Biography of Concubine Shujia

Chapter 56

"Girl, what are you up to these days?" This was the first time the emperor stepped into Yaohua Palace since he knew that Ten Niang was pregnant with twins.

"It's been a long time since I saw you in the Hall of Mental Cultivation." The emperor helped Shi Niang pin the scattered hair behind her ears, and touched her face, "If you don't come to accompany me, I have no choice but to look for you."

Since Shi Niang became pregnant, she seldom entered the Palace of Mental Cultivation to accompany her.On the contrary, I often see the emperor in Guanju Palace to greet the queen.

She was a little flattered that the emperor came to see her specially.

"My servant just eats and sleeps every day, that's all." Shi Niang smiled, "I have a big stomach, I'm struggling, this servant can't help the emperor Momo now."

"Without the girl, the others are so clumsy that they can't even write well."

"The emperor can reward slaves, there are not many slaves who are as ingenious as slaves!" Ten Niang boasted following the emperor's words, making the emperor laugh.

"What?" the emperor asked with concern seeing Shi Niang's patience.

"My child, I'm moving." Shi Niang said unnaturally.The emperor is taboo to her child, since he knew the child's situation.

"Son, do you move frequently?" the emperor asked a little coldly.

"Say hello to the child." Shi Niang took the emperor's hand and placed it on her belly.

"He, he's really moving!" The emperor was a little surprised, and then there was a subtle feeling of blood connection.

"The children are greeting their father." Shi Niang put her hands on her belly, "Baby, Daddy loves you very much. No matter what Daddy does to Mommy or you, it is for the good of the empire. "

"Your mother is the one who really loves you. Father heard that your mother has been making clothes for you, so you must be good." Facing those round eyes with apricot cores, the emperor looked away.

"Isn't there enough needleworkers? I asked the queen to call Yaohua Palace again." The emperor removed his hand from Ten Niang's stomach, "Be careful."

"You don't need to bother the master and the lady to call people, there are enough needleworkers. The slaves just want to do more for the children while they have time, so it can be considered that the slaves have done their best to be a mother."

When Shi Niang heard the emperor's words, she knew that his softened heart was closed again.I had no choice but to answer softly.

The emperor never went to the Three Treasure Hall for nothing, and Shi Niang always understood his indifference.

She, who has always been sensible and well-behaved, sat up straight and said solemnly, "Don't worry, your majesty, this servant knows what to do. The Du family is not the Bai family, and the servant is willing to do anything for the child."

Ten Niang endured her sadness and looked at the emperor, "If this servant is lucky enough to give birth to two princes, please ask the emperor to keep them alive. Send them out of the palace."

"The child's father will remember his mother." The emperor pondered, wondering if he should agree to Shi Niang's request.It took a long time to say such a sentence.

"For the sake of the emperor's world, servants understand." Even if Shi Niang understands in her heart, she will feel sorry for the child after all.

"You rest, I have to go back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to approve the papers." The emperor said to Shiniang, "Nanluo's salt tax and papers should also arrive."

The emperor saw Shi Niang's unresponsive expression, "Your third uncle's son-in-law, who assists the court with errands, should come to Beijing."

"Sixth Brother?" Ten Niang was startled.Responding subconsciously to the emperor's words, "Third Uncle didn't return to Beijing?"

The emperor raised his eyebrows, "What do you call him?"

"Call him third uncle." Ten Niang asked with concern, "My third uncle..."

The emperor did not answer her question, "What is your name, Du Ziyun?"

"Sixth brother," Shi Niang looked at the emperor puzzled.

The emperor said softly, "Don't call anyone other than me Sixth Brother!"

Ten Niang understood, and smiled, "Brother Yun is the Sixth Sister, and the Sixth Sister is also called that way, and our sisters are called by sequence."

"No." The emperor insisted.

"Yes, this servant knows." Ten Niang smiled obediently.

"Third Uncle can no longer scold Brother Yun for being worthless this time, Brother Yun can even do errands for the emperor." Suppressing the anxiety in her heart, Ten Niang smiled and gossiped to the emperor, "Speaking of which, I haven't seen you for a few years Third Uncle, I don’t know how the old man has always been?”

"Your third uncle is quite talented. I left him to work, but he couldn't get away, so he sent his son back to give me the booklet in person." Thinking of Du Xianyu's actions, the emperor smiled, "It just so happens that the salt tax will also be transferred back to Beijing. , I will allow Du Ziyun to assist the people of the imperial court with their errands."

"Third Uncle has always disliked Brother Yun's idleness." Ten Niang smiled when she heard the words, "I just don't know what good news he can give the Emperor about your arrival by sending Brother Yun back."

"Good news? It's just some complaints about the local salt merchants." The emperor was vague and looked at Shi Niang with a pair of peach blossom eyes.

Ten Niang was startled, and hurriedly got up to salute, "Your maidservant has exceeded the norm."

"It's okay, get up, you don't have to toss yourself." The emperor said lightly.

Ten Niang stood up slowly, "I will not bother you to review the papers."

"Okay, I'm leaving." The emperor patted Shi Niang's head, "You should also rest earlier."

Ten Niang nodded, "Understood. Don't be too busy at night, take care of yourself."

After thinking about it, he reminded, "Today is the fifteenth day, and Guanju Palace has prepared a supper for you. Don't forget."

"I'll see you again in a few days." The emperor said softly seeing Shi Niang's reluctance.

"Well, the servants sent the emperor respectfully."

The emperor left the Yaohua Palace, and took the eunuchs and maids to the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As soon as the emperor left, Shi Niang returned to the west side hall and hurriedly called out, "Enter the painting, enter the painting!"

"Hey, miss, the maidservant is coming." Ruhua who just came back from the small kitchen hurriedly responded.

"Go down, you guys." Ten Niang waved back the little maid in the palace, and asked with puzzled eyes in the painting, "How long has my sixth sister been gone?"

"I'm afraid the concubine should be in the mansion at this moment." Entering the painting replied after counting the time.

"Sixth Sister has entered the palace, let her come to see me immediately." Ten Niang said in a deep voice, motioning for Ru Hua to lean on her mouth, and whispered into Ru Hua's ear, "I'm afraid Nan Luo is not calm."

"Miss, then..." Ru Hua was startled.Although the Du family has a title, in the final analysis it is still supported by the third master who is capable of being an official.

"My third uncle will not be caught easily. Now the sixth brother is the target of the screwdriver. He must be protected." Ten Niang was calm with a trace of indifference, "I hope my uncle can move faster .”

Yujing, Du Mansion.

"Boss, I can do as the young master says." The old lady expressed her opinion first as the elder was contemplating.

"Mother, what was the previous arrangement?" The elder was cautious and thought for a long time, "Why don't we send Zitian and Dafang's children to practice. Sixth brother and others still get their honors."

The old man couldn't bear to give up the road that the family had arranged for so long, on the one hand, and on the other hand, he couldn't bear to send the family's children there to fight for their lives.

Dafang has a title, and his son will inherit the title.The child loves to read, so he is not forced to take that path.Now it seems that after all, this is his life.

But the other brothers in the family don't need to accompany him to that place to die together.

"Uncle, Liu Niang doesn't know whether to say something or not." Thinking of Shi Niang's request, Liu Niang said.

"Princess, please tell me." The Elder respectfully cupped his hands.

Seeing that he was treating her respectfully, Liu Niang hurriedly turned sideways to avoid him.Let him stop saying what he doesn't need to be polite, her uncle has always been cautious.

His actions are both respecting himself and reminding himself.Remind yourself that she is not just a girl from the Du family after all, she is also a member of the royal family.

"I believe that uncle's consideration has your own reasons. But in terms of speculation and understanding of the emperor's heart, we are not as good as my sister."

"That's the reason, the young master is by the emperor's side, after all, there are some things that we know better than us." The old lady glanced at Liuniang approvingly.

"Where is Sanfang?" The old man was puzzled, "I'm afraid that the third brother will not agree easily. The sixth brother is the only heir of Sanfang, sending him to that place, is it really possible?"

"No, your third brother may have already felt the pressure and threat from his political opponents." Seeing Liu Niang's worried look, the old lady patted her hand to show her stability.

"Yanzheng, there have never been many people who can be good in this position. Your third brother knows this, so he married Qiniang back to Yujing, and then chose Jiuniang to be a merchant." The old lady thought of her like a flower. Yu's Jiuniang felt a little sad.

Putting away her emotions, the old lady continued, "Your third brother is always messing around, and he is always keen on major issues. If you write to him to explain the situation, he will naturally let Brother Yun return to Beijing."

"No need." Facing the puzzled and worried eyes of Mrs. Shang and Liu Niang, the Eldest Man sighed, "Mother, we from the south have sent back news that this time it is Brother Liu who escorted the salt tax back to Beijing."

"Stupid, let Sixth Brother return to the capital with the court!" The old lady said urgently, "Sixth Brother might be uneasy on the way. He just asked the child to protect him from those disasters!"

"Mother, have you ever thought about..." The old man's expression turned ugly, and he couldn't bear to say any more.

"The situation in Nanluo is probably out of control." The old lady immediately calmed down, "San'er is taking advantage of the imperial court's escort to send the sixth brother back."

"Yun'er will be Xiao San'er's weakness in Nanluo. Yun'er is still young, and San'er is helping the family."

The old man continued, "Sixth Brother is San'er's only heir, mother, when Sixth Brother is back, I will definitely protect him. Don't send him there to fight for his life. If he is really sent, San'er will definitely be there in the future." Blame me for being an older brother."

"You're afraid that San'er will complain about you, so I'll come up with this idea." The old lady looked at the elder son, "It's better to send him there to fight with real knives and guns than Sixth Brother's assassination in the capital or Nanluo. "

"Send it, send it with your son." The old lady made a decision.

Liu Niang looked at the old man with a difficult face, "Uncle, the young master has her reasons for this arrangement. Not only is she saying goodbye to us, she is also planning for our family to save our family before leaving. The imperial examination is always too difficult. , too slowly."

"Uncle understands. I thought our family could travel slowly, but in the end we have to rely on the retreat route left by our ancestors."

"Farewell to the two families in Mengmeng, farewell to the child." Liu Niang read, "Send the two families in the junior year to send the child to the camp."

"My tenth mother, poor child!" the old lady cried out, and Liu Niang wept with her.

"Send, the Du family will not collapse! The princes of the young master still rely on us to find a way to rescue them, mother, Liu Niang, don't cry. The Du family will not be troubled by this difficulty, and will find a way!"

"It's all because Liu Niang is incompetent, unable to help the family, and wants the family to worry about our sisters." Liu Niang knelt down and cried.

"Get up, princess, you sisters, you have sacrificed enough for the Du family, it's time for the next generation of the family to take up their heavy responsibilities."

"Liu Niang believes in uncle, Liu Niang believes in Du's family. Liu Niang is here to thank the family for nurturing and supporting our sisters." Liu Niang wiped away her tears,
"One day, we will make Yujing no one dare to underestimate the Du family!"

"I will act according to the young master's instructions. There is no time to delay. After the princess returns to the palace, hurry up and enter the palace. The young master will not worry." The old man promised.

When Liu Niang returned to the palace, the Eighth Prince was playing with his daughter.Mrs. Zhang, who had taken over the house a few days ago, hurried up to join.The little princess has already started to recognize people, and Liuniang usually doesn't let Mrs. Zhang come to her room. When she sees the little princess, she naturally holds back her energy to get close to her.

Liu Niang looked hurried, and after the Eighth Prince noticed, he put the little princess into Zhang's arms, and stepped forward to hug Liu Niang.

"What? Did something happen in the palace or in the mansion?" The Eighth Prince still knew a thing or two about this usually calm wife.

"It's okay, the concubine just came back to get some things. I'm going to trouble the master in the house." Liu Niang glanced at Mrs. Zhang, and didn't want to say too much.

"I have something to say. I have nothing else to do. It's okay to protect you and your family." The Eighth Prince said solemnly to Liu Niang.

"Wow", before Liu Niang could speak, the little princess cried out first.

The little princess saw that her parents ignored her, and the person who was holding her hugged her tightly.Weeping aggrievedly, he stretched out his hand towards Liu Niang's direction.

Liu Niang slightly pushed the Eighth Prince away, stepped forward and hugged the little princess, "Be good, don't cry."

The little princess was coaxed by Liu Niang and gradually stopped crying, and stretched out her little hand to hook the tassel on Liu Niang's head.

"Master, let's go back to the room." Seeing Zhang's expression of not wanting to leave, Liu Niang was annoyed for no reason.

Mrs. Zhang hurriedly stepped forward and said, "The concubine has worked hard serving the masters in the palace."

She stretched out her hand, "The little princess always cries at night, let her sleep with the servant."

Before Liu Niang could speak, the little Princess started crying again.Liu Niang hurriedly hugged the little Princess and shook her to coax the child.

"Go back to your own yard, don't come out to wander around if you have nothing to do." The Eighth Prince scolded.

After Mrs. Zhang resigned aggrievedly, the princess stopped crying and continued to play with the tassels on Liu Niang's head.

Seeing that she was no longer crying, Liu Niang called the nanny to take her away.

After a lot of tossing, the husband and wife were able to speak quietly in the room.

"Now we can talk." The Eighth Prince caressed Liu Niang's frowning brows.

"I beg you to save my sister, please keep my sixth brother safe." Liu Niang begged and looked at her husband.

After a while, she made up her mind, gritted her teeth and said, "There has been a change in Nanluo, Sixth Brother escorted the salt tax back to Beijing with the people from the court."

The Eighth Prince raised his eyebrows slightly, "When you pass through Fengyang City, your sixth brother may be in danger."

"Brother Six is ​​the only hope for Sanfang. Please, please, my cousin, help me survive this time."

"Get up, in the final analysis, it is my brother who is sorry for your family. It is my royal family who owes you the Du family." The Eighth Prince helped Liuniang up, "What does Master Jia say?"

"My younger sister can't protect herself now, so I only sent a letter saying that the family should protect her forces."

"This king can only save your sixth brother. As for your sister, she is the emperor's brother's woman, and it is not easy for this king to intervene. This is the first, and second, even if this king really intervenes, he must save her. It's just one word, it's difficult!" the Eighth Prince said.

Seeing Liu Niang being sad, she couldn't bear it, and comforted her, "She is really loved by my brother, but her luck is not good."

Facing Shang Liuniang's suspicious eyes, she whispered, "My Daliang royal family once predicted that the twin stars will appear, and the emperor's star will decline."

"Gemini, sister!" Liu Niang turned pale with shock.

"The fact that she was not executed immediately shows how important she is in the heart of the emperor." The sixth prince said in a deep voice, "There may be a chance to turn this matter around."

"Sister, she is actually ready to die, and she is afraid that she will not be able to keep any of the children she gave birth to." Only then did Liu Niang understand Shi Niang's pain.

"This king can try to persuade Brother Huang to save one. We can only discuss this matter first, and I can't guarantee whether it will be successful. If it can be done, then the child will only save one life."

"It's a blessing to be able to keep a trace of my sister's blood. Our family has never thought about the others."

"The child who has been saved will definitely have to be sent out of the palace. At that time, I will propose to the emperor that the child be raised by our husband and wife. With the child here, he can take advantage of the opportunity to monitor the child and take care of our palace. This is the best way He let go of his suspicions."

The Eighth Prince stated his ultimate goal of protecting the child, he was pampering Liu Niang, and he would not spend any more effort on such thankless things.

Now that the emperor is looking after Fengyang, he is still at ease for the time being.But when Fengyang falls, the next person he suspects will be himself, the eighth prince in the capital.

"Liu Niang thanked the Lord for my sister, and thanked the Lord for the Du family." Liu Niang was sincerely grateful to this man.At this time, no one has more weight in the emperor's heart than him.

"Take it as an atonement for my brother. The two decrees have changed the lives of you and your sister. Follow me, after all, you have been wronged."

The Eighth Prince said.

As a princess, she is calm, kind and forbearing, and her family background does not appear to be obvious. In fact, her family has a certain right to speak in the army and the court.In his opinion, allocating his brother as a concubine is enough.But because his brother made a joke, he pointed it out to himself.

"No, I'm happier than my younger sister." Liu Niang held the Eighth Prince's hand, "Sixth Brother and younger sister will remember the Lord's life-saving grace."

"What does the king want them to remember?" The Eighth Prince smiled, "Just remember the princess. It is a serious matter to give birth to a little son for the king as soon as possible."

"My lord!"

"Relax, the king will accompany you into the palace tomorrow."

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Eighth Prince saluted the emperor on the dragon chair, "Greetings to the emperor's elder brother. My elder brother doesn't ask my younger brother to come into the palace to accompany you to race horses these days. But my younger brother is suffocated."

"If you want to enter the palace, there are still people who can stop you. I heard that you went to that place again a few days ago?" The emperor asked in a deep voice. Sometimes this younger brother is really troublesome.

"Oh, brother Yaxing, you still have plum blossom and chestnut cake, and someone has developed it and sent it to you at this time." The Eighth Prince hurriedly changed the topic.Just kidding, if you really give Brother Huang a chance to read on, Brother Huang will definitely read him to death.

"Plum blossoms and chestnuts are hard to find now. I don't know which sister-in-law of mine gave them to my brother?" The Eighth Prince stuffed two into his mouth while speaking.

Small plum blossom shape, delicate and lovely, with plum and chestnut aroma, which makes people have endless aftertaste.

"The noble lady of Yaohua Palace made it. She said that the girls in their family can make good dim sum. Since you like to eat, go home and ask your wife to make it for you."

"Come on, isn't my daughter-in-law staying with your nobleman in the palace now?" The Eighth Prince had a dissatisfied face of "my wife has been taken over by you".

"The matter of the two pieces of cake is worth a prince like you. Xiaoluzi, I will send a few boxes of snacks to the Eighth Prince's residence soon." The emperor's words turned the eighth prince's cloud into a cloud.

"It's better to be the emperor's brother. But when it comes to Jiagui, it reminds me of my little sisters-in-law. First it was Ning Shuyuan, then Bai Changzai, and now it's Jiagui's turn. Sixth brother, the woman in your palace gave birth to a child." Children are so thrilled."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Is this what you, a man, should say?" The emperor was startled by what the Eighth Prince said, and hurriedly scolded.

"Why am I talking nonsense? The daughter-in-law has never given birth to a child, and she is always nervous when she goes home. I am afraid that Mrs. Jia will not be able to make it through when she gives birth."

"Also!" The emperor glared at his younger brother.This younger brother came to the palace specially to anger him.

"My brother is wrong." The Eighth Prince saw the emperor's face, and stopped adding fuel to the fire, "Since I can't bear it, why should I believe that Laoshizi's prophecy?" He couldn't hold back and muttered in a low voice.

"What did you just say?" The emperor asked deeply, and there was no time for the Eighth Prince to make up lies after asking, "How did the Eighth Brother know about the prophecy?"

The coercion around the emperor was released, and the Eighth Prince's heart turned cold. It really has something to do with your throne, and any affection is false.

"That year, the regent said this to the queen mother in the palace." The eighth prince avoided the emperor's sharp gaze and said softly, "I was hiding in the queen mother's closet at that time."

"What did you hear?"

"I heard the queen mother and the regent, they..." The Eighth Prince's words got stuck in his throat and he didn't speak out.

"The queen mother left within a year after the regent left." The eighth prince raised his head and said loudly, "Why does brother think my temperament has changed so much?"

"Oh, it turns out that everyone in this palace knows everything that should be known. Only I was the last to know." The emperor sneered, "Since you have kept it a secret for so many years, why are you telling it now? Don't be afraid that I will punish your deceitful king." crime?"

"Brother won't. It was too late when my brother knew about it. This time, my brother can no longer make the same decision. The younger brother said it just because he didn't want to see the tragedy happen again."

The Eighth Prince met the emperor's eyes, "If it is true as the prophecy said, I beg my elder brother to save a child's life and give him to my brother. I am also a man of the Mu family. I will take good care of him and raise him." .”

"Go back." The emperor waved his hand wearily, "Let me think about it."

"Brother is a good emperor, and I hope you will be a good father." The Eighth Prince looked at the tired man above and cupped his hands, "Your brother will leave."

(End of this chapter)