Harem for a living

Chapter 180

In the next few days, from time to time, people would come to greet Chen Manrou during the off-hours.The purpose of coming here can be summed up in two ways.One is to express willingness to share the worries of the emperor and empress, and the other is to express willingness to serve the emperor and empress.

The former is to see if you can get a share of the pie, while the latter is to see if you can get a little bit of light.

It was on the third day that Concubine Xian came to the door. She had been locked up for a few months and had learned a lesson, so when she came this time, Concubine Xian's performance was quite in line with the rules.Chen Manrou was thinking about what else to tell Lichun and the others, and when she heard the news of Concubine Xian's visit, she just asked Lidong to invite her to the side hall first.

After about a cup of tea, Chen Manrou slowly got up and went to the side hall.Concubine Xian hurriedly got up to pay her respects. Chen Manrou took a little look at Concubine Xian's attire. She was wearing a pink floor-length dress with a slightly low collar, revealing the ruby ​​necklace on her white neck, which contrasted with a set of ruby ​​hairpins on her head. It makes people feel more delicate and beautiful.

"Why did Concubine Xian come here today?" After the ceremony, Chen Manrou sat down at the head, and then asked with a smile.Concubine Xian sat at the bottom with her eyebrows downcast, twisting a pink handkerchief in her hand, and it could be vaguely seen that it was embroidered with dark pink Bingdilian.

"When I greeted you in the morning, I looked at the empress and seemed to be a little uncomfortable. It happened that I still had some Guyuan ointment here, so I brought it to the empress." Xianfei said with a smile, and took one from the hand of the little maid behind her. The palm-sized box, Chu Yun, who was standing beside Chen Manrou, received Chen Manrou's signal, and quickly took it.

Chen Manrou nodded with a smile and said: "Sister Xianfei has a heart. I heard that there is a medicine shop in Sister Xianfei's house. I think there is no shortage of good donkey-hide gelatin. This time, I have taken advantage of my sister. Sister If anything happens in the future, my sister will do her best to help."

Of course, whether Concubine Xian dares to ask for help is another question.Everyone knows what to say on the scene, especially the little maid behind Concubine Xian looks familiar, like when she met in Ci'an Palace, Chen Manrou is more willing to put the scene in a more beautiful way.

Concubine Xian was quite touched and said: "The concubine just gave some small things, the empress empress said so, it really made the concubine feel ashamed."

"You are a good person. Although there are some lack of rules, I know that you are smart and you are quick to learn. You have not made any mistakes in the rules during this period." Chen Manrou raised her eyebrows slightly, and her eyes softened : "As long as you behave well, I have always been generous."

After saying that, he turned his head and told Chu Yun: "Go and bring over the coral bonsai in the storeroom." Then he turned his head and said to Concubine Xian: "Although it is only a small bonsai, it is also a part of my thoughts, Sister Xianfei But don't be disgusted."

"The empress's gift, I dare not dislike it, I will definitely take good care of it when I go back, and take good care of it." Although the concubine Xian was pleasantly surprised, the joy did not reach the bottom of her eyes. The coral bonsai is rare or not, it depends on the height.She herself already has two corals that are more than an inch high, and Chen Manrou's reward will not be very good.

But when Chuyun asked someone to bring the bonsai over, Concubine Xian immediately opened her mouth, and the bonsai was more than one meter long!
Chen Manrou looked at the surprise on Concubine Xian's face, and was very satisfied in her heart.My warehouse is already full, and there is nothing attractive about this thing, it only attracts dust, and the color is too bright, which is not in line with her usual habits, so it is better to use it to show her magnanimity and sageness.

"Did sister Xian take two people with her when she went out?" Chen Manrou looked behind Xianfei and asked in surprise, Xianfei nodded: "I always like to be quiet, but when there are too many people with me, it seems noisy, my concubine Impatient to bring so many people."

"In that case, I will send someone to send you back later." Chen Manrou nodded and smiled with satisfaction.If Concubine Xian's own people are allowed to get it back, it must be done quietly. As for her people, it must be seen by more people.

Concubine Xian could only nod her head, and said a few more polite words before mentioning today's purpose: "I am very ashamed, I have been in the palace for so long, and I have not served the emperor and empress well, I have not fulfilled my duty I am truly ashamed of the great kindness of the emperor and empress."

Chen Manrou had no choice but to comfort Concubine Xian: "Sister Xianfei went to learn the rules in order to better serve the emperor, the empress dowager, and the Palace." When it came to the last one, Chen Manrou swore that she saw Concubine Xian's eyebrows After jumping twice, she actually felt sick herself.

"The concubine has learned the rules now, and the empress praised the concubine just now, so I want to ask the empress for instructions, and I am willing to serve the emperor and the empress all the time." Concubine Xian got up and saluted, Chen Manrou hurried to help hold her.

After thinking for a while with some embarrassment, Chen Manrou asked: "Then you don't serve the Empress Dowager anymore?"

Even if Concubine Xian couldn't be beaten all at once, then Concubine Xian and Empress Dowager Ci'an had to have a thorn in their hearts.Press twice from time to time to let them go away by themselves, and save them from always coming to make trouble for themselves.

Sure enough, Concubine Xian was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook her head: "Of course not, the concubine is also willing to serve the Empress Dowager."

Next, I don't know what to say.Said that the empress dowager doesn't need to serve for the time being?The empress dowager is old, the emperor and Chen Manrou are still young, so it is obvious who needs to serve more.

It is said that there are more people serving the Queen Mother?Sorry, there are more people serving the emperor and queen.The duty of concubines is definitely to serve the emperor, followed by the empress.

The room was quiet for a while. Seeing that Concubine Xian's face was flushed with anxiety, Chen Manrou put down her teacup and said, "Since Concubine Xian wants to serve the Emperor and the Palace, this time there is a chance. In a few days, the autumn hunting in the paddock, Concubine Xian's younger sister will also follow."

Concubine Xian was overjoyed, and immediately saluted again, Chen Manrou waved her hand: "Okay, don't salute anymore, go back and pack your things, we will be leaving in a few days, sister Xianfei must arrange things in the palace , don’t bring more than four court ladies, and don’t bring more than one carriage.”

Concubine Xian hesitated a little: "The bed and clothes..."

"Beds and tents are prepared by the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. You only need to bring your clothes and usual utensils, such as teacups. I don't know much more about it. You can ask the Queen Mother for advice. "

Chen Manrou said with a smile, Concubine Xian's eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly: "I thank the empress for her advice, so I will leave."

"Let's go." Chen Manrou waved her hand, seeing that Concubine Xian was leaving with someone, she found Xiao Xizi and Xiao Lezi, and asked them to take the coral bonsai to Tai Chi Palace. Tell me about Concubine Xian going to the paddock.

Originally, Taiji Palace and Yongshou Palace were next to each other, but Xiao Xizi and Xiao Lezi insisted on carrying the bonsai from the imperial garden to Taiji Palace on the grounds that the bonsai was too big and the road on the side of Yongshou Palace was too narrow.

Before Xiao Xizi and Xiao Lezi came back, Concubine Jin also came to the door, expressing that she wanted to follow her. Since Concubine Jin entered the palace, she has been very low-key to win over people who are lower than her, and she is very kind. All smiling.Chen Manrou always felt that Concubine Jin would be more willing to stay in the palace, but unexpectedly, she was the first person from the second rank to propose to go with her.

Concubine Fu came after Concubine Jin, and Concubine Fu was not too young, and the reason was similar to Concubine De's.

When Concubine Jin left, Chen Manrou looked at the list she had made again, and two of the four concubines went—Concubine Xian and Concubine De.Then there are eight concubines, concubines Fu, concubine Jin and concubine Shen from the second rank.Then there are Wang Zhaoyi, Lan Zhaoyi and Song Zhaoyi, these three are old people in the palace, and Lan Zhaoyi also has a fourth princess by her side.

There are three new concubines, five old concubines, plus herself, nine, which should be enough.

As for those with relatively low status, they are naturally not qualified to go with them, unless they are particularly favored by the emperor and then nominated by the emperor himself.However, currently no one in the harem has this qualification, except for Chen Manrou, the emperor has not expressed any particular liking for anyone.

Show the list to Empress Dowager Ci'an first, and Empress Dowager Ci'an frowned: "Concubine De followed, what about the things at hand?"

"The concubine asked Concubine Hua to take care of it for the time being, but Concubine Hua had just entered the palace, and I'm afraid she was not very familiar with the affairs of the palace, so the concubine asked Han Wanyi and Cui Wanyi to help Concubine Hua." Han Wanyi was able to escape from Hu Zhaoyi's hands until They are all living well now, it can be seen that it is not a simple matter.As for Cui Wanyi, Chen Manrou had never underestimated her.

Concubine Fu, Cui Wanyi and Chang Meiren had a lot of trouble at the beginning, but as a result, Chang Meiren fell silent, but Cui Wanyi was still alive and well in Fu Concubine's palace. Then the women in the entire harem are single-celled animals.

All three of them had their own ideas. Although Concubine Hua had a high score, she couldn't hold Cui Wanyi and Han Wanyi together.In this way, no one will benefit.Of course, the possibility of these three people joining forces is relatively low.Unless, Concubine Hua is willing to be the shooter or puppet of Cui Wanyi and Han Wanyi.

"What about paying the concubine?" The Empress Dowager Ci'an continued to ask, Chen Manrou paused, and said somewhat unkindly: "This concubine intends to hand it over to Concubine Li, but Concubine Li is quite straightforward, so I'm afraid she can't do it well. So , Thinking about it, I also want to find some helpers for Concubine Li, but I haven't decided on manpower yet, does the Empress Dowager have any suggestions?"

If Ci'an didn't leave any soup, it is estimated that Ci'an would feel uncomfortable, and something would happen again.Therefore, Chen Manrou decided to leave some benefits for Ci'an.

Anyway, nothing important.

"Since you asked, the Ai family happens to have a few people who recommend it to you." The Empress Dowager Ci'an was a little satisfied, nodded and said: "The Ai family remembers that Song Zhaorong and Zheng Zhaohua are very good, what do you think?"

Chen Manrou hesitated for a moment: "They entered the palace with Concubine Li, right?"

"Although they entered the palace together, Ai's family thinks that the two of them are much more capable than Concubine Li. What's more, with Ai's family in charge, what can they do?" Empress Dowager Ci'an waved her hand and Chen Manrou quickly smiled. Responding: "It's my concubine's bad intentions. If that's the case, then let them give Concubine Li a shot."

The three newcomers faced several other concubines, and if they wanted to keep the power in their hands, they could only find a backer.Almost all the high-ranking ones have palace power, so they can't find them all. The only one who can be found is the Empress Dowager of Ci'an Palace.

Chen Manrou was very satisfied, and so was the Empress Dowager Ci'an.Immediately, the list was handed over to the emperor's royal case. The emperor just glanced at it casually, nodded and said, "The queen's arrangement is very good, just follow the queen's wishes, Liu Cheng, you go to announce the decree and leave the day after tomorrow." , Let them all prepare their things. If they are not ready the day after tomorrow, then there is no need to go. By the way, let’s go to Yongshou Palace by the way, I’m going to Yongshou Palace tonight.”

Liu Cheng responded respectfully, turned around and went to announce the decree.If he remembered correctly, this month, in the past 23 days, the emperor has been to Yongshou Palace fifteen times, right?This is just counting the night and not the day. It seems that the empress is the most favored one in the harem.

No matter what the chief executive was thinking, two days passed quickly anyway.Almost in the blink of an eye, Chen Manrou and the others left the palace, dozens of carriages, cavalry and infantry, drove to the paddock together.

(End of this chapter)