A Thousand Gold Order: Inheritance

Chapter 250 Peeling off cocoons, old friend?
Although she restrained herself very quickly and did not show it clearly, Qi Huan was aware of it.

It is a kind of vigilance and intuition from the depths of the soul when a person faces enemies and dangers.

She was quite sure that it was not an illusion.

but--

why?
If it is said that Concubine Wen will know her, it is also possible that the other two times when she entered the palace, the other party saw her from a dark place on her way to Fengming Palace, but this old lady, she and her are definitely the first love. See!

Qi Huan himself doesn't usually go out very much. This old lady has just returned to Beijing for more than two months. At such an age, it is even more impossible for her to hang out on the streets when she has nothing to do. Therefore, the chances of the two meeting each other are almost certain to be zero.

Why did the other party show such great hostility and malice towards her?

Queen Gu ordered people to give seats to Concubine Wen and her party.

Concubine Wen sat down with Mrs. Ning and Mrs. Yang.

As long as Yang Pan'er's identity is not enough, she still plays the role of a filial granddaughter and stands beside Ning's side waiting to be served.

Just now Qi Huan was standing next to Queen Gu. Although the group of them kowtowed to Queen Gu, it was tantamount to letting Qi Huan take advantage of it in disguise.

My heart is extremely uncomfortable at the moment, with an uncomfortable feeling of being humiliated and being taken advantage of.

And the little girl didn't hide her emotions thoroughly, so this unhappiness was more or less exposed on her face.

Empress Gu would not deliberately delve into the thoughts of a little girl like Yang Pan'er, Qi Huan could see through her thoughts at a glance, but for the time being, she had no time to take care of her, and was only thinking about Ning's affairs.

Empress Gu saw that she was distracted, but thought she was still worried about Gu Zhan's safety in the southern border, so her expression eased, and she deliberately softened her voice a little: "You child, didn't you say that it's like going home when you come to me? , don't you need to be restrained? Sit down too."

If another family were here, Qi Huan would naturally decline humbly, but now she just responded generously: "Yes, thank you, ma'am."

Then he didn't go to the next head of the family, but walked to the chair opposite them and sat down.

Empress Gu glanced over, probably suspicious, but she called Qi Huan here today to show her position and support Qi Huan, so she didn't say anything.

Concubine Wen on the opposite side saw that a little girl of hers was so presumptuous in front of Queen Gu, and Queen Gu was still conniving, so she probably guessed her identity after a little thought.

Because he didn't want to provoke the people on Yang's side, he turned a blind eye and didn't speak.

And her family's old lady, Ning Shi, is obviously better than her in concentration and disguise, and she has already picked up the teacup and tasted tea calmly.

Only Yang Chenglian's stepwife stared at Qi Huan for a long time, and couldn't help asking: "My lord, forgive me for my clumsy eyesight. The girl sitting on the seat looks very strange. She seems to have never seen her before. I don't know if she is..."

She was purely curious, and there was a little smile on the corners of her eyes and brows when she spoke.

Qi Huan has been secretly observing the family opposite, and feels that her innocence does not seem to be faking...

Yang Chenglian is getting old, her original wife, Concubine Wen and Yang Pan'er's mother, have passed away for more than ten years, and the new wife married by this continuation is a few years younger than Concubine Wen.

Qi Huan thus speculated——

Maybe she really didn't know the tricks of their family and her own.

Empress Gu's attitude towards their family was not warm, but she was kind. She also looked at Qi Huan and said with a smile: "I'm my sister-in-law-to-be, and she comes from the Qi family in the Marquis of Changning."

"No wonder..." Mrs. Yang showed a look of sudden realization, and she naturally praised: "I haven't been in Beijing for a long time, no wonder I haven't seen it. I heard the good news of Gu Shizi's engagement not long after I returned to Beijing. The future bride is really good The appearance is very suitable for the prince."

Empress Gu smiled, lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea, accepting her compliment directly.

Qi Huan could only be self-effacing, and made a perfunctory sentence in a shy manner: "Madam Yu Shi is ridiculously praised."

The other three members of the Yang family obviously didn't want to get involved, and were deliberately avoiding this topic.

Qi Huan became more determined——

This family should indeed have a deep rift with their own family.

otherwise--

In front of Empress Gu, they should go ahead and praise her and Gu Zhan's marriage.

But what...

Now that Mrs. Yang, who was kept in the dark, came forward to say these things, it can be regarded as a crooked way to round up the situation.

After that, Concubine Wen cut the topic and started chatting about other things.

Concubine Wen's family originally estimated the time, and they came half an hour earlier than the luncheon. The elders in the family came to the palace for the banquet, and they came to meet the queen in advance. The concubines and concubines who also had elders entering the palace also brought their elders to visit them one after another.

Everyone sat in the main hall and chatted for a while, and Mother Jiao also came in from outside the hall to report: "My lady, the luncheon is ready, do you and all the ladies and wives want to move over now?"

The conversation in the hall stopped abruptly, and everyone was silently waiting for the queen to speak.

Empress Gu nodded and said with a smile: "Then you can lead them there first."

She didn't say that she wanted to leave Qi Huan alone, so Qi Huan got up with the crowd and went to the banquet with everyone.

Today's banquet is placed on the water pavilion in the middle of the lake again, and the seats are divided according to rank.

In the harem of the current emperor, there are only two concubines in the position of concubines, Concubine Sheng Xian and Concubine Yang Wen, who have raised princes, and there are four more concubines, plus their relatives...

Qi Huan's seat was ranked lower in the middle.

When they passed by, the other two concubines had already arrived and were sitting around drinking tea.

When they also sat down, the atmosphere became more lively.

Looking around at this time--

There was only Empress Gu and Concubine Sheng Xian who should be sitting next to her.

Qi Huan only glanced at the main seat, then calmly looked away.

Those present were the Ning family who was the oldest and the concubine Wen with the highest status. Their mother and daughter would inevitably be complimented and asked for advice on the secret of longevity and so on.

Qi Huan watched coldly, and if no one came to her, she would try to say as little as possible.

In fact, she was quite annoyed that such half-baked people got together to have a fake banquet, and after a while, Empress Gu showed up on the shore.

Everyone quickly stopped talking, got up from their seats, and knelt down to greet him.

Waiting for Empress Gu to step into the water pavilion, they greeted in unison: "Concubine/Concubine/I have seen the empress."

"Everyone get up." Empress Gu said as she walked, "Today is considered a family banquet, so feel free and don't need to be too formal."

That's what she said, but everyone still knelt in their duty, and only thanked her after she was seated.

Queen Gu looked at the first vacant seat.

Just at this moment, Mother Jiao laughed and said, "Concubine Xian has arrived."

Everyone turned their heads to look at the water corridor at the same time, and they saw Concubine Sheng Xian coming late.

She also came dressed up, but she brought a group of palace people around like stars and moons, but she was not accompanied by her natal family.

"Empress, forgive me, my concubine is late." After entering the water pavilion, she had already offered to apologize.

Qi Huan saw her Shi Shiran passing in front of his desk, seeming to be joking and pleading guilty to Queen Gu, but clearly glanced at him coldly from the corner of his eye.

Empress Gu sat on the main seat, she didn't even find fault with her words, she just asked: "I heard that Mrs. Sheng is sick and bedridden, what did Mrs. Zhongyonghou say? If necessary, Concubine Xian will send a few An imperial physician should go back and have a look, there is no need to inform this Palace and Your Majesty."

Concubine Sheng Xian was born in Zhongyonghou's Mansion. Her father, Lord Hou, has passed away long ago. The current head of the family is her half-brother.

The old Marquis has no sons. Although this loyal and brave Marquis is a concubine, he was adopted at the knees of his mistress since he was a child, and because Concubine Sheng Xian gave birth to a prince, everyone has high hopes for Yun Zheng, so the family is also very happy. unity.

On this day in previous years, the old lady of the Sheng family would also enter the palace to reunite with her daughter.

Not only did she not come today, even though her daughter-in-law entered the palace, she did not come to the banquet...

After a little deliberation, Qi Huan knew in his mind that they should have deliberately avoided it just because of Yun Zheng's matter this time, and they didn't want to come to Empress Gu to be low-key and petty.

"Thank you, Ma'am, for your concern." Concubine Sheng Xian didn't show it at all, and she responded freely to Empress Gu's concern, "My mother is getting old now, and she often suffers from headaches. I fell ill again in a few days, and the concubine only sees her two or three times a year... No, my sister-in-law hurried over to say hello and then rushed back to take care of her illness. Get well."

What she said was true or false, and most of the people present knew it well.

only--

No one, including Queen Gu, ever exposed her.

Queen Gu didn't even mention Yunzheng's grounding to provoke her, and the other concubines behaved well under the pressure of the queen, and no one was playing lip service at the table, let alone finding fault.

After Queen Gu announced the opening of the banquet, the kitchen began to serve dishes one after another.

For the small banquet in Fengming Palace, the dishes are more delicate.

Qi Huan was also very restrained today, he only looked at the flagon jug placed by the palace man on the corner of the table, he didn't touch it for a moment, and just buried his head in his meal honestly and low-key.

At the banquet, what other people said among them were all scenes of complimenting each other.

Then--

Qi Huan heard Empress Gu call her: "Huan Niang, don't you like the fruit wine here in this palace? Why are you so obedient today, you don't even touch it? Is the wine today bad?"

There was a sound in Qi Huan's head, and his whole body stiffened instantly.

She could feel dozens of pairs of eyes looking at her in unison, and she had to bite the bullet and look up calmly, and then replied nonchalantly: "My daughter's alcohol capacity is light, and Gu Shizi told me in earnest before leaving Beijing Restrain yourself in front of people, don't make a fool of yourself by drinking too much."

Qi Huan didn't mean to say this.

Concubine Sheng Xian's eyes turned cold.

because--

In order to get rid of the crime, Yun Zheng gave the explanation in front of the emperor that it was a mistake of drinking.

Now this stumbled, others have been locked up in Prince Ning's Mansion, even her biological mother can't see her, and she can't "unreasonably" go to the emperor to make trouble or plead for mercy...

Therefore, she felt that it was Empress Gu and Qi Huan who sang and sang to connotate her, and immediately pushed her up, and immediately felt a little chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Empress Gu didn't look at her, she just laughed dumbfounded after hearing Qi Huan's words.

She waved at Qi Huan: "Don't listen to him, you are not in his charge now. Come here, sit next to Bengong, I am not an outsider, if you are drunk, it doesn't matter if you rest here."

Qi Huan originally thought she was thinking of her empty wine cellar and asked casually, but at this moment it suddenly dawned on her——

Sure enough, Queen Gu asked her to enter the palace today, in addition to telling her the specific whereabouts of Gu Zhan, it was to support her and beat Concubine Sheng Xian's mother and son!

Since it's acting, it has to be effective!

Therefore, Qi Huan was also half-familiar and didn't evade any excuses, so he got up and walked directly to the main seat.

The palace people hurriedly added an extra seat beside Queen Gu.

But usually at the same table with the venerable, it is necessary to serve each other with tea and water.

So, Qi Huan knelt down and planned to roll up his sleeves to serve the queen.

But Empress Gu pressed her hand again at the right time, with a warm and tolerant smile on her face: "You don't need to cook these, see what you like to eat, if there is no one that suits your taste, ask the kitchen to buy it."

Empress Gu is the authority in the harem, she is actually not very approachable, so that all the concubines are extremely well-behaved in front of her, and quarrels rarely happen.

Seeing her taking care of Qi Huan like this, everyone was surprised.

At this time, someone finally joked half-truthfully: "Miss Qi is really lucky, the empress doted on her future sister-in-law as her own younger sister."

Queen Gu was noncommittal.

Qi Huan didn't dare to toss the Imperial Dining Room arrogantly, and hurriedly said with a flattered expression: "Today's dishes are very good, and they suit my taste, so don't bother."

The people below continued to compliment him one after another.

Empress Gu said again: "It may take a while for Gu Zhan and the prince to go back to Beijing on this errand. During this time, if you are bored in the mansion, you will often come to the palace to accompany me."

"Yes." Qi Huan agreed naturally.

At the end of the luncheon, Concubine Sheng Xian couldn't squeeze a smile on her face, while the old lady Ning and Concubine Wen of the Yang family cherished words like gold and didn't say anything during the whole process.

After the banquet was over, Empress Gu asked someone to bring some supplements and precious medicinal materials that had been prepared in advance, and said that Qi Huan would take them back for Yang's health care.

In this way, under the attention of all kinds of people, Qi Huan was sent back by Eunuch Jia himself in a very high-profile manner.

Yang Shiben was still on tenterhooks, always worried that something would happen to her in the palace, seeing the two maids come back with their arms full of goodies...

Yang Shi, who is not short of money and is used to seeing good things, couldn't help being speechless: "It's just that you are asked to enter the palace for a meal. Those who don't know this think that you have made some great contributions outside. How can you still return?" Came back with a reward?"

Qi Huan felt guilty about taking these things.

She sat down, resting her chin and showing a mournful expression: "Who says it's not? The empress said to her future in-laws, your old man, to make up for her body... The so-called no merit, this is really a big deal." Human favors made me feel embarrassed to lose my temper in front of Gu Zhan in the future, and now I feel guilty."

When Yang Shi heard that she was talking nonsense again, she glared at her.

Anyway, the rewards in the palace cannot be turned down, so she didn't struggle too much, and told Lady Yun to take away the wing room first.

The mother and daughter sat down, and Qi Huan probably explained to Yang what happened in the palace, but in order to prevent her from following Xuanxin, he deliberately concealed the fact that Gu Zhan went to Yanling Pass, and only said that it was Queen Gu. Taking the opportunity to express his position, he warned Concubine Sheng Xian in a disguised form, with the aim of supporting her.

certainly--

There is also an unexpected harvest, that is, Concubine Wen's family can also be beaten incidentally.

Thinking of Concubine Wen, she inevitably thought of that old lady of the Yang family, Ning Shi.

So, I pretended to be chatting and asked Yang: "Mom, I suddenly thought of a question today. In fact, I don't think our mother and daughter look alike. People say that my nephew looks like my uncle. Do I look more like me?" uncle?"

She chatted casually, with a hippie smile, and asked questions easily.

Yang Shi was very reluctant to mention her late brother.

Her expression froze instantly, but she couldn't bear to spoil her daughter's interest.

Afterwards, she managed to gather herself together, but still smiled, looked at her daughter's face, thought seriously, and said, "You don't look much like your uncle, but among your cousins, you look the most like you Grandmother, at least... she looks five points like her."

As she spoke, she felt a little proud, and pinched her daughter's cheek: "It's a pity, her old man doesn't live long, so she didn't let her see you born."

When Qi Huan was born, not only her grandmother had passed away, but even her uncle died suddenly without seeing her.

At that time, Qi Huan was still in his infancy, and the news of Yang Yuting's death had spread to Beijing.

Seeing that Yang Shi was brought up to be sad again, and his expression became lonely again, Qi Huan hurriedly laughed, but still pestered her and asked, "Then who is better-looking, my grandmother or me?"

Yang's thoughts were distracted by her, so she couldn't help laughing, and said without thinking: "Of course my daughter is more beautiful."

This is not a filter for mothers to see their children, it is a fact!
No matter how many things Qi Wenjing is wrong——

At least his good appearance is impeccable, and he has inherited many advantages from Qi Huan.

Qi Huanxi jokingly joked with Yang again, which completely calmed her down. At the same time, she also had a tentative guess in her heart——

Why did Ning Shi accurately predict her identity when she first saw her?The most intuitive thing can only be that her appearance is similar to that of the "old man", so similar that Ning can recognize her as someone's descendant at a glance.

At first she thought that she might look like Yang Yuting who was killed by them, but she didn't expect that the answer she got from Yang was actually her grandmother Jia!

But in this way, everything became more logical, after all, it was Jia who made the decision to bring the whole family to Beijing!

Thus inferring——

The murder of Yang Yuting should not be due to the enmity he formed with Yang Chenglian after he entered the officialdom. The feud and enmity between the two families should be traced back to a long time ago. It has existed since the time when the Jia family was still alive. He was prosecuted and killed when he rose to prominence in his official career!

But her grandmother is gone, so only Yang can know what this so-called old enemy is!

Qi Huan couldn't figure out why, so he could only give up temporarily.

Another day later, on the afternoon of the ninth day of the lunar new year, she called Wei Feng over again: "Before your elder son left Beijing, he said that he would prepare a gift for me to go to the Yushi Mansion in Youdu to celebrate my birthday. I will use this gift tomorrow. You Go back to the government for me to confirm and tell them to be ready."

"Yes." Wei Feng agreed, turned around and took two steps, then turned around and asked, "Are you ready to bring you the small one?"

"Don't!" Qi Huan quickly refused, "Just leave it in the Duke's mansion, don't say anything, don't let my mother know about it, I'll just pick it up when I go out tomorrow."

After Wei Feng left, Xing Luo, who was tidying up her box in the room, came over with a worried expression on his face: "Didn't the old lady of the Yang family meet in the palace the day before yesterday? Then there will be more in Yang's house tomorrow." Do I need to go again?"

"Last time in front of the empress and the nobles in the palace, I didn't even get to look at her twice. I guess she didn't have the nerve to get to know me." Qi Huan said with a smile. A bit cunning, "So I have to go around in front of her again, so that she can remember me clearly."

Tell the old lady to remember her?What's the use of that?

Xing Luo obviously felt that her expression was treacherous, and there was a hint of calculating in it, but she couldn't see through the details, so she could only suppress her curiosity and stop asking.

Gu Zhan was reliable in his work, and Wei Feng confirmed the news as quickly as possible, saying that the gift over there had already been prepared.

Qi Huan felt relieved and went to bed early that night to recharge his batteries.

After breakfast the next day, she fooled Mrs. Yang again with the excuse that she was going out to buy something.

Yang was basically at ease with her, and asked her to bring a few more guards to go early and return early, and did not interfere too much.

Then—

Before going out, Qi Huan was entangled by Qi Yuanchen, and the kid started to make a fuss again, insisting on following him out to play.

(End of this chapter)