In a few days, Xie Lan and Xie Changxiu came out of the cabinet one after another. These two marriages would have attracted a certain amount of attention in the imperial capital. After all, the woman was a blood sister of the favored concubine Xian.
However, because the issue of succession was brought up again, it was extremely common for the beloved concubine to be less important than the queen.
Even Yun Fenghuang himself just asked Qingdu to go there on his behalf, gave each of the two sisters a generous dowry, and told them to send word to the palace if they encountered any trouble, and then put their thoughts on the court meeting.
The consultations at the court meeting were very difficult. The regent and Chunjia had bad relations several times, and they brought up almost everything. The uncle said that the emperor did not follow the rules and kept the wives and concubines of King Fuyang in the palace. The mother simply took the things from her inherited father's lineage to support her biological father's lineage, which was completely unethical. The nephew accused Uncle Wang of treating one favorably and being harsh on his legitimate son while being too kind to his step-concubine, mother and son, which was a waste of elders. Suspicion of establishing a young child. There were many similar mutual criticisms, and the words became more and more fierce. Chunjia was so tolerant that he couldn't help but get angry twice after the court ended.
As for the regent, it was even heard that he was furious after returning to the palace, and even the servants were scolded. Even his step-concubine rushed to persuade him and was scolded away.
So much so that the former harem had been trembling with fear during this period, for fear of getting into trouble.
But in the end, Chunjia persuaded the courtiers with a slight advantage and agreed to appoint Mrs. Yaoning as his successor.
Then came the day of Qin Tian’s election.
This day was set in the twelfth lunar month, which was very rushed for a ceremony of this level. Even Zhai Yi Fengguan didn't have time to make a new one, so he could only use the temporary ones that Ji Lingzi left behind that had not been worn much. Change it.
"The queen position is the most important, these are nothing." Gu Zhen was originally not very happy to be the queen. Seeing this situation, he became even more unhappy. Naturally, he tried to persuade her, "And didn't your Majesty say that yesterday?" ? The fifth prince under Concubine De's knees has lost his biological mother. Concubine De has to take care of the third emperor's daughter herself and cannot spare the time to take care of the fifth prince. Therefore, she wants to give the fifth prince to you to raise... After remembering this, you can almost ask your family to propose an arrangement. Donggong, what else do you have to worry about?"
When the fifth prince was mentioned, Gu Zhen's expression softened slightly.
If it had been her when she first entered the palace, she would have still had some resistance to raising other people's children. After these years of being deserted, and considering the future, she would have been willing to raise the emperor's heirs from other concubines. .
"In this way, I will have two princes under my knees." She sighed, "If there is another princess, it will be a son and a daughter. When the time comes, I will not think about anything else, and will just live with them!"
Everyone wanted her to have this kind of mentality. Hearing this, he was relieved. Thinking that the emperor was willing to give him another prince, it was already great, but it was unlikely that he would get another princess, so he said tactfully: "The days are long, and my queen's wish will come true sooner or later." of."
Gu Zhen didn't make any fuss. The Gu family only valued the queen position and didn't care so much about red tape. In addition, Chunjia didn't want to delay on this matter. The former court and the harem were in full swing. On an auspicious day in the twelfth lunar month, the imperial dynasty was held for the second time. At the ceremony after the registration, Gu, the legitimate daughter of Uncle Zhaowu, was registered as his successor and entered the Yanfu Palace.
The new queen was disgraced on the same day: Chunjia's old love, Mrs. Chunke, and her new love, Concubine Xian, both reported illness and did not participate in the ceremony. After that, the new queen occupied the phoenix position and worshiped in the Sixth Palace.
The scene was so embarrassing that all the concubines present were silent and did not dare to speak.
"Mrs. Chunke has always been in poor health. I know this. Didn't Concubine Xian agree not long ago that she can sleep with His Majesty? Why is she not in good health now?" Gu Zhen said with a cold face. She didn't speak for a while, and then she heard a close servant come over and whisper a few words in his ear, and then said expressionlessly, "Is it possible that the previous poisoning damaged her vitality, so she is weak and sick? She doesn't feel well, so she can just ask the imperial doctor to take care of her slowly. Don't let your Majesty get over your illness."
He ordered people to remove Yun Fenghuang from the list of sleeping attendants.
As for when the withdrawal will take place, I won’t mention it.
Then he didn't let go of Mrs. Chunke, who had a long-standing grudge. The reason was the same as for Yun Fenghuang, that is, Mrs. Chunke was not in good health, so don't deceive others. Although the emperor rarely went there, Mrs. Li in her palace was pregnant. It’s the emperor’s heir!
Why don't you let Li Shi move out first and go to other palaces, not in Huzhu Palace anyway
These two orders are understandable from the Queen's point of view. After all, it's okay to be arrogant because of her favor. Who can stand being so arrogant on the day of the Queen's Ceremony
The problem is that these two people who dare to do this have support. Even if the former loses Chunjia's favor, there is still an aunt of the Queen Mother; the latter is Chunjia's favorite, and the Queen Mother can do nothing.
The new queen dares to punish her, but the subordinates dare not force herself to do it. Can this be done
The concubines were all curious and watched calmly.
When the new queen came back, she was a little frightened: "If they both ignore it, I will be in great disgrace."
"No." The attendant who had just whispered in her ear said calmly, "It's okay to pay her back, but today is a good day for you. If His Majesty doesn't give you this face, it shows that he has no sincerity towards the Gu family. . In this case, the old man in the family will not help convince the uncle, so wouldn’t His Majesty’s efforts in making you his queen be in vain? No matter how important these two are in His Majesty’s mind, can they be more important than the overall situation? Just watch. , Even if His Majesty feels sorry for them privately this time, he will not make you unable to step down."
He also said, "The old man said before that he was afraid that these two sensible people would not show their dissatisfaction now. Then it is not easy for us to take the initiative. But now that people have come to our door, why should we be polite? This is a ready-made power. The opportunity. If we miss it, you will be a queen in this palace for nothing!"
Gu Zhen thought about falling in love with Chunjia's new and old love, but he really didn't have much confidence in his heart, so he sighed: "I hope so."
Because she had never been pampered in the many years she had been in the palace, she had long since given up trying to win Chun Jia's favor. Now, in addition to cooperating with family arrangements, she was focusing on taking care of the emperor's heir and spending the rest of her life.
So I wasn't very angry at Mrs. Chunke and Concubine Xian's disrespect.
The one who was really angry was Empress Dowager Yuan.
Of course the Queen Mother was not complaining for Gu Zhen, but she was resentful that Yuan Niang and Yun Fenghuang would put Chunjia in trouble.
Even the Empress Dowager Yuan resented the most this time was not Yun Fenghuang, but Yuan Yuniang.
Because if Yuan Niang was not involved and Concubine Xian did this alone, she would have dealt with this serious problem justifiably.
As a result, we can't end it with Yuan Yuniang now.
"Mother, what do you think?!" The queen mother was so angry that she ordered someone to call Yuan to her and asked immediately, "Although you rarely go out since King Qi left, you still went to the Huanqing Palace back then. After drinking, why are you so ignorant when you receive the canonization?! Do you know that if you had not made a mistake this time, the Ai family would never let that little Yun go?!"
Yuan Niang had a cold face and said calmly: "What qualifications does the successor have to compare with the Xian Concubine? She just relies on her family background. If the Yuan family in Fuyang strives to be more powerful, will she be the successor? Although I don't like the Xian Concubine either. , but Concubine Xian got to where she is today on her own. I can’t say that I am completely convinced when I lose to Concubine Xian, but at least in terms of family life, she and I are in the same boat. As for the successor, hey, she is also worthy of me to congratulate and salute?! "
Empress Dowager Yuan felt that this life was unbearable. Could there be something wrong with the ancestral graves of the old Yuan family
Why can't one of these nieces and nephews worry about it? !
She sneered and said: "So it sounds like you are quite fond of Xiaoyunshi? Do you have any integrity? Don't think about who made you fall out of favor in the first place? Xiaoyunshi deceived you so miserably, but you instead I admire her, are you mean? You don’t cherish the good things you do, but you care about the bad things you do?!”
"..." The muscles on Ms. Yuan's face twitched. After a while, she stood up and blessed the Queen Mother, "Auntie has no other instructions, so I will go back first."
"Stop!" Empress Dowager Yuan shouted sternly, "I've rebelled against you! The Ai family has treated you like jewels and treasures all these years, and this is how you repay the Ai family?! Aren't you going to be so angry that the Ai family is unhappy?! "
Yuan Yuniang stopped, but she turned her head and said with a smile: "My aunt raised me and your majesty personally. Your majesty is so outstanding that my aunt has nothing to praise. After all, it is impossible for my aunt to take advantage of all the good things in the world." It’s over, so isn’t it natural that I don’t live up to expectations?!”
Then he said, "I finally understand that the people Your Majesty really cares about protecting are either those who are capable themselves or those in the family. I was able to win his favor for many years, just because of my aunt's face. I don't live up to my expectations, and my family can't live up to my expectations." It’s not disappointing, his position is stable, so naturally he doesn’t need me anymore. If there is no Xiaoyun family, there will be others, right?”
Empress Dowager Yuan pressed her chest and almost fainted on the spot: "Where and from whom did you hear these damning words?! Tell me clearly!!!"
Their aunts and nephews were struggling in Chunhuang Palace, while Chunjia went to Xuanqing Palace in person to question Yun Fenghuang: "Ahuang, you have always been smart and clever, why are you confused now? I am not punishing you now, nor am I punishing you. What do you want to do?"
"What's wrong with you?" Yun Fenghuang was teasing Princess Zhaoqing with a rattle. Hearing this, he chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, to show your sincerity, went to battle personally to protect Gu Zhen's position. I can still hold you back. ? Just punish me according to Gu Zhen’s wishes!"
Chunjia knew that she was telling the truth, so she was afraid of causing trouble if she agreed like this. She frowned and said, "It was you who gave me the idea to succeed Gu Zhen. You..."
"You think I regret it?" Yun Fenghuang tapped Princess Zhaoqing's tender cheek, turned her head and said with a half-smile, "That's really an injustice to me. Am I the kind of person who goes back on my word? Think about it, everyone in the previous dynasty and the harem knew that you favored me, so the Gu family had a lot of hesitations about Gu Zhen taking over the Yanfu Palace, and even put forward many conditions... If the ceremony of becoming the queen went smoothly, Gu Zhen would not have it at all There is no chance to show the queen's authority. Your Majesty can't just deal with me and the one from Huzhu Palace and prove your determination to them? This is both blunt and disrespectful to the emperor."
"So it's better for me to take the initiative to make mistakes, and then the queen will punish me as a matter of course. You don't have to do anything or say anything, you just acquiesce to the queen's power, and you can put Gu's mind at ease!"
Co-author Xian Fei did this for herself
Chunjia was a little hesitant and said, "But after this incident, you were in the palace..."
Are you afraid that your prestige will be greatly reduced
Yun Fenghuang said calmly: "My status and power in this palace come from you, not anything else. As long as you don't dislike me, what should I be afraid of? Gu Zhen is not stupid, she won't do things right. Absolutely."
Chunjia intuitively felt that she might have other plans, but he couldn't figure it out for a while. In addition, with the concubine's statement, of course he wanted to praise and be moved... In the end, he asked Yan Yin to tell the Imperial City Secretary to keep an eye on the Huzhu Palace. , see if Concubine Xian feels that Mrs. Chunke has lived long enough and wants to give her a ride
... But he didn't know that Yun Fenghuang was not thinking about Yuan Yuniang's defeated general at this moment. Instead, he was thinking about the fifth prince who was about to become the adopted son of the middle palace.
If this boy does not die young, in two years' time, the officials will definitely ask him to be crown prince according to the ancestral system.