Ever since Prince Heng could remember, he discovered that his mother would secretly go to Qiuliang Palace in early autumn every year and burn yellow paper under the tall Albizia Julibrissin tree.
To commemorate Princess Taihua who passed away a hundred years ago.
Concubine Qian put the folded yellow paper into the box and gently placed it on the table. Then Concubine Qian stretched her body, took out a cigarette holder and took two puffs, then poured a full glass of wine and drank it in one breath.
That posture was very much like that of a heroic bar girl on the street, and not at all like that of a high-ranking imperial concubine.
Concubine Qian blew out a puff of smoke and said slowly, "When I was young, I lived in Nanchu for ten years, so I am considered half a Nanchu person. Every year, I offer sacrifices to Princess Taihua to ask her to protect you and keep you safe."
Fighting for the throne is too risky.
Concubine Qian hopes that Empress Taihua will protect her son and keep him safe.
Prince Heng said helplessly: "Mother, we are fighting for the throne of Daqing, not for the throne of Nanchu. Is it reasonable for you to ask the Queen of Nanchu for protection?"
Concubine Qian spread out her palms and said calmly, "You are free anyway. Burn incense to a few more ancestors, and there will always be one who can protect you."
King Heng had nothing to say.
Concubine Qian put down the exquisite cigarette holder and poured herself another glass of mellow liquor.
Prince Heng's eyelids twitched. He stretched out his hand to dissuade her, "Mother, the imperial physician said that your health is not as good as before. You should use less snuff bottles and drink less!"
Imperial Concubine Qian held the white porcelain wine glass, and her charming face showed some self-righteousness: "Now that the emperor is ill, I don't have to serve him, and it's okay to drink a little secretly. The King of Yan has a daughter this year, and look at you, there are a lot of women in the yard, but you don't even have a child."
Among the three princes of Daqing, Prince Yan has the most offspring.
Concubine Qian was very envious.
Unfortunately, his son was not doing well. There were many women in the backyard, but none of them was pregnant. Concubine Qian was worried and hesitated for a long time before asking: "Yuan Li, tell me the truth, are you physically impaired and unable to have sex?"
Prince Heng's temples were throbbing, and he gritted his teeth and emphasized, "Mother, the child is in good health."
Concubine Qian was disappointed and drank another glass of wine to cheer herself up: "Why don't you have a child? I'm bored in this broken palace every day and I want to raise a child to cheer me up. If your father wasn't seriously ill and couldn't perform the Zhougong ritual, I would have wanted to have another fat baby."
Prince Heng rubbed his temple and answered patiently: "Mother, the overall situation is still undecided, and the child is just a burden."
If he becomes emperor in the future, he can have as many children as he wants.
If he failed in his bid for the throne, none of his children would be implicated.
Therefore, not having children is the best option.
Having said that, the cute face of a baby suddenly appeared in King Heng's mind. That was Shen Wei’s daughter, a small ball, chubby, fair and tender, very cute.
Prince Heng couldn't help but think that it would be nice to have such a lovely daughter.
Concubine Qian took a sip of wine in disappointment. "Your father is seriously ill, and the crown prince is also seriously ill. Yuanli, we don't have much time left. Your father is a good man, and he treats me very well. He doesn't despise my humble background, and he has given my family supreme honor and carefully cared for us mother and son. Last winter, I fell ill, and your father even gave me the only 500-year-old ginseng in the harem to treat my illness."
After a pause, Concubine Qian changed the subject: "As long as you ask, your mother will poison your father tomorrow to pave the way for you."
King Heng: "...No hurry, the time is not ripe yet."
Concubine Qian shrugged, looking a little disappointed: "Okay. I'm reluctant to poison your father now."
The mother and son talked for a while, and then Prince Heng stood up and said goodbye. After leaving Concubine Qian's palace, Prince Heng walked out of the palace along the palace road with his guards.
I didn't take the main palace road, but the side road.
The guard beside him reported: "Master, the envoy from Nanchu wants to meet with you in private."
Prince Heng stopped and looked up, finding that he had arrived at the dilapidated Qiuliang Palace without knowing when. The palace gate was locked and the iron lock was rusted. The tall albizzia tree stretched out its green branches, and pink albizzia flowers bloomed.
The founding empress of Southern Chu State lived in this small and dilapidated courtyard for more than ten years.
King Heng plucked off a pink albizzia flower.
The flowers of the Albizia Julibrissin are not pretty, their petals are pink tendrils. King Heng casually threw the flowers to the ground, his eyes gradually turned cold: "Tell the envoys of Nanchu that I agree to talk to them."
...
...
As time passed, the moonlight enveloped the Glazed Pavilion. After a deep and bone-chilling torment, Shen Wei and King Yan changed into clean pajamas and went to sleep.
Shen Wei rubbed her aching waist, feeling a dull pain in her lower abdomen.
She glanced at King Yan beside her, who was full of energy. Fortunately, she exercises regularly and can withstand the hard work, otherwise she would die in bed sooner or later.
Shen Wei leaned her head against the pillow and asked softly, "Your Majesty, the princess is going back to her parents' home to celebrate her birthday tomorrow. Would Your Majesty like to go with her?"
King Yan felt relaxed physically and mentally, and habitually held Shen Wei's delicate white hand, his voice lazy and magnetic: "Tomorrow the king will go to the East Palace."
The implication is that he will not follow the princess to the Tan Tai family.
However, the Tantai family is a century-old family after all, and has deep roots in the court. Prince Yan then instructed Shen Wei: "Tomorrow you go to the storehouse to get two gold-and-jade Ruyi and give them to the princess. They will be my birthday gift to Madam Tan Tai."
Shen Wei nodded happily: "Okay."
The next morning, Prince Yan went to court. After Shen Wei finished her breakfast, she received news that the princess was preparing to return to her parents' home to celebrate her birthday. When the princess left the house, Shen Wei would naturally see her off in person.
At the entrance of Kunyu Courtyard, Chen Wei stopped the princess with a smile and said, "I have prepared two gold and jade ruyi for Madam Tantai's birthday banquet. Please take them with you."
Cai Lian and Cai Ping each held an exquisite box in their hands, inside which was the jade ruyi mentioned by King Yan.
The princess thought Shen Wei was showing weakness, and her tone became more contemptuous: "My Tan Tai family is one of the four major families in Yanjing, and the family treasures are countless. Shen Shi, with your background, you are not even qualified to step into the threshold of the Tan Tai family. Your birthday gift is not qualified to be included in the family treasure house."
The Tantai family is a wealthy family. Most of its members are officials in the court and have great influence.
Shen Wei wants to give a gift to Madam Tan Tai? She doesn't deserve it.
Shen Wei patiently explained: "This is the prince——"
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the princess: "It's useless to move the prince out. Shen, cherish your last days as the head of the family."
The princess left with her nanny and maid without looking back.
The princess was full of confidence, and before she got married, Madam Tan Tai doted on her in every way. As long as the princess returns to her parents' home for help, her mother will definitely put pressure on the queen to return the housekeeping power that belongs to the princess.
"Master, do we still need to send this birthday gift to the Tan Tai family?" Cai Ping asked from the side.
Shen Wei supported her waist with her hands, her stomach was still aching today. It was probably because King Yan was too cruel last night and accidentally injured Shen Wei's waist and abdomen.
Chen Wei told Cai Ping, "Since the princess won't accept it, I'm too lazy to send it. Cai Ping, go get the palace doctor."
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