the case." Mrs. Yin smiled bitterly after hearing what she said, "Now it is not a question of whether our four families are willing to fight for this successor position, but because Your Majesty has done so. , then from now on, we must maintain a distanced attitude. Otherwise, it is tantamount to wanting to be the next Ji family. You said that His Majesty tolerated it for many years before teaming up with the regent to destroy the Ji family. How could he tolerate such a situation? "
"Whoever has a successor will be waiting for a reminder."
"Then what's the point of working so hard for this lower position?"
"Now we are riding a tiger and it's hard to get off. We can only follow His Majesty's wishes."
Otherwise, not only would their previous efforts be in vain, but they would also offend the emperor.
This is unreasonable.
Luo Hanyi couldn't help complaining: "This is all Ji's fault! His Majesty Emperor Shenzong had such trust and love for their family back then! When he passed away, he entrusted both the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor Xiaozong to them! In the end, they bullied Xiaozong. young… "
"How can it be so simple?" Mrs. Yin heard this but interrupted her and whispered, "Ji's family is not stupid. Although they had power at that time, they had no military power at all. It was impossible to change the dynasty. If possible, Why would he be willing to estrange the relationship with Xiaozong? After Xiaozong ascended the throne, he was afraid of their power and wanted to suppress them? "
"The Ji family realized that without their full support, His Majesty Emperor Shenzong might not be able to seize the throne. Moreover, when Xiaozong first ascended the throne, he also relied on the support of his uncle's family to suppress a group of veteran ministers and relatives... His position was stable, so he wanted to cross the river and burn the bridge. Who would be happy if I changed him?"
"Both sides felt they were wronged, and both felt that the other side was ungrateful, which is why the quarrel broke out."
"... But Ji's troubles have gone too far, right? Not to mention the righteousness between monarch and minister, let's just say that the late Emperor Xiaozong was their direct nephew, and he was forcefully forced to die in depression!" Luo Hanyi said unconvinced, "What? It’s not that they broke the rules, why should we be so feared by His Majesty now?”
Mrs. Yin laughed and said, "Your Majesty, this is really childish talk! If this kind of thing doesn't happen from the beginning, you can either return the power to the emperor directly, retire and return to your hometown. Once there is a dispute, and there is a grudge between the two parties, who will dare to retreat?" As soon as he retreated, he was driven out and killed? The old man in the family has said this, but he feels that Xiaozong's qualifications for the king are a bit lacking. If it were replaced by someone like this, ha!"
Chunjia was the one who could tolerate it, but if he were Xiaozong, he would be afraid of not being affectionate with the Ji family on the surface. Ji family was so happy that she turned around and finished the layout. People all over the world clapped their hands and cheered.
How could he be like Xiaozong and let his uncle's family notice his dissatisfaction without holding two cards in his hand
Thinking about the behavior of the current emperor, Mrs. Yin sighed, "Well, since your majesty has reminded you, it is obvious that he does not want the relationship between the emperor and his ministers to reach the level of Xiaozong and Ji. Our family has no intention of disobedience. , let’s just leave it to the old man to deal with it later. Let’s live a decent life in the palace... Let’s wait for news from home.”
With the Ji family's ruts ahead, the emperor's advance hints were already very face-saving.
It was better than being coaxed by Chun Jia's kind words the day before, and the whole family went down together to see the late emperor the next day.
Luo Hanyi bit her lip: "Back then, my family believed in the words of our loving mother, the Queen Mother, and worked for His Majesty sincerely, but His Majesty designed us like this. It is really... really... against the Mingjun's mind!"
"Stop saying such things!" Ms. Yin frowned, "Ming Jun, Ming Jun, do you think that the wise kings in the past and present can only use fair and aboveboard means? Although His Majesty has done this to all four of our families, the old man also said that although I am young, The method of controlling his subordinates is not bad, he is a monarch who can rejuvenate the country, so he should not be underestimated!"
"And even if it's morally speaking, what did your Majesty do wrong?"
"Originally, our four families also ended up in order to succeed. Now His Majesty said that he would not give it to us? Not only did he give it to us, but he also planned to let us discuss it ourselves. How can we say that His Majesty is wrong?"
As for Chunjia, he had already prepared for the four of them to have equal contributions... This is his clever method.
If the four families had noticed earlier, or if one of them had been able to stand out against the emperor's plan, that would have been their fault - this was a normal game between the monarch and his ministers, and it was in line with the rules.
Mrs. Yin advised Luo Hanyi: "The matter is over, let's not say anything more and wait for news from home."
At the same time, Yun Fenghuang was complaining to Chunjia in Taichu Palace: "I really thought that the empress dowager was thinking about me, but after I went there, I was asked by the empress dowager who was more suitable to be my successor. You Isn't this a embarrassment for me? How can I answer such a thing? Your Majesty insists that I be the one to embarrass you, just say so. Why did you have to make such a twist and catch me off guard? It's so embarrassing... Finally, I gave my loving mother the Queen Mother a trick, but I don’t know if the Queen Mother is satisfied with it?”
Chunjia was slightly startled when he heard the words. He thought for a while and then said apologetically: "I didn't think carefully. When I talked about the choice of successor to my mother, I mentioned that the eldest son of the emperor is raised under your knees, and the successor must be able to tolerate it." I have to accept you. If I don’t want my mother to hear it, why don’t I ask you personally? I and my mother made a promise to this matter in the first place. How to deal with it now must be arranged by me and my mother. How could it be possible? Let you tell me?"
Yun Fenghuang looked at him suspiciously: "So I have misunderstood my loving mother, the Empress Dowager?"
"What did the Queen Mother ask you to tell those families?" Chunjia asked without answering.
Seeing Yun Fenghuang shaking his head, he felt relieved and said, "You see, the queen is actually asking you what you mean in private. After all, Rang'er Jin'er is so cute, and the queen also likes her very much."
If he said that Empress Dowager Yuan sincerely hoped that her successor could accommodate Yun Fenghuang, Yun Fenghuang would definitely not believe it.
But when it comes to Gong Xiang Rang and Gong Xiang Zhuo, the Empress Dowager Yuan cannot say that she attaches as much importance to them as Qi Wang Gong Xiang Zhuo. In the end, she still cares about them, which makes her seem more credible.
Yun Fenghuang hesitated for a while, then muttered: "Then you shouldn't have said it earlier. It would have made me worried... I was afraid that if I said the wrong thing, I would displease the Queen Mother."
Chunjia was embarrassed to say such hypocritical words that the queen would not care about you, so she had to change the topic: "By the way, how are the preparations for this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet going?"