It's midsummer soon, and this year due to events in Huizhou, the originally planned summer vacation has been postponed for more than half a month.
In fact, the emperor originally planned to not go to Qishan at all, just like last year, and stay in the imperial capital for convenience. However, his subordinates persuaded him, saying that it was the imperial concubine who heard the bad news. She has been in a bad mood these days. If he stayed in the palace, he might be in trouble. If the journey continues to be difficult, it is better to go to the palace to relax.
Chunjia then used the excuse that the Empress Dowager was old and could not bear the sweltering heat of the palace, so she went to the palace to escape the summer heat as usual.
The entire harem was silent on the way there. After all, everyone knew that the imperial concubine was still immersed in grief, for fear of disturbing Yun Fenghuang's purity and not knowing how she would die.
After arriving at the palace, people came from the Queen's side to discuss with Yun Fenghuang where to place the new people.
"Originally, I have the power to co-manage the Sixth Palace, so I should worry about these things." Hearing this, Yun Fenghuang smiled weakly and sighed, "But everyone knows about the Xie family. I can't get over it for a while... Now I am full of enthusiasm for filial piety. Even though I am a palace concubine and cannot properly serve my mother's family, I really have no time to deal with palace affairs. Otherwise, please The Queen has learned the truth, will you hand over the power of this palace to others?"
When Gu Zhen heard this, he was very surprised and said: "The imperial concubine had spent a lot of effort to get the right to be the co-council. Later, she even recommended the former concubines Ouyang Fulu and De Fei to intervene in the palace affairs, so as to take advantage of me. This way. Why did you suddenly change your mind and actually take the initiative to hand over power?"
Thinking of Yun Fenghuang's proposal to take Empress Dowager Yuan back to the palace, she couldn't help but frown, "Isn't it true that the imperial concubine's temperament has changed drastically and she is confused?"
Otherwise, why would you do things that are harmful to others and not beneficial to yourself
"... Your Majesty, it's better to see if there will be any changes in the Sixth Palace these days?" You know Yun Fenghuang very well, and you know that this master is not a fuel-efficient lamp, and he has never used the method of retreat to advance. , did not believe that Yun Fenghuang had changed his gender at all, and they all advised the queen, "Maybe the concubine dug the trap, and I hope you will be fooled!"
The queen felt that it made sense, so on the one hand, she used the excuse that she valued the imperial concubine to not allow her to give up her right to be the co-council, and on the other hand, she was extremely vigilant and watched her.
When Yun Fenghuang knew this, he just sighed: "I feel really tired and want to take some rest... Why are so few people believing the truth these days?"
But of course her intention was more than that. She was also thinking that Queen Mother Qu had been forced to the point of despair by Queen Mother Yuan, and she might make some moves soon.
If the Queen were to blame the Queen at that time, if she was still in charge of the Sixth Palace, even if Chunjia did not expect that she was the mastermind, she would still be suspicious of the Queen's private actions when the Concubine was in charge. How could the Queen's private actions be hidden from the eyes and ears of the Xuanqing Palace
So in order to let Gu Zhen, a scheming middle palace man who was not very scheming, take advantage of Empress Dowager Yuan, Yun Fenghuang had to find a reason to let go.
It's just that even though the queen's servants didn't think carefully, out of distrust of Yun Fenghuang, they insisted that the sixth palace would not work without the imperial concubine.
When Yun Fenghuang saw this, he simply claimed to be sick. Taking advantage of Chunjia's visit, he pretended to be cowardly and ordered Chunjia to personally tell him that if anything happened in the Sixth Palace from now on, he should just ask Empress De Fei and others to make the decision. Don't disturb the imperial concubine again!
Gu Zhen sighed after hearing this and said, "Well, Your Majesty knows about me. If something really happens in the palace next, I can at most listen to the reprimand."
After a pause, he asked the people around him, "It's just that Concubine De is not too busy to come here, so she still needs to find a helper. Who do you think is suitable?"
This is because the Queen learned a lesson and realized the importance of gathering her wings in the palace, so she decided to use the power of co-governing the Sixth Palace as a bargaining chip.
She also had a favorite candidate in mind, and naturally it was Concubine Jing.
But Concubine De was not very happy when she found out about it. First, she went to the imperial concubine to complain in every possible way under the guise of asking Yun Fenghuang for peace. Seeing that Yun Fenghuang was indeed in a state of distress, she seemed to have no energy to take care of her. Then she went to the queen and made a roundabout statement. She is completely busy, and the queen does not need to rush to find other people to share these palace affairs: "In the past two years, there have been no important newcomers in the palace, and there are only so many things going back and forth. Although I am dull, I am still able to do it." I can handle it.”
Gu Zhen sneered: "I asked Concubine De to take care of the second princess and the sixth prince earlier, but Concubine De couldn't spare any time, let alone deal with all the palace affairs? I understand Concubine De's kindness, but I can't burden you too much. Let’s leave this matter as it is.”
Wei Hengyan was choked and embarrassed for a long time before he resigned in anger.
After leaving the house, she had to go to Concubine Min to cry and complain about the queen's domineering and tactful attitude. Yun Fenghuang knew her thoughts very well. Because they were direct relatives and had been together for a long time, she didn't bother to expose it and comforted her with gentle words. So he sent people away.
Due to the hibernation of the imperial concubine, Concubine De's sniper attack failed, and the emperor was busy with the previous government affairs. Unless the imperial concubine was involved, he rarely interfered with palace affairs, so Concubine Jing successfully ascended the throne and became the concubine in charge of the Sixth Palace. one.
After this result came out, the most depressing person was the new concubine Cui Lianye.
After all, the previous Concubine Shu had assisted in managing the Sixth Palace, but since she came to power, she had not even touched the side of palace power.
In terms of status and qualifications, she was above Concubine Jing, so she was naturally dissatisfied.
However, after experiencing the lessons of the two beloved concubines, Yuan Yuniang and Yun Fenghuang, Concubine Shu did not dare to express her position openly now, and was only unhappy in private.
So they persuaded her: "Why don't you have more contact with the imperial concubine in the Huanqing Palace? It's okay as usual. Now your concubine is the wife of the direct brother of the imperial concubine's natal family, and both sides are serious relatives. You go there often, It is also the right thing to do. In addition, now that the Xie family is almost destroyed, the imperial concubine is grieving in her heart, so it is appropriate for you to go over and express your condolences."
If you had gone diligently, could the imperial concubine have treated you badly
Concubine Min was famous for being difficult to deal with and demanding revenge, but she was still kind to her own people. Whether it was Mrs. Xie or Concubine De, those who followed her early in the morning received many benefits.
"... At this moment, His Majesty has said that the imperial concubine must concentrate on her rest, and no one like me is allowed to disturb her." Cui Lianye also felt a little regretful. She came from a scholarly family and had prided herself on being noble since she was a child.
When Empress Ji Lingzi of the Yuan Dynasty was still alive, she never competed for favor.
Later, due to various blows, I learned to behave a lot, and I became more perfunctory in scenes, but in the end I still couldn't do anything that didn't care about face at all.
Originally, she thought that the group of people who entered the palace together, except for Gu Zhen, would have no good end. She had the second prince in front of her. From now on, she would just keep her children and live their lives peacefully. Being promoted to the concubine was already an accident. I'm happy, don't think about anything else.
But when she actually saw Concubine Jing surpassing her and co-managing the Sixth Palace, Cui Lianye realized that it was human nature to worry not about scarcity but about inequality.
Her heart was filled with despair before, but she couldn't see the slightest chance of fighting for it.
However, because Cui married Xie Xiaoyu and was pregnant again, Cui Lianye actually had the possibility of competition, but she gave up on her own. Now that she thought about it, she didn't say anything, and she felt really upset.
Since Chunjia had already ordered not to disturb the imperial concubine, Cui Lianye was advised to write more letters to her concubine's sister, Cui, in order to get closer to Yun Fenghuang.
Yun Fenghuang didn't know these things, and even if she knew, she had no time to pay attention to this kind of palace dispute at the moment, but she was thinking about other ways to conveniently target the Gu family
Soon Xie Wuzheng's envoy came and brought the news that Xie Wuzheng and others had packed their bags and set off with the army. He, Xie Xiaoyu and others were placed in the rear army by the coach in an almost forced manner, and even some Several of the coach's personal guards were watching them personally and were not allowed to run around, so as to prevent them from being eager for revenge and causing accidental losses. When the time came, they would not be able to explain to the emperor, and the emperor would not be able to explain to the noble concubine.
This is something that both brothers and sisters know very well and have nothing to say.
In fact, both Yun Fenghuang and Xie Wuzheng agreed with the coach's arrangement.
The Xie family's children are now in a state of decline, and none of them are left behind.
Especially Xie Wuzheng and Xie Xiaoyu, who are closely related by blood and both prosper and suffer, Yun Fenghuang really can't afford to lose them.
The prince-in-law specially sent someone here with a message, but he told Yun Fenghuang: "... The prince-in-law said that although he couldn't find out anything after joining the army because of the tight guard of the commander, he still felt that there was something wrong with this battle!"
Yun Fenghuang suddenly became nervous, his whole back straightened a bit, and he asked in a deep voice: "What is the problem? Are you going to lose? If you feel that the situation of the battle is unfavorable, then I will immediately find an excuse and ask Your Majesty to expel them from the army. Don’t be dragged down by the general trend!”
Although as a member of the Xie family, Yun Fenghuang herself wanted to take up the sword to avenge her clan, but she understood better that the dead were dead, and the living must protect themselves.
She arranged for Xie Wuzheng and the others to join the army so that they could claim credit and establish a filial and loyal persona. She did not ask them to risk their lives.
"Replying to the empress, the prince-in-law does not feel that the war is unfavorable, but that..." The messenger hesitated for a moment, looked at the confidants of Yun Fenghuang on the left and right, and still said in a low voice with uneasiness, "the prince-in-law feels that Jing Ninghou, no, it should be said that the Dingbei Army has been prepared for a long time. Even the preparations are extremely complete! According to the consort’s observation, this expedition, if there are no accidents, should go very smoothly!”
Yun Fenghuang breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned: Although she didn't understand warfare, she also knew that although the Dingbei Army was known as the most elite in the country, it had been somewhat slack for many years of peace.
After Hele's sneak attack, Gu Li's betrayal, and Huizhou's brutal bloodbath, it was extremely normal for morale to be low under such circumstances.
As for the preparations for the expedition, it is unlikely that they are complete... You must know that in the successful sneak attack of Hele, the casualties of the Dingbei Army were not many, but the loss of baggage and food was considerable.
So the question is, what happened to what Xie Wuzheng observed