When living in the palace, one must keep calm. This was the advice Yao Niang gave herself. She looked at the "Earth Store Sutra" in front of her and copied it very seriously, just as a way to practice calligraphy.
Sometimes, Yao Niang finds that no matter what you want to learn, you must be alone to learn it well. It is impossible to learn well if you play every day.
Chengyun used to go out to play every day, so he had less time to study at home. In addition, before she got pregnant, greeting her father in the morning and evening took up more of her time. Now, she copies scriptures every day, and uses the extra time to teach Chengyun to study.
In her previous life, the Crown Prince of Zhou, Gao Shuo, whom she took care of, was considered to be one of the most academically savvy members of the royal family, but Cheng Yun was actually even smarter. For example, when he was playing the game of Nine Rings, Yao Niang taught him to recite a poem, and he could actually recite it after just reading it a few times. This made her very happy.
"My dear, you are really amazing. It is said that your mother could hardly speak when she was your age." Yao Niang grew up in the Zhong family. When she was two years old, she had to learn to follow the Zhong sisters to do things. She ate rice porridge with the leftovers from the pot. She feels emotional when she thinks about it now.
"Mother, why can't we go out these days?" Cheng Yun still wanted to go out and play.
Yao Niang shook her head: "We all have to stay here now. How about this, wait until mother finishes writing a few big characters, and then you start tracing them. After you finish tracing, I'll take you to play on the swing, okay? By the way, this swing was made by your father when he was in Beijing."
Cheng Yun said sensibly, "I am very happy that my mother can take me out to play."
Yao Niang felt that she was very lucky. Her mother loved her very much, her husband was loyal to her, gentle and considerate, and her son was sensible and intelligent. Compared with some life events outside, these were nothing.
For a whole month, Yao Niang was busy taking care of the child, stabilizing the pregnancy, copying Buddhist scriptures, and controlling the entry and exit of people in the inner court.
But Concubine Hong felt uncomfortable. Chengyun was her first grandson, smart, noble and different from others. Her daughter-in-law showed her the calligraphy copied by Chengyun every ten days and sent her servants to tell her how smart Chengyun was and how good he could recite, and that the baby in her belly was doing well, so she could rest assured.
But Concubine Hong was not at ease at all. Instead, she missed her grandson even more.
When Concubine Hong's mother entered the palace, Old Lady Hong said, "Your Majesty, this Prince Chen is your eldest grandson, and Concubine Chen will never be unfilial to you."
"Of course I know about this matter. Most likely, someone murdered her. But that palace maid committed suicide because she failed to take good care of her. The emperor blamed her, and if I hadn't told her first, the emperor would have thought she was too harsh." The most important thing is that Concubine Hong is not as good as the younger concubines like Concubine Li in accompanying Emperor Jianzhang, and her words are gradually becoming less effective.
When Xuan Ce was around, Emperor Jianzhang liked this son very much and often summoned Xuan Ce to have meals with him, so they were considered close.
Now that she could not see Emperor Jianzhang often, she could not lose his favor. Moreover, her daughter-in-law was pregnant, and confining her to the palace would be more conducive to the fetus's care.
The meals in Prince Chen's Mansion were specially arranged by the Royal Concubine, who was afraid that someone would do something bad.
Madam Hong nodded: "We have no right to interfere in the affairs of the palace. Whatever the queen does, it will be punished."
Of course, she made this trip just to see the Luo family coming to visit. Otherwise, why would Old Madam Hong go to the palace to talk about other families' affairs? If anything really happened to Luo Yao's mother, there were younger girls in their Hong family waiting to enter the palace.
In the past, the Hong family's family background could not compare to that of the Luo family, a family of officials. But now, as the imperial concubine's in-laws, Madam Hong's son is already a first-rank governor. For the sake of the next generation of girls, the Hong family has invited famous teachers to teach them and hired maids to teach them the rules. Girls are valued more than men, just for the sake of having a place in the future.
Concubine Hong did not have the same thoughts as the Hong family. Instead, she said to Old Madam Hong, "Shuyi is with the second son's wife. She came here with the second son's wife to pay her respects the other day. She seems to be much better."
Madam Hong showed no expression, but just said, "It's a good thing that she can come to the palace to help you."
In fact, there was not much feeling between Old Lady Hong and Hong Shuyi. Hong Shuyi was indeed thoughtful and considerate, and was a pretty good child, but she was only a cousin of the Hong family. Her brothers were not very ambitious, and almost half of the family's fortune was lost. The wife they married was not a capable person either. It was just that this child had to stay in the palace, and it would have been great if she could be noticed by a noble, but she didn't have that luck, and it dragged on day after day. She finally married into the Duke's Mansion, but her husband actually became a nun.
Therefore, Mrs. Hong was too lazy to take care of her as she had to worry about her own granddaughters.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Hong could only nod.
Old Madam Hong was very old. After entering the palace to visit her daughter, Concubine Hong had someone carry her over. When she looked at the Heart Sutra that Yao Niang had copied for her, she really felt that she was so well-behaved.
Ordinary people would definitely make a big fuss if they encountered such a thing, which would be even more detrimental to their offspring. But she was really smart. If she went out to prove her innocence herself, there would be a lot of arguments and she might not be able to keep the child.
But now she has asked to stay at home, which can help her take better care of the fetus, and the child is the most important.
How could a little palace maid shake Princess Chen?
It makes me feel even more distressed that he can still not worry about himself even after suffering such a great injustice.
But as the second month of Yao Niang's self-imposed house arrest came, some rumors began to spread, even distorting the story to the point that Yao Niang had forced the young palace maid to death because she was too strict. At first, the rumor was that she was too strict, but later it was rumored that she had tortured the palace maid.
Bai Ying and the others of course found out about it, and they all came to report it to Yao Niang.
They were new in the palace and had limited spies, and Yao Niang was always cautious and would not specifically pull anyone in. Doing so would be too obvious.
"Princess, there is a lot of gossip in the palace now. What do you think we should do?" They were all very anxious.
Yao Niang clapped her hands and laughed: "I thought they were very patient, but now they are taking action. Fine, fine, you don't have to be angry. I think the more widely it is spread, the better."
Bai Ying and the others frowned: "Princess, how can this be a good thing? If you have such a reputation, how will you deal with it in the future?"
Yao Niang smiled and said, "No, the most important thing to me is the baby in my belly. Besides, there is a saying that goes, "too much talk leads to mistakes." Originally, this palace maid died after proving her innocence. It was probably because the emperor thought I was not too tolerant, and my mother blamed me for not being strict enough and making mistakes. But they didn't even punish me, demote me, or even give me a verbal order. I didn't suffer much loss, so they didn't pursue it. But now there are so many rumors. I'm afraid someone is doing it on purpose. Don't worry, I want to let my father and mother know."
When Xing Er brought the bird's nest in, she heard Concubine Hong sneer, "Okay, I thought that since we are in the middle of a storm and the witnesses are dead, I would not pursue the matter any further. I never thought that everyone in the palace would treat me as a dead person."
"Madam, the bird's nest is here. It's freshly cooked. The rock sugar is just right for you. Please try it."
"No need, put it aside and prepare the carriage for me. I want to go see the emperor." Concubine Hong finally had a legitimate reason to do so.
Xing Er dared not say anything more, and waited until Concubine Hong got on the sedan chair before Lady Mo said to Xing Er, "It's really like sending a pillow just because you're sleepy. If not for this, how could they have given us a handle?"
"What's going on?" Xing'er was puzzled.
Lady Mo laughed and said, "When you went to take the bird's nest, the queen had already caught a few eunuchs and palace maids who were gossiping. Guess what, one of them was actually someone from Concubine Yan's palace."
"Really?" Xing Er couldn't believe it.
Madam Mo nodded: "Yes, no one expected that."
Before, the palace maid was already dead, and there was no way to investigate unless the entire harem was searched thoroughly. But now, I didn't expect that they could not hold it back anymore. Concubine Hong would not risk offending the entire harem to seek justice for her daughter-in-law, but since you showed up yourself, don't blame others.
…
Emperor Jianzhang was originally at Concubine Shu's place. When he heard that the Imperial Concubine had something to report, he immediately apologized to Concubine Shu and said, "I'll go over first."
Concubine Shu was very considerate and said, "Your Highness, I respectfully send you off."
You have to know that the Royal Concubine is already quite old, but she has never been jealous and is very fair to the concubines. She is not competing for favor. It should be because of the affairs of Princess Chen that Shupin still knows a thing or two, but even if she knows about the affairs of the harem, she has to pretend not to know.
When Emperor Jianzhang saw Consort Hong in Funing Palace, he immediately asked, "You are in such a hurry, you must have something to ask me? But there is something wrong in the palace."
"Today, I saw someone whispering, and I also received a letter of denunciation, saying that the person spreading the rumor is someone from Concubine Yan's palace. The rumor is getting worse and worse, I will tell you..."
Concubine Hong was very angry when she heard that the eunuch had deliberately spread the message and accused Princess Chen. She said, "Originally, this child felt very wronged. After all, someone just ran into the palace and spread such a message, luring her out. I scolded this child. Although she felt wronged, she told me that it is important to seek justice, but a harmonious family is the best way to success. I don't need to worry about it. Otherwise, if Prince Chen heard about this outside, how would he deal with it? It would be better for her to be confined to the palace. Although the maid was confused, she said that I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me, so I personally copied the scriptures for her and asked the officials of Prince Chen's palace to bury this maid."
The more Emperor Jianzhang heard, the more he felt that Luo was indeed very wise and had a broad vision.
This was a very good solution, but where was Concubine Yan? Emperor Jianzhang could hardly remember what Concubine Yan looked like.
But this matter must not be spread outside. Prince Chen is his most beloved son. If Princess Chen spreads such remarks, wouldn't it affect Prince Chen? Moreover, incest within the palace is a big deal in itself.
Concubine Hong added: "Every time I think about it, if the traitor really succeeds, what will happen to the child in my belly? How can we explain it to Xuan Ce?"
現下洪貴妃這般提起也是察覺到皇上不再是之前聽到那小宮女死，還是大庭廣衆之下咬舌自盡的責備态度了，反而隐約有些偏向瑤娘，她才敢說出此話。
這話觸動到建章帝了，他嘆了一口氣：“此事我讓慎刑司的人去查，你也不必操心。”
“羅氏倒是沒什麽，但宮中有這樣的人，若是不嚴懲，那請問日後陛下這裏也有假傳口谕之人，該如何是好？”洪貴妃憂心忡忡。
她很清楚皇帝為人優柔寡斷，必須提到皇上切身利益才行。
果然，建章帝很是贊同，又把福寧殿的總管大太監喊了過來，洪貴妃看了他一眼，這位是只聽命于皇帝的。
她也就放心了。
走出福寧殿，莫女官上前掀開簾子，不由得問道：“娘娘，如何了？”
“你去宸王府跟宸王妃說一聲，就說累她辛苦了，皇上已經答應徹查此事。”洪貴妃舒了一口氣。
莫女官感嘆：“娘娘為了三皇子妃真是付出良多。”甚至對自己女兒，也沒有對三皇子妃這般費周折。
要知曉洪老夫人幾次三番帶那些洪家漂亮的小姑娘過來，其意圖是什麽已經非常明顯了，甚至有的連側妃也肯做，作為姑母的洪貴妃若是有私心絕對是先顧自己的娘家。
宮門波雲詭谲，娘娘亦是費心。
卻聽洪貴妃道：“已經有兩個月沒見到承運了，難不成我讓她們母子繼續如此，她養胎倒是無所謂，可承運那裏我不能不關心啊。”
這可是皇長孫，周王至今無嫡出之子，也就他的身份最為親近也最為貴重了。
莫女官到宸王府時，瑤娘正在和承運講天狗食日的故事：“往往民間遇到此事，會很恐懼害怕，但殊不知這天狗食日并不害怕，一會兒就被趕跑了。”
她怕說不清楚，還特地畫了鑼鼓給他看：“瞧，這樣的鑼鼓打上去，就能驅趕了。還有放炮竹，你現在太小，還不能放。”
講到這裏的時候，白英過來道“莫女官來了。”
瑤娘閑适道：“讓她進來吧。”
這兩個月，她先讓人監視杏兒，之後她自己就是用承運打感情牌，婆婆和娘不同，從生孩子就能看出來，娘在意的是她的身體，婆婆在意的是生男還是生女。
所以，用孫子慢慢打動，兩個月不見承運的洪貴妃怎麽可能真的讓他如此。
“奴婢給宸王妃請安。”莫女官見這宸王妃老神在在，完全沒有擔心，也是佩服她心态很穩。
瑤娘擡手：“莫女官請起，不知道您來是母妃那兒有什麽事情吩咐嗎？”
莫女官連忙道：“娘娘讓奴婢轉告宸王妃，上次宮女自裁的事情已經上達天聽，讓王妃您靜候佳音，不必擔心，皇上必定查一個水落石出。”
此時，瑤娘才面露欣喜：“既然如此，那可就太好了，多謝母妃，也多謝皇上英明。”
莫女官見瑤娘鎮定自若，心中十分佩服，在後宮中，何時行何時止，時機最重要。那些知道皇帝明明不對，就上前辯白的，是朝中的禦史文官大臣們，不是後妃行徑，而在皇上回心轉意之時，才能趁機說出真相。
但這個期間，宸王妃養好了胎兒，又用世子得了洪貴妃的心，還讓皇帝知曉她的仁心投其所好，不可謂不高明了。
莫女官再說話時，就更恭敬了，瑤娘給了厚賞給她。
周王府
“你說說這下怎麽辦？要是讓人查到我們這裏了，我們可就完蛋了。”徐青容覺得洪淑怡說的信誓旦旦，可完全預判失誤。
這個消息還未傳到宮外，在宮內居然就被逮住了。
洪淑怡道：“王妃放心，安排的人都是嚴妃宮中的宮女，和我們無關。”
她也很煩躁，本以為禁足之後，順利傳謠言，讓她腹背受敵被洪貴妃厭棄，哪裏知曉洪貴妃居然站出來幫忙，難道姑母就不想讓娘家侄女做宸王續妃嗎？
這個娘家侄女當然不是她，她今年二十五歲了，不可能成為宸王續費。
可洪家還有幾位靈氣動人的姑娘，正野心勃勃呢。
徐青容搖頭：“那你現在說如何是好？”
正如之前洪淑怡所說，她們必須借刀殺人，否則被宸王知道，那她就真的完蛋了。
洪淑怡則道：“不可能查到我們身上，因為那些人也不是我們安排的，不過是那些宮女自以為說羅瑤娘的閑話，能讨好嚴妃罷了。”
她非常幹脆的說起，徐青容才稍微有些放心。
可徐青容又很難過：“錯過這次機會，我不是看着她将來又産子下來，地位更加穩固。也許她沒事，宸王就沒事了。”
洪淑怡笑道：“王妃，您怕什麽，不是還有杏兒這個王牌嗎？将來多的是機會。”
只能說她千算萬算沒有算到洪貴妃居然為了兒媳婦到如此地步，難以想象。
而嚴妃那邊，她正在念經，小心謹慎了一輩子，卻因為孫子的死，她懷恨在心，難得動用了自己浣衣局的棋子，哪裏知道那麽快就被識破，還好那個小宮女識趣自殺了。
她就怕有一日被查到，要做此事的時候，她毫無顧慮，可後怕來的如此之快。
就在宮中徹查之時，承運作為宸王府世子的冊封禮正式開始，因為高玄策不在，瑤娘親自在旁觀禮，小小的人平日已經跟禮部官員學會行禮了，現在有模有樣。
瑤娘為他驕傲，前世承運只能替皇帝幹髒活，是皇上的陰暗面，是惡名昭彰的錦衣衛，現下，他是天子之孫，宸王之子。
典禮舉行的異常宏大，周王作為伯父在此處一絲不茍的看着，見他沒有錯漏，也就放心離去。
本以為兒子封世子之後，名為已定就很好了，小孩子也不會受人輕視。
哪裏知曉當了世子之後，還要參加皇帝郊外祭祀的。
“母妃，承運年紀還這麽小，怎麽去呢？”瑤娘非常擔心。
洪貴妃是她們禁足之後才見到承運，見他長高了，又活潑的很，心裏很高興，但聽瑤娘這般說，也是擔心：“是啊，我也這麽說，可皇上說那天風和日麗，讓小太監們抱着過去，以代他父親之位。”
祭祀也是為了打贏勝仗，祈求國家太平，甚至有其政治意義在，有承運在，表示的是皇帝對打西戎的決心，以及對高玄策的支持。
瑤娘點頭：“既然如此，那我就好生叮囑他了。”
其實她心裏還是舍不得，但此事意義重大，将來若是宸王不在，承運就是名副其實的宸王府繼承人，爵位絕對不會旁落。
羅家人尤其是羅至正聽說承運要去郊祀，倒是露出點擔心：“雖說春和日麗，但孩子年紀還偏小，萬一有三長兩短，如何是好？”
郁氏卻反唇相譏：“難得，你也會擔心人。”
自從上次瑤娘曾經和她提起洪淑怡的居心叵測，羅至正那般說了之後，郁氏就和他冷戰至今。
羅至正看她這樣，忍不住道：“我也讓人托洪家人替我進宮問過瑤娘，現下不是一切都好了麽？你要知道那是皇宮，她當初既然決定進宮，就想到這些。”
“是啊，既然如此，那現在宸王世子郊祀，也是他作為親王世子的職責，你又何必擔心呢？”郁氏在意的是，丈夫滿心眼都是權勢地位，因為宸王世子比宸王妃重要，所以丈夫對宸王世子的關心更甚女兒。
那只是個兩歲多的小娃娃，女兒可是養了那麽多年，那麽孝順的女兒。
羅至正冷聲道：“我做任何一件事情都會計較得失，你不是早就知道嗎？”
郁氏淚如雨下。
郊祀這日，瑤娘替兒子穿好親王世子服飾，又吩咐他：“中途少喝水，要是要出恭就找小太監，知不知道？母妃是不能陪你去的。”
“母妃不陪我嗎？”承運頓時哭了出來。
別管平日多聰慧，此事他還是個小孩子呢。
瑤娘就把自己的一方帕子放在他懷裏：“這裏有母妃的氣味，想母妃的時候就拿出來，好不好？然後母妃呢，親自為你做一碗桂花湯圓好不好？”
平日她不怎麽讓兒子吃糖，現在主動允諾，承運很是高興。
可随着承運離去，瑤娘還是十分擔心，宮裏查案的進度都沒有承運的安危重要，對她而言，既然洪貴妃說嚴妃嫌疑很大，只差證據了，這就夠了。
但她總覺得嚴妃不算什麽聰明人，膽小如鼠到不惜殘害自己兒子的人，怎麽可能害她？絕對背後有人。
洪淑怡在這件事情上有沒有出手，何時出手，還有杏兒到底是不是有鬼，這才是她要關心的。
郊祀
此時風平浪靜，天氣和暖，建章帝也心情很好，再看看下首的小豆丁承運也乖乖站着，更是覺得高興。
可惜剛站上轅臺，突然天色變黑，建章帝瞬間好心情蕩然無存，天狗食日，豈不是君王失德，記得先君在時，還下過罪己诏。
But during his few years in office, he lived frugally, employed talented people, exempted taxes for a few years, and practiced benevolence and righteousness. How could he have encountered an eclipse?
The officials of the Ministry of Rites cursed Qin Tianjian in their hearts for calculating the date wrong, while Luo Zhizheng looked at his grandson from time to time, but it was dark and he was very anxious.
But at this moment, there were a few gong sounds, and the dark sun that had just covered the sky quietly dissipated. Emperor Jianzhang looked over and found that it was the little boy Cheng Yun who was hitting the gong with a hammer.
"Your Majesty, your baby has chased away the Tengu for you."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jianzhang stepped down from the platform and asked, "How did you know how to knock the gong to drive away the heavenly dog?"
"My mother told me that the heavenly dog was blocking out the sky and the sun, and we had to set off firecrackers and knock on gongs to drive it away. Then, as soon as it got dark, I found out, and asked the eunuch to get the gong for me, and we drove the heavenly dog away." Cheng Yun puffed out his chest, thinking that he was really amazing, as he had actually driven away the heavenly dog.
Emperor Jianzhang was even more delighted. The officials below the stage had already begun to wipe the sweat from their foreheads and began to speak flattering words about the emperor and Chengyun.
Only Luo Zhizheng thought to himself, this boy is only two years old, but he is already as smart as a demon. If he had known this, he would not have let Yao Niang get married. It would be better for her to marry a handsome man and give birth to a talent like the Prince of Chen. Then there would be no worries about no one to inherit the family business in the future. The Luo family would probably be prosperous for several generations.
I was so shallow that I actually blamed myself secretly.
…
"The 'Ji' in 'Sheji'?" Yao Niang saw the words on a piece of red paper handed to her by Concubine Hong Gui.
This character was written by Emperor Jianzhang, and she was very surprised when she saw it.
Concubine Hong smiled and was very happy: "This is the name bestowed on Cheng Yun by the Emperor. You must keep it well and tell the servants to avoid using this word in the future."
"The Book of Songs·Wang Feng·Shu Li": "Those millets are growing, those millet seedlings", although the word "ji" also means food, but in "Si Wen" there is "Si Wen Hou Ji, who is worthy of that heaven", which means that there is someone to take over, implying that there is hope for inheritance.
Yao Niang was simply smiling from ear to ear in her heart. Hong Shuyi, Xu Qingrong, Mu Wantong, and even Concubine Yan, who was said by Concubine Hong to be the most suspicious, were not as good as this one.
Sure enough, in Prince Zhou's mansion, Xu Qingrong said to Hong Shuyi bluntly, "You only have these despicable skills. Although Concubine Yan is holding on to it, the Ministry of Punishment and the Emperor are not easy to deal with. They will find out sooner or later. Well, let it go. If you hadn't bribed the old monk to talk nonsense in front of Concubine Yan and let Concubine Yan kill Luo Yaoniang's child, Luo Yaoniang would not have been confined. If she hadn't been confined, she would not have been able to teach a two-year-old child to read so many books, and there would be no name given to the child by my father today."
"Ji, the Ji of Sheji..."
The son of Prince Chen is also favored by His Majesty. Does Prince Zhou still have hope? If Prince Zhou has no hope, wouldn't she just be the Princess of Zhou? She will never become the Queen.
If it weren't for becoming the queen, who would marry the King of Zhou?
Although Hong Shuyi was well-informed, she had never seen someone abandon her job so quickly. Just a few months ago, she was still boasting that she was a female master. Why did she change so quickly now? She was simply dumbfounded.
Now Hong Shuyi is wondering if it was right for her to choose Xu Qingrong to serve her master in the hope that she would have power and influence in the future.