Chapter 186: A Chess Move

When Empress Gu made up her mind, Yun Fenghuang in the Palace of Taichu was frowning slightly, bowing down.

Before she came, she asked the Qing people to put on some powder, but she didn't use rouge. Even if she looked at it under the lantern of the Bisha palace, she couldn't hide her pale face.

Against the bulging belly, she looks haggard and weak.

Chunjia's voice calling her flat body could not help but soften a bit, and then gave her a seat.

Before Yun Fenghuang sat down to thank you, not far away, the wife of a middle-aged couple couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, Concubine Min is ambitious, she is pregnant for the first time, and she has not given birth yet, so she brazenly treats the two empress dowagers." The Twelve Princes have murdered, how can such a poisonous woman sit in front of the imperial court?"

"This is a big matter, and it has not been implemented yet." Chunjia said lightly, "If it is serious, it will not be too late to punish the noble concubine; There are three ups and downs in the accident, can Auntie have the heart?"

Before Mrs. Xingning could speak, the emperor continued, "Even if my aunt doesn't take my flesh and blood seriously, the two queen mothers have always valued blood. The twin princes born of the daughters of the old age are now taking good care of them." Yes, why does Auntie mean that if you don't ask indiscriminately, you will implicate innocent children?"

"...my wife is guilty." Madam Xingning sighed in her heart, bowed her head and admitted her mistake.

She didn't expect to do anything to the favored Concubine Min when she spoke just now, it was just to test the emperor's attitude.

Now it seems that Chunjia really protects the imperial concubine.

"Your Majesty, when the two Empress Dowagers and the Twelve Princes left, the concubine was not on the boat at all, and was even waiting on the island, hoping to see His Majesty in peace soon... How could the two Empress Dowagers be murdered? The second prince?" Yun Fenghuang looked at it lightly, then turned to Chunjia, and said softly, "Besides, this concubine only woke up from a nap, and is still asking about the servants, that Xingningbo's mansion is outside the palace, so you know everything? ?”

She deliberately emphasized the word "outside the palace". After all, according to the rules, foreign ministers are not allowed to spy on the inner chamber.

Taiye Pond is the waters within the imperial city.

Even though Uncle Xingning's Mansion is the family of the loving mother, the Empress Dowager, it cannot and should not know what happened on the Taiye Pond.

Especially when the imperial concubine who lives deep in the harem and is still well-loved knows nothing, the Yuan family knows everything first, what does this mean?

It shows how far Yuan's hands have been stretched!

Xing Ningbo and his wife looked at Yun Fenghuang fearfully, they watched and heard the noble concubine's rise, of course they knew she was not easy to mess with, it was not surprising that Yun Fenghuang would bite back at this moment, but since they dared to come He said this with certainty: "Your Majesty, do you still remember? When the imperial concubine first entered the palace, she once danced for Her Majesty in the green shade pavilion, and then scolded Her Majesty for her disrespect in front of the imperial court. Instead of repenting, she threw herself into the water and died Go... the imperial concubine looks delicate, but she is actually exquisite in water! Back then, she was able to go from Lusha Pavilion to Xiao Penglai, and now she can naturally go to other places from Xiao Penglai!"

"Uncle and aunt mean that after the two mothers and Twelve left Little Penglai by boat together, the imperial concubine immediately caught up with the water, and finally overturned the boat on the water near Taichu Palace?" Chunjia glanced at them, He said lightly, "Did the two elders forget? Although the imperial concubine is not yet old, she is pregnant. These days, she is often sleepy...how can she do such a thing?"

Yun Fenghuang thought to himself, does this mean that the emperor is a fool? Even if she really went to lift the boat, why did she have to wait until near the Taichu Palace? It should be when the boat is in the middle of the boat, without looking forward or backward, and drowning at this time, the two queen mothers and the first prince, one counts as the other, don't even think about it.

"Your Majesty, of course it's not the imperial concubine. After all, the imperial concubine has finally become pregnant after many years in the palace. How can she not take it seriously?" Uncle Xing lowered his head and cupped his hands. The servants who serve must not give up too much!"

Chunjia raised her eyebrows and looked at Yunfenghuang.

Yun Fenghuang's eyes darkened, and he quickly thought about his servants one by one, but he couldn't think of any problems for a while... If she found out that there was a problem, how could she stay by her side?

The imperial concubine felt that she might have been tricked without knowing it, her thoughts turned, and she lowered her eyes and said: "Uncle, please speak up! My body is heavy now, but I can't bear to sit for a long time."

"There are four calyxes in front of the imperial concubine, and they are all serving the mother's birth mother's family in Beidi." Uncle Xingning didn't look at her, but looked at the emperor, and said softly, "As far as I know, these four calyxes are Among them, red calyx is the most proficient in water... Last night when the imperial concubine stepped on Little Penglai, she didn't bring red calyx with her?"

Yun Fenghuang concealed his emotions, and explained to Chunjia: "At that time, I got up in a hurry, and I left Zhu E to take care of King Qin and Zhaoqing..."

"It's just one-sided words from the empress." Uncle Xing Ning interrupted her, and said lightly, "In fact, Zhu E didn't pay attention to the two highnesses, but after the empress left the Xuanqing Palace, she immediately went to Qi in disguise. In the apricot blossom forest in front of the treasure palace! It’s not a day or two for the empress to enter the palace, don’t you know where it is?!”

Of course the concubine knows!

The Qibao Palace is now vacant. This is the closest palace to the front palace. Standing at the gate of the palace, you can see the inner city wall separating the front palace and the rear palace.

The apricot blossom forest in front of it does not occupy a large area. It is said to be a forest, but in fact there are only a dozen or twenty apricot blossom trees in total, which are planted by the Taiye Pool.

It is said that it was because a concubine in the previous dynasty didn't like water and used it to cover the water.

This place is very close to the Taichu Palace, if you walk on land, pass through a city wall, which is the back door of Taichu Palace; take the waterway, enter the apricot blossom forest, enter the water by the pool, insert it obliquely, at most ten or twenty zhang, and you will be able to Looking at the revetment in front of Taichu Palace.

It is not very far to go to the small pier outside Taichu Palace.

At least ordinary water-based people can fight back and forth.

Like Yun Fenghuang, getting into the water is like returning home, it is so easy.

The imperial concubine knew that the noble concubine was very good at water. As for Zhu E, everyone didn't know much about it. Even before Uncle Xing Ning spoke, Chunjia didn't know that the maid was good at water. Can the valet be more attentive?

"Of course I know about that apricot blossom grove, but I have never heard of Zhu E's move!" Yun Fenghuang sighed in his heart, he already understood what was going on, and he could only blame himself for being young. It is also true that the energy is not as good as usual when you are pregnant, and you didn't think carefully when the accident happened.

Thinking at this moment, he said, "When I went back to Xuanqing Palace, I asked about King Qin and Zhaoqing. The people below said that there was no danger. They were taken out by Zhu E, and they were resettled after returning."

This was said by looking at Chunjia. Chunjia was full of thoughts today, so naturally he had no time to pay attention to the two eldest sons and eldest daughters who were abandoned at the critical moment. Hearing this, he glanced at Yan Yin beside him, and Yan Yin nodded slightly Then he said to Xingning Bo and his wife: "The imperial concubine suffered a serious injury in the early years, so there has been no news for several years. Even if she is pregnant now, she will inevitably be unable to do what she wants. The palace change happened suddenly, and the imperial concubine took advantage of it in a hurry. Not impossible..."

What Yun Fenghuang could think of, Chunjia naturally could think of it too.

When he said this, he obviously thought that the imperial concubine had fallen into a trap this time, and it was difficult to get out.

"Your Majesty, although the imperial concubine has been favored and seized the special room for several years but there is no news, she is notoriously good-looking." Xing Ningbo said lightly, "This is known to everyone in the front and rear palaces. After all these Over the past few years, the empress who has been skilled in bowing and horses since she was a child has been sick for several times all year round, and the empress is only a mediocre concubine... Besides, if the concubine was not in good health, how could it be possible to raise the four heirs and take care of the palace at the same time? Are you still pregnant?"

"Originally, the empress dowager, the two empress dowagers, and the empress dowager are in charge of the matter of the palace ban. Foreign ministers such as ministers should not talk about it without authorization. But the loving mother empress dowager is the elder sister of the minister. She is old, and she still wants to rape her." Suffering from such difficulties, the ministers are really worried!"

Speaking of this, he glanced at the noble concubine with frowning eyebrows, and said hesitantly, "Your concubine, you don't have to ask me how I know these forbidden things! Just now, the minister and others have already told His Majesty: This is because the noble concubine Although the empress acted resolutely, she was not careful enough. She was accidentally discovered by the waiter in front of the loving mother empress dowager. Because the loving mother empress dowager is still in a coma, and the servants are in a mess. The mansion delivered a message!"

Doing so is actually stepping on the line, after all, according to the rules, news from the palace should not be spread.

But in practice this is unlikely.

In addition, this is a major matter involving the life and death of the two empress dowagers and a direct prince. Since the Xingningbo couple are here now, it is not good for Chunjia to pursue such side matters while the business is being settled.

After all, if this is the case, it is too much to protect the imperial concubine, and it is really hard to convince the public.

"..." Yun Fenghuang had a sullen face, thinking quickly.

Unless the Empress Dowager Yuan has something to do with the rebels... This possibility should not be very high. The Empress Dowager still values ​​Chunjia very much.

Not only because Chunjia is the guarantee of her and the Yuan family's wealth, but also because of the years of mother-child relationship.

Therefore, after hearing the news of the palace change, the queen mother should immediately decide to take advantage of the situation to kill Yun Fenghuang, a thorn in her side!

It must be said that ginger is still old and spicy.

At that time, Yun Fenghuang was only concerned with lamenting Chunjia's hardness of heart and the arrangement of the children under his knees, but he didn't take the opportunity to eradicate the enemy.

if not……

Empress Dowager Yuan dared to play tricks, maybe she really couldn't wake up?

Of course, it was Zhu E who surprised Yun Fenghuang the most.

She really couldn't imagine what this waiter has to do with the Queen Mother?

If Zhu E had rebelled in private, the situation would be fine for Yun Fenghuang.

After all, judging from Chunjia's attitude, she is ready to abandon Zhu E.

At that time, she will be ashamed, just like Gu, the emperor will personally find out her relationship with the murdered queen mother and prince, keep a low profile for a while, and then fight back.

What I am most afraid of is that Zhu E is already dead...

When the time comes, there will be no proof of death, and it will be completely unclear.

Even if there is the emperor's favoritism, such a big matter cannot be resolved just by confronting the imperial concubine and the Xingningbo couple here.

In fact, Xingningbo and his wife came here now, not so much to accuse the imperial concubine of being cruel, but to remind Chunjia to give up the imperial concubine.

It involves the life and death of two empresses and a direct prince, and it happened the day after the palace change, when the change was barely settled. Can we not go to the temple and let the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty discuss it together?

In this way, even if Yun Fenghuang is finally punished lightly, she and her children are unlikely to covet the East Palace position.

After all, even the emperor has to manage filial piety well. A concubine who is suspected of murdering the queen mother and the prince, why should the heirs under her knees set an example for the world? !

"Your Majesty, for the past night and day, what I have been thinking about is the safety and health of Your Majesty and the emperor's heirs." Yun Fenghuang's heart was cold, and he looked up at Chunjia, "I really don't know about the rest! Absolutely do not believe that Zhu E will murder the two empress dowagers and the twelve princes! Not to mention anything else, just say that she did this, what is she trying to do?!"

She said slowly, "Let's talk about the two empress dowagers first, these are the elders of your majesty. According to the law, it is a great crime to implicate the nine clans! Although Zhu E is just a servant, but since entering the palace, she has followed the palace and has not suffered much. Her family is valued by the concubine's biological mother, and her life is no worse than that of ordinary squires. She has no reason to give up such a stable life and do that heinous act. Moreover, the twelve princes are certainly the sons of the empress. , but he is not the only legitimate son! At that time, the tenth prince stayed on the island and was taken care of by his concubine, and now his wife has returned to the empress's side peacefully!"

"As for Zhu E and the Twelve Princes, they have never had any contact at all."

"What is she planning to murder the twelve princes?"

"I can't figure it out either." Xing Ningbo cut off his words lightly, "Perhaps only Zhu E knows it."

They came here today not intending to argue with the imperial concubine on the spot that they are ugly Yinmao, after all, they were shocked after receiving the news, and they came to the palace to ask the emperor for clarification.

...After all, as an uncle's family, when you receive such news, you go out without even saying hello to the emperor. Isn't this intentional to embarrass the emperor?

Now that I have come to talk about it, it is reasonable to be dissatisfied with the explanation of the imperial concubine, and then make a fuss about the court theory.

Isn't it human nature for a younger brother to seek justice for his elder sister?

Now let go of these words, get up and leave.

Chunjia didn't stay either, and watched the couple leave, then turned to Yun Fenghuang, sighed softly and asked, "Where is Zhu E now?"

Yun Fenghuang was also very helpless: "I don't know... I returned to the palace before I was born, I was very tired, I didn't say a word, I asked a few children that everything was fine, and then I went to rest."

Usually she is not like this, but pregnant women are different.

Chunjia could also understand this point, she pondered for a while, and asked her to go back to rest: "Let's take a look at this matter."

After a pause, he comforted, "Don't think too much, it must be a misunderstanding."

The implication is that even if the Xingningbo Mansion presents any evidence, the emperor will try to make it a misunderstanding.

Yun Fenghuang forced a smile, and said with red eyes: "I always seem to be making trouble for Your Majesty."

Now that the rebel army has just retreated, something happened with the two empress dowagers and the twelve princes... It is impossible for Chunjia to feel better.

But after hearing what the imperial concubine said, she calmed down patiently, and then someone sent her back to the harem.

This time when I returned to the Huanhua Palace, the servants couldn't relax anymore. They looked at each other for a moment, and it was Chen Zhu who went up to tell the story of going to the Queen's Palace before, and said nervously: "The servant will follow the mother's instructions and leave after speaking... I don't know what the queen thinks now."

"She will agree." Yun Fenghuang said lightly, "After all, His Majesty's protection of Mrs. Gu this time clearly shows the Sacred Heart... If she really stands by now, she will be so stupid!"

The Empress Dowager Yuan was able to deal with her so resolutely after she had been dormant for several years without doing anything, and she couldn't deal with a Gu Zhen whose Gongdou skills were not very good?

To put it bluntly, the Empress Dowager Yuan has not been able to do anything to Gu Zhen so far because of the presence of Yun Fenghuang in the palace.

Let the Queen Mother not be too blatant.

Otherwise, with Gu Zhen's little means, it would not be enough to put the Empress Dowager Yuan in front of her.

And she, Yun Fenghuang, is the kind of master who thinks she is unlucky when she knows she can't make it through?

If she is really bad, she must be able to drag a few into the water!

Gu Zhen also don't want to run away!

...But this is the time when there is no other way. Yun Fenghuang has worked so hard to this day, and she still hopes that everyone will restrain himself, so that her wife can take the post peacefully, and the son of Enze can enter the East Palace.

Right now I am thinking, how can I break this situation?

The imperial concubine turned her thoughts one by one, and suddenly asked Chen Jing: "Contact Gu Shao!"