Chapter 124 125: She is a lone wolf player
Huayang Palace.
Qin Xiyue played chess alone, black and white twins fought on the chessboard, it was clear that white had an obvious advantage, but in the end he was turned from defeat to victory by black.
She suppressed the urge to overturn the chessboard, stood up and took a deep breath, slowly returning to her senses.
Walking to the window, Qin Xiyue stared out of the window. This year will soon pass, and after entering the palace for so long, all goals have not been achieved. Although she has been promoted, she has no imperial favor.
She knew that entering the palace was not easy, but she didn't know that it would be so hard.
Not only her, maybe other concubines in this palace are also staring at Wangyou Palace, wanting to see when people in Wangyou Palace will fall out of favor, so that others will have a chance to make progress.
Concubine Shu's restoration of her title was an opportunity, but Song Yunzhao did not expect Song Yunzhao to react so quickly, let alone that the emperor would still only go to Wangyou Palace even if he stepped into the harem.
Others may not know, but she does know that Song Yunzhao must have done something behind the right prime minister's meritorious service this time, and it should not just be a matter of donating money. Otherwise, if Song Nanzhen was in charge of the snow disaster, how could the Prime Minister give him convenience secretly.
So Concubine Shu restored her title to Wangyou Palace without any movement, she already knew in her heart that Concubine Shu and Song Yunzhao must have joined forces.
This situation is too unfavorable for her, how to break Song Yunzhao's monopoly is the most urgent thing in front of her.
Among the three concubines, the relationship between Concubine Shu and Song Yunzhao is somewhat unclear, but this snow disaster has benefited Prime Minister Shu, concubine Shu should not embarrass Song Yunzhao in a short time.
Among the three concubines, there are Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Wan. Concubine Wan's temperament is a bit difficult to resist. She puts on the airs of a talented woman and refuses to land. Even if there is any conspiracy, Concubine Wan's temper will never come forward to do it. She will only let others take the lead. Naturally, this is what she wants to see.
Then only Concubine Zhuang is left. Although Concubine Zhuang is easier to deal with than Concubine Wan, Concubine Zhuang is the most difficult to negotiate conditions among the three concubines.
Although Concubine Zhuang showed her affection, she still hesitated about the cooperation.
It's just that she has no chance to wait now.
"Master, Concubine Zhuang asked you to come and drink tea."
"Did you say anything?" Qin Xiyue looked at Fangping and asked.
Fang Ping said softly: "It seems that the list for the annual banquet has come down."
Qin Xiyue grimaced, "Serve me to change my clothes."
If it is necessary to go there in person for this matter, Zhuang Concubine invited her to go, presumably there should be something wrong with the list.
In Zhaoyang Palace, Concubine Zhuang's complexion was not good, and Yan Zhi was serving at the side. At this time, she took a step forward and said softly: "Mother, as long as the right minister is there, the title of Concubine Shu can be taken back sooner or later. You don't have to be angry."
"This palace is not for this." Concubine Zhuang sneered, "Look at the annual banquet list."
Rouge stepped forward to pick up the list and quickly scanned it, and then said with surprise: "Song Jieyu's natal family is actually Mrs. Song who entered the palace? This...it's a bit inappropriate."
"Who doesn't know that Song Yunzhao is not on good terms with his biological mother, and the relationship between mother and daughter is very cold. I thought we could also watch the excitement when Mrs. Song enters the palace for the annual banquet." Concubine Zhuang smiled. They still wanted to watch the excitement, but the emperor immediately resolved the matter.
If Song Yunzhao asked Mrs. Song to attend the banquet, they would still have a chance to do something, but now that the emperor has directly decided on this matter, what they want to do will not be easy.
At least for now, this is Song Yunzhao's only shortcoming, but this opportunity is gone.
How can you not be angry?
"Mother, Qin Wanyi is here." Yun Dai came in and bowed back.
"Please come in." Concubine Zhuang said.
Soon Qin Xiyue followed Yun Dai into the palace, stepped forward to salute Concubine Zhuang, "Concubine Zhuang concubine pays respects to Concubine Zhuang, Madam, hello."
"Get up quickly." Concubine Zhuang said with a smile on her face, "Sit down and talk."
"Thank you, ma'am." Qin Xiyue thanked her before taking her seat.
Rouzhi led the palace servants to offer refreshments, smiled at Qin Xiyue, and said, "Wanyi has a taste of this dessert, the empress specially ordered the imperial dining room to make it."
Qin Xiyue said with a smile: "Since this is the case, the concubine wants to taste it." She took a piece with a silver fork and put it in her mouth, tasted it carefully, and said: "This is rose cake, but I didn't eat rose petals."
"Using roses to knead the rose juice into the dough, this is the method that the empress came up with."
Qin Wanyi took advantage of the opportunity to praise Zhuang Concubine. After putting down the fork, she looked at Zhuang Concubine and said with a smile: "I see that your complexion is not very good today. Did something not go your way? If your concubine doesn't think my concubine is dull, my concubine is willing to share her worries."
Qin Xiyue was very satisfied with Concubine Zhuang being so knowledgeable, so she looked at her and said, "I wanted to invite you over for tea and talk, but I just got the list for the New Year's banquet."
Rouge immediately stepped forward and handed the list to Qin Wanyi, "Wanyi, please take a look."
Qin Xiyue took it with a smile. Naturally, this list was given to the third concubine first when entering the harem. She knew that there would be this list, but with her position, it was impossible to get it immediately.
Took the list and looked at it carefully, and found something wrong with this look, and his eyes fell on Mrs. Song's name tab. The hand holding the list tightened slightly, then let go after regaining consciousness.
Concubine Zhuang's eyes glanced at Qin Xiyue's fingertips, the corners of her mouth curled up, she drank her tea slowly, calmly.
Qin Xiyue put the list on the table, then raised her head to look at Concubine Zhuang, the expression on her face had already returned to normal, and said slowly: "There is nothing wrong with this list of concubines, but it is Mrs. Song who is going to the banquet in the Song Mansion, which is a bit surprising."
"That's right, since the word filial piety is like the sky, I don't know why Song Jieyu's mother is not on the list of palace banquets. According to my palace, Song Jieyu is favored now, even if there is one more person in the house, it doesn't matter." Concubine Zhuang said slowly with a chuckle.
Qin Xiyue thought in her heart that it was so, Concubine Zhuang was going to charge her into battle.
Although she doesn't want to be that knife, she can't just let this matter go. The relationship between her and Song Yunzhao cannot be changed. As long as she is here, she will always be oppressed by her and unable to stand out.
She was naturally unwilling.
"Your Majesty is right, but concubines are inferior, so how can you speak about such a big event." Qin Xiyue looked helpless, "Speaking of this year's palace banquet, three empresses need to co-chair it, which is also the first time in this dynasty."
Concubine Zhuang knew that Qin Xiyue would not take the bait easily, and she sighed unintentionally when she heard her words, "After the imperial concubine passed away, there is no one in charge in this palace. Right now, the empress position is vacant. If things go on like this, the courtiers will come forward to ask the emperor to make an empress. The huge harem cannot always be like loose sand."
"That's the truth." Qin Xiyue agreed with a smile.
He said this, but he thought in his heart: Empress? Concubine Zhuang really dares to think now, she neither gave birth to an heir for the emperor, nor did her father make great contributions to the court, so why can she sit in the back seat?
The third concubine was just looking at the scenery. After the death of the noble concubine, the emperor did not install another noble concubine. It can be seen that the affection for the third concubine is not as deep as the three concubine showed.
It's just that she is just a Wanyi now, and she can't even touch the side of the concubine. Naturally, she only dares to think in her heart, and she won't say a word.
Not only that, Qin Xiyue also wants to go along with Concubine Zhuang, it is best that Concubine Zhuang really fights for the position of queen, if the three concubines don't fight, how can they give others a chance to be promoted?
There is a radish and a hole in the harem. If the original radish is not moved, how can the latter be filled?
Qin Xiyue and Concubine Zhuang have their own plans. They both smiled and talked very happily, but they were on guard against each other in their hearts, and even wanted to push each other to make the first move.
Song Yunzhao got the news that Concubine Zhuang invited Qin Xiyue to drink tea, but he didn't take it seriously for the time being. What they can do together is probably because of the palace banquet list.
Waiting for the decree to be officially sent out of the palace, it is useless to do what they want to do.
"Is Chen Chongyi sick?" Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yunjin in surprise and asked.
Feng Yunjin came to visit suddenly, but he didn't expect to talk about such a thing.
Feng Yunjin nodded helplessly, "The concubine is just a little girl, how can she manage Chen Chongyi's affairs, but the palace man in front of her begged me and wanted me to help invite an imperial doctor to take a look, but the concubine sent someone to the imperial hospital, but failed to invite anyone."
Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yunjin in surprise, "No one was invited? Can't even tell the doctor from the imperial hospital?"
Feng Yunjin looked up at Song Jieyu, sighed softly, and then said: "At the beginning, Chen Chongyi was relegated to the cold palace because he poisoned Qin Wanyi. The imperial hospital didn't dare to offend Qin Wanyi, so they didn't send the imperial physician there, but only let the medical girl go."
The duty of the female doctor in the imperial hospital is to assist the imperial physician. She can't treat serious illnesses, but she can't treat minor illnesses.
Obviously this is to let people go to top the tank.
At the beginning, Chen Guiji abolished Guiji's position and relegated her to the Leng Palace because of the flower arrangement. Song Yunzhao actually didn't think of this person very much after all this time. After all, she really didn't have any friendship or contact with Chen Guiji.
Now that she heard Feng Yunjin's words, she felt sorry for her. She knew that at least half of Chen Guiji's poisoning was wronged, and the other half was her own fault. Knowing about medicine is a good thing, but in a place like the palace, this kind of thing really can't be known without being known.
It’s all right now, if someone else dug a hole, she can only jump down.
Feng Yunjin looked at Song Jieyu's frowning and thought she was in trouble, so she sighed and said, "Jieyu doesn't need to be in trouble, there is nothing I can do if I can't help, this is Chen Chongyi's fate."
Song Jieyu can't be put in danger for Chen Chongyi. Although she wants to help Chen Chongyi, she won't involve others.
"It's not a problem." Song Yunzhao calmed down. She looked at Feng Yunjin and said, "Although my relationship with Chen Chongyi is average, it's a matter of human life, so it's not good to just stand by. I'll let someone go to the Taiyuan Hospital, and we'll see and talk later."
Feng Yunjin smiled, "Jieyu is really kind."
Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yunjin, "That may not be the case."
Feng Yunjin couldn't laugh or cry, how could she talk about herself like this, she said softly: "Firstly, I feel sorry for Chen Chongyi who has fallen into such a situation, and secondly, I suspect that there was something wrong with the poisoning at the beginning. If I help Chen Chongyi today, maybe I can use her in the future."
Song Yunzhao:…
Think tanks are different, take one step and see three steps.
Feng Yunjin was able to say this to her, so it can be seen that she really took refuge in her. She also had this plan at first, and the two of them thought of getting together, so they smiled and said: "You are right, you must not have the intention of harming others, and you must have the intention of guarding against others."
Feng Yunjin nodded when she heard this, "What Jieyu said is that you don't have to be cautious all the time in the palace."
Song Yunzhao responded, and at the same time called Madam Yu, and said: "Chen Chongyi is sick, Madam at the Tai Hospital will go there personally, and let people go to Lenggong to have a look. It seems that the Chinese New Year is coming, if there is any mistake, can the people in the Tai Hospital take care of it?"
If a concubine dies of illness during the Chinese New Year, isn’t it bad luck?
The emperor will definitely be unhappy, and no one will be happy if he changes it. No one wants to have a happy and smooth New Year's Eve.
Nanny Yu hurriedly nodded in response, then turned and walked outside.
After Nanny Yu left, Feng Yunjin looked at Song Yunzhao with a smile and said, "Jieyu's words are good, why didn't my concubine think of that?"
But even when she thought about it, she didn't dare to do it or say it. Not everyone dared to carry the banner of the emperor and borrow it.
Song Yunzhao whispered to Feng Yunjin: "It's just taking advantage of the emperor's prestige to suppress the place. Otherwise, if you go to the Imperial Hospital in my name, those people will probably have to fool them."
"There is no way to do this." Feng Yunjin shook her head, in the palace, only when you have reached your status and have the power of deterrence, can you respond to everyone.
Even if Jieyu is the emperor's favorite person now, but the position is here, although the imperial hospital dare not neglect, it may not obey Jieyu's orders.
Feng Yunjin remembered that she was still a little girl now, and felt even more frustrated. She didn't know when she would have the opportunity to be promoted.
Song Yunzhao looked at the disappointment that flashed in Feng Yunjin's eyes, and she could guess some points in her heart, but she couldn't do it now, and she couldn't promise anything. Opportunities are not so easy to find, so she can only take one step at a time.
Feng Yunjin's disappointment flashed by, and she cheered up again. Song Jieyu is a kind and righteous person. Just looking at Concubine Shu and Concubine Han, she knows that she will definitely be able to wait for the opportunity in the future.
He felt a little more at ease, and looked at Song Yunzhao and said the second major event of this trip, "There is one more thing that Jieyu probably doesn't know yet."
"What's the matter?" Song Yunzhao thought about it carefully, but he couldn't think of any major events before.
"Jieyu came to Beijing late, I'm afraid she doesn't know about the Queen Mother." Feng Yunjin said softly.
Song Yunzhao:…
Days were going so well that I forgot about this big Buddha.
However, although she had read it in the book, she couldn't reveal it in front of Feng Yunjin, so she could only ask with surprise: "The queen mother? As far as I know, isn't the queen mother in the palace to worship the Buddha and chant scriptures for the late emperor?"
Feng Yunjin nodded, "Yes, that's what it said to the outside world, but the truth is more than that."
Song Yunzhao became interested. Although there are many plots in the book, but now because of her strong disruption, many plots have changed their course.
"Then tell me, I'm still curious." Song Yunzhao said.
Feng Yunjin looked at Song Jieyu's gossiping eyes, and couldn't hold back her joy.
Song Yunzhao also laughed, "Know yourself and your enemy."
"What Jieyu said is true." Feng Yunjin agreed with this very much, and carefully explained to her the past of the mother and son of the emperor and the queen mother.
Song Yunzhao listened to Feng Yunjin's version, and it was similar to what was said in the book, and basically the lines matched, "You mean the queen mother will return to the palace next year?"
It is written in the book, this matter must be a certainty.
However, she still has to ask.
Feng Yunjin nodded, "The six-year period will come. The emperor will definitely take the queen mother back to the palace. Jieyu must be careful at that time. The relationship between the queen mother and the emperor will be tense. If the emperor likes it, the queen mother may not like it."
Song Yunzhao:…
She must carry this big pot for the emperor again!
No wonder he promised himself so readily that day, Emperor Dog, she was so mad at her!
Song Yunzhao was so angry that he gritted his teeth in his heart, and he had to maintain the arrogance of a concubine on his face and said to Feng Yunjin: "Then I am not afraid, as long as I do things without mistakes, can the empress dowager still turn black and white?"
The queen mother can really do it!
Song Yunzhao started to feel a headache when he thought about the plot of Qin Xiyue's battle with the Queen Mother in the book.
Qin Xiyue used love and sincerity to influence the queen mother, and I am afraid that she will have to use a shotgun and a long knife to come to her.
It is impossible for her to be flattened and rounded by the queen mother, and the queen mother is the first person in the harem, with power at the front and filial piety at the back, that is, Sun Wukong wears a magic spell, which is troublesome when you think about it.
In the book, the emperor doesn’t behave like a human being. He puts the heroine at the front to confront the queen mother, and he sits firmly on the Diaoyutai.
Now it was her turn to go to the battlefield. It was absolutely impossible for the emperor to be a spectator. She appointed him to be an ally.
Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yunjin and smiled, "I came from a humble background, and I was the only one favored by the emperor. I haven't been able to conceive a flesh and blood for the emperor yet. It doesn't matter if the empress dowager doesn't like me. However, it doesn't matter to me whether the empress dowager likes it or not. As long as the emperor likes it, that's enough."
Feng Yunjin boarded her boat, she also had to give others a reassurance.
Feng Yunjin's expression softened when she heard this. She was afraid that Song Jieyu would be timid when she met the queen mother, and she would lose the battle before it was fought, and the road ahead would be very difficult.
Now Song Jieyu is high-spirited and not afraid of the Queen Mother's power. This is the person she wants to follow.
"The concubine heard that when the empress dowager is in the palace, the palace people around her often change. Even if Jieyu is confident, she should be more careful." Feng Yunjin pointed out.
Song Yunzhao naturally knew the Queen Mother's temperament, which was limited to what was written in the book.
But hearing what Feng Yunjin said, she still sighed slightly. The people serving around her often change, which shows that the Queen Mother likes to punish those around her, which shows that her temperament is very difficult to get along with.
Qin Xiyue is used to seeing each other carefully, and will definitely use the Queen Mother's hand to get rid of her own enemy.
Concubine Shu is a person who can't distinguish between enemies and concubines. Concubine Zhuang must see her as a serious problem now. Concubine Wan also has an uncertain temperament, but fortunately she likes to read and rarely comes out to interfere with things. Among the three concubines, she is relatively worry-free.
This time, there are really wolves before and tigers behind.
Feng Yunjin looked at Song Jieyu's gloomy expression, and thought that she would not be in a good mood. After thinking for a while, she said softly: "Perhaps Jieyu can join forces with Concubine Shu. If someone among the three concubines can advance and retreat with Jieyu, your situation will be better."
Song Yunzhao wanted to be an ally with Concubine Shu, she would rather be a lone wolf player.
The sequelae of teaming up with Concubine Shu are more dangerous than facing the Queen Mother. This person does not distinguish between friend and foe, and jumps whenever he sees a pitfall. Being a partner with her is exhausting.
She refuses.
But he couldn't say that to Feng Yunjin, and after thinking about it, he said tactfully, "Ms. Concubine Shu is pure and straightforward."
Feng Yunjin understood instantly, and then said slowly after being silent for a while: "Jieyu's consideration is reasonable, but it's also possible to make friends with Concubine Shu."
You don't have to be an ally, but you can't be an enemy either.
Song Yunzhao agrees with this point, which coincides with her thinking. In fact, being an enemy is not afraid, but it is too troublesome. She can't make herself besieged on all sides.
Even if she is a humanoid weapon, she will get tired sometimes.
Besides, she wouldn't make herself so tired, otherwise what would the emperor do?
While talking, Han Jinyi came.
Han Jinyi came in and saw Feng Yunjin with a smile and said, "I said I didn't see you when I went to Yanqing Palace, so I guessed that you must be here."
Feng Yunjin said with a smile: "I asked Jieyu for help with something, so I came here. How did you find this place, but you have something to do?"
After Han Jinyi took his seat, he opened his mouth and said, "I just got the news that a courtier wrote to invite the Queen Mother back to the palace."
Huh?
Song Yunzhao thought to himself, this is really about Cao Cao Cao Cao arrived, she and Feng Yunjin were talking about the queen mother, so the courtiers wrote a letter?
"It looks like the New Year is coming, and the Empress Dowager said at the beginning that she would only return to the palace after serving the late emperor for six years. The six-year deadline is coming soon. Some people say that the emperor is extremely filial, and the New Year is also a day for reunion. The Empress Dowager should be invited to return to the palace early."
Feng Yunjin frowned, "Why did someone bring this up all of a sudden?"
Han Jinyi shook her head, "I don't know yet."
"If the empress dowager returns to the palace earlier, this year..." Feng Yunjin shook her head, fearing that everyone would have a hard time.
Song Yunzhao took a look at Feng Yunjin. She knew from the book that although the Queen Mother had voluntarily said that she would copy scriptures for the late Emperor for six years, the truth was that the Emperor forced the Queen Mother to do so.
The relationship between mother and son is so bad, it is impossible to hide it from everyone, so this is the emperor's successive actions in the court, which made some people unhappy, so he wanted the queen mother to come back to spoil the emperor's situation.
Han Jinyi looked at Song Yunzhao, "If the Empress Dowager really returns to the palace, Jieyu must be very careful."
The emperor dotes on Jieyu, but the empress dowager is at odds with the emperor, and she doesn't like anything the emperor likes, so she will definitely make trouble for Yunzhao.
That's the Queen Mother, and Yun Zhao is at a disadvantage.
Han Jinyi thought that if Jieyu had an imperial heir, she would have confidence, but...
The 6,000-word update is complete, my little cuties.
(end of this chapter)