Harem for a living

Chapter 174

"Your Majesty, Sister Ruyi from Ci'an Palace, please see me." Chen Manrou was cutting clothes for Xiao Wu when she saw Li Qiu enter the door with a smile, and said after saluting: "Your servant asked me, and Sister Ruyi said that the Empress Dowager has something to order." .”

"Please come in." Chen Manrou frowned slightly, it's almost the fifteenth day of August, what's going to happen to the Queen Mother?
Soon, Ruyi, who was wearing a blue bijia, came in with a round face full of smiles, and after seeing the ceremony, she said: "The empress, the empress dowager said that a few baskets of crabs have just been delivered from the Huangzhuang. It is big and fat, and it coincides with the golden chrysanthemums blooming in the imperial garden, so the empress dowager wants to hold a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet."

"A Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet?" Chen Manrou paused for a moment and laughed, "It's my palace that has too little eyesight to see it. Such a beautiful scenery, I didn't expect to make the sisters in the palace unhappy. The Queen Mother said she wanted it." Where will it be held? Who will be invited? And the arrangement of this banquet, can I help you?"

"What the empress dowager means is, empress dowager, you are the master of the first palace. The empress dowager is just making a suggestion on this matter, and the rest will be arranged by the empress dowager. As for the people who want to invite, any concubine of the fourth rank or above can go. Yes, the empress dowager said that she hadn't seen some old sisters outside the palace for a long time, and it happened to invite them into the palace at this moment. This is the list, please have a look at it, the empress dowager."

Ruyi smiled and said, handing over the list, Chen Manrou took the list, the first one written on it was Mrs. Zhongyong, who was the younger sister of Empress Dowager Ci'an, and Tang Wan'er's own mother.The second is Princess Chun, the third is Princess Zhuangjun, and the fourth is Mrs. Dingguo, the aunt of Concubine Shu.

According to her status, Princess Chun should be the first, followed by Princess Duan. Empress Dowager Ci'an would be the first to write her natal siblings first.If this list gets out, Princess Chun and Princess Duan will definitely feel uncomfortable.

"I know, I will ask someone to write a post later." Chen Manrou nodded, stuffed the list into her cuffs, and prepared to destroy the body and traces in a while, and write it again later.

"I went to the imperial garden a few days ago, and found that the scenery over the Qianqiu Pavilion is still good. It happened that the manager of the imperial garden said that the marigolds bloomed a few days ago, so it is better to let him send all the chrysanthemums there. Miss Ruyi, go back and ask the Empress Dowager?"

Ning Mei thought for a while, and then Chen Manrou continued: "As for those crabs, send them to the imperial dining room first. Let Huangzhuang send some chrysanthemums to make a table of chrysanthemums. I don't know if the Empress Dowager is satisfied with the arrangement."

With a smile on her face, Ruyi bowed to Chen Manrou and said, "Listen, servant girl, the Queen Mother's arrangement couldn't be more thoughtful. However, this servant girl is just a messenger, and she dare not lie about the Queen Mother's hobbies, so she doesn't dare to do whatever she likes." What do you say to the empress?"

"Well, you are cautious." Chen Manrou looked at her and smiled, then turned her head and told Lidong: "Go and get the box of rouge in Bengong's dressing box."

Lidong responded, and quickly took out the rouge box.Chen Manrou personally handed it to Ruyi: "I see you look plain, you are very old, and you are more beautiful when you dress up. This rouge is newly sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I haven't used it yet."

Ruyi hurriedly thanked her, and Chen Manrou waved her hand: "It's just a little thing, Miss Ruyi has worked hard for this trip, Lidong, you can send Miss Ruyi out."

When Ruyi and Lidong went out, Chen Manrou couldn't help curling her lips. The old woman really knows how to find a job. What kind of chrysanthemum appreciation feast is going on now?If at the banquet, she proposed to release Concubine Xian in front of so many people, how would she respond?

Say no?That's the embarrassment of the empress dowager, maybe she will be charged with unfilial piety.If you want to offend Mrs. Zhongyong, if it is more serious, maybe those concubines and others will have a bad impression of yourself, and you will be in trouble in the future.

But if he said yes, then who would intercede with the emperor?How can she get ahead of this kind of thing?Before, the emperor himself said that he would imprison the concubine Xian for half a year, and it's only been two months. Didn't he ask for help in the past?Even if the emperor gave him face, if he was wronged in the future, would the emperor still stand up for him in a foolish way?
Although if the emperor really agreed to his pleading, it would be a very face-saving thing for him.But for the emperor, it was a very embarrassing thing, and the emperor's imperial decree could not be taken seriously.So, for a moment of face, in exchange for the emperor's neglect in the future, that's something a fool would do, right?

It seems that this matter still needs to find a way quickly.If possible, I really don't want to participate in this chrysanthemum appreciation banquet.

The more Chen Manrou thought about it, the more depressed she was, she dragged the list out and threw it on the soft couch next to her. She took a needle and thread and continued to make clothes for her precious daughter.When Lidong came back, Chen Manrou had almost finished a sleeve.

"Your Majesty, I have asked you before. It was the Empress Dowager Ci'an who remembered the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet after Tian Qing, who was next to the Empress Xian, went to Ci'an Palace." honest!"

"It's no wonder she can be honest." Chen Manrou hummed twice in her heart. This matter really has something to do with Concubine Xian.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Lidong asked anxiously. This matter was really suggested by Concubine Xian. Maybe Concubine Xian will be released. At that time, Empress Dowager Ci'an will support Concubine Xian. The empress's position is in danger.

"Well, can't the emperor come over today?" Chen Manrou took a look at the small clothes, and embroidered a few more flowers on the cuffs. Children's clothes should be lively and bright.

"Director Liu Cheng didn't send anyone to come over." Lidong pursed his lips and said, if he didn't come to notify, it means that the emperor couldn't come.

Chen Manrou paused for a moment, then pointed to the ball of paper on the group couch: "Go and write down the list again, according to your status and status, you should write down the number of ranks, don't make everyone angry. "

"Yes." Lidong went to take the ball of paper, and Chen Manrou took a sip of water from the teacup and said, "Let Lichun and Lixia write posts according to this list, and then send them to each house in order, just say Ci'an The queen mother is old and likes to be lively, if each family has children, especially little girls, they will be brought over."

"Your Majesty?" Lidong was a little puzzled, and Chen Manrou waved his hand: "Go ahead, let's just say that, especially girls who are twelve or thirteen years old. The Empress Dowager Ci'an likes girls of this age. Are you especially favored without seeing the eldest princess? Two The princess can't even match one finger of the eldest princess."

"Yes, the servant obeys the order." Lidong didn't get an explanation from his mother, so he had some doubts on his face, but seeing that Chen Manrou didn't intend to explain, she didn't ask.After waiting for a while, seeing that Chen Manrou had nothing to say, she turned around and went out, letting Li Qiu in to serve her, while she went to find Li Chun and Li Xia to write a post.

By the morning of the next day, the stack of posts was considered finished, and the concubines in the palace did not need to send them away.They only sent them outside the palace, and Chen Manrou didn't feel relieved to leave this matter to someone else, so he let Lichun and Lidong go directly.

How to speak, these two are smart, and there is no need to explain, so Chen Manrou is very relieved.

Lixia and Liqiu went to inform the concubines in each palace. There are 24 concubines above the fourth rank, except Chen Manrou who was imprisoned.

After ordering things one by one, a day passed.

When dinner was approaching, Liu Cheng came over to deliver an order, saying that the emperor was coming.Chen Manrou called Xiaosi over: "Is there anything you don't understand about your homework these days?"

Xiaosi blinked: "No, mother, my husband has always praised me for being smart. After I finish my homework, I will be corrected. If there is anything I don't understand, my husband will explain it to me the next day."

Although it is said that the husband is shared, but Xiao Si is now regarded as the eldest son, and those gentlemen will naturally not ignore Xiao Si.

"Then hurry up and find a few places you don't understand." Chen Manrou ordered, and Xiaosi blinked: "Queen, what are you looking for?"

"Your father will come over at night, please ask your father for advice." Chen Manrou said in a low voice: "Your father is a man of knowledge and knowledge, you are his son, it is normal to ask him for advice and let him guide your homework of."

Xiao Si is really a smart kid, thinking about the satisfaction and excitement he felt when he was asked questions by his fifth brother on weekdays, he thought he understood what Chen Manrou meant, wasn't he flattering his father?This can be.

"Mother, don't worry, I will definitely ask my father for my homework later. The master said that my father's handwriting is very imposing and beautiful. I want to ask my father to guide me." Xiao Si said with a smile, and Chen Manrou poked him. Forehead: "It's good that you have a sense of proportion, and you can't pester your father too much."

"Mother, I have a sense of propriety." Rubbing his forehead, Xiao Si jumped off the soft couch: "Then mother, I will go back to read first." After finishing speaking, he bounced away. Chen Manrou couldn't help but laugh. children.

Let the small kitchen prepare the emperor's favorite dishes. Thinking of the crabs that the Empress Dowager Ci'an mentioned earlier, Chen Manrou asked someone to steam some of them. The things sent by Huangzhuang are not only from the Empress Dowager Ci'an.Her Yongshou Palace also has quite a few.

After asking someone to prepare chrysanthemum wine, Chen Manrou went to the bathroom to take a shower and change clothes.

"Your Majesty." Chen Manrou stood at the door and waited. When she saw the Emperor coming in, she greeted her immediately with a surprised smile on her face.The emperor hurriedly supported her and prevented her from saluting: "Why are you waiting outside?"

Touching the cold back of Chen Manrou's hand, and touching her cheek, it was also cold, the temperature was very low on this August night.

The emperor frowned, a little displeased: "Why didn't you wear an extra dress? Look, it's frozen like this! What about the servants? Are they all dead?"

Li Chun and others immediately knelt down, Chen Manrou quickly hugged the emperor's arm, pouted and said unhappily: "Your Majesty, how can you lose your temper at will? Li Chun and the others care about me, I'm just too impatient..."

His face was reddish, he squinted at the emperor, his eyes fluttered, his affection poured out, his delicate red lips were slightly pouty, moist and tender, it tickled people's hearts, and he wanted to take a bite immediately.

"Okay, okay, I shouldn't lose my temper." The emperor was very happy to cooperate with the little love between husband and wife. He immediately squeezed Chen Manrou's palm and said, then turned his head and said: "Get up, this time your mother is talking." Forget it, there will be no next time!"

"Yes, I know my mistake." Several court ladies responded in unison, Chen Manrou took the emperor's arm into the room, while waving to several court ladies behind his back.Chuyu and the others immediately went to the small kitchen, Lichun and Lixia followed into the mansion to serve, Liqiu went to the back to find Xiaosi and Xiaowu, and Lidong followed the emperor with a purse to reward them.

"The emperor hasn't come to my concubine for several days. I miss him very much." Chen Manrou pulled the emperor to sit on the soft couch. Busy? The emperor also has to pay attention to his body."

"Well, some time ago, the Khitan invaded the border again, and I was upset, so I didn't come to visit Zitong, Zitong, don't be angry." The emperor smiled and patted the back of Chen Manrou's hand. People? Your Majesty puts state affairs first, and this concubine is even happier."

Seeing the emperor's doubts, Chen Manrou smiled and said: "My husband is a wise and benevolent emperor who has been famous for thousands of years, and my child's father is a generous and holy lord praised by everyone in the world. I am too happy to be happy. How can I be angry with the emperor?"

The emperor laughed out loud, stretched out his hand and pinched Chen Manrou's cheek: "Zitong is becoming more and more able to talk, I am also very happy." Then, he turned his head to look: "Where are Hongxuan and Yihui?"

(End of this chapter)