Chapter 64 Seizing the Opportunity
After the old lady was alone with Concubine Zhen, she couldn't wait to ask, "Why do you like Lu Mingzhu so much?"
Concubine Zhen saw the displeasure in the old lady's eyes, but instead of saying it directly, she asked, "What's wrong, mother?"
"You don't know in the palace that the mother and daughter of the Liu family are not good people. As soon as you returned to the mansion, your brother jumped up and down to make her the legal wife. You said that if a concubine is appointed as the mistress of the Lu family, where will the face of the Lu family be? I finally suppressed this matter. Lu Mingzhu was involved with a man outside the palace in Hua'an Temple. Fortunately, only people in the mansion knew about it and it was not spread outside. But it hasn't been peaceful for a few days. A while ago, at the Qin family banquet, the letters she had exchanged privately with Xiao Muheng dropped in front of all the guests. Your brother wanted to protect her, but she wanted your brother to help her and Xiao Muheng. In desperation, she had to tell the public that she and Xiao Muheng had already been engaged so as not to be laughed at. Before you came back, she was confined to the North Courtyard. Today, you praised her, and I'm afraid this girl will be arrogant."
The old lady told Concubine Zhen all her dissatisfaction with Liu and Lu Mingzhu. There was no need for her to hide it in front of her daughter. If she didn't make it clear, and Lu Mingzhu went to harm Concubine Zhen again one day, she would regret it so much.
"To be honest with you, I don't like the Liu family. It's already difficult for you to move forward in the palace. The Lu family can't be a big help to you, but they can't hold you back. So you have to be careful with Lu Mingzhu."
Concubine Zhen stared in astonishment, but after a moment of hesitation, she regained her composure: "Mother, if she was just an ordinary bastard, I wouldn't think so highly of her..."
The old lady was such a shrewd person that she immediately understood what Zhenpin said when she heard it. She didn't say anything more and just listened to Zhenpin continue.
"When Mingzhu first returned home, she gave me a gift, a landscape screen. The embroidery was even better than that of the needlework department in the palace. One day, Concubine Shu came to my palace and saw it by chance and couldn't let it go. So I gave it to Concubine Shu, and since then, Concubine Shu often calls me over to talk. Mother, I have no children, and my position as a concubine is probably over. Concubine Shu is a distant relative of the Empress Dowager, so I must seize this opportunity to get close to Concubine Shu, otherwise, when the Emperor gets tired of me one day, I'm afraid I won't be able to move forward in the palace."
The emperor's favor is not unlimited, and Concubine Zhen clearly understands that she can only plan a way out for herself while she still has the emperor's favor.
The old lady frowned fiercely and said nothing for a long time.
Although she has the final say in the harem, she knows a thing or two about the cruelty of the harem struggle even if she has not experienced it. Zhenpin has been in the palace for many years, so she must have her reasons for saying so.
"Are you sure that Concubine Shu can be trusted? No matter how noble the Queen Mother is, the Empress is the one who makes the decisions in the harem."
"I have thought about it over and over again. Although the Empress has entered the palace, she is already the Emperor's third Empress. She is inferior to the successor Empress, and she has no children and is not favored by the Emperor. She shares equal power with Concubine Shu in the harem. However, the Second Prince born to Concubine Shu is the leader of all the princes. In the absence of a legitimate son and an eldest son, he has a great hope of succeeding to the throne. By then, Concubine Shu's status will definitely be higher than that of the Empress."
Among the concubines in the harem, she is not the only one who is waiting and watching to make a choice. Some have made their choice early, while others do not participate in the fight and just live their own lives. But since entering the palace, who doesn't want to stand out?
The old lady looked at Concubine Zhen deeply, and held her hand with a slight tremor: "One wrong step will lead to a deep abyss. Qing'er, don't be radical. There's nothing wrong with being safe and sound."
When Concubine Shu fought with the Queen, the concubines standing behind them were undoubtedly risking their lives and property.
The old lady did not ask for great glory for the Lu family, she only asked for her daughter to live safely.
When Concubine Zhen heard the old lady calling her name, her heart was slightly moved: "Mother, I understand." She gently comforted the old lady's frightened mood.
…
The news of Concubine Zhen's return was not concealed. Those who heard the news came with valuable gifts. Lu Youping had gone to Jiangcheng to curry favor with Emperor Chengde, so he was not in the mansion before Concubine Zhen returned.
Compared to reuniting with her sister, it would obviously be more beneficial for her to flatter the emperor.
The gate of the Lu Mansion was always crowded with people, and exquisite and luxurious carriages came and went in an endless stream. Every day, precious gifts were delivered to the Lu Mansion in wave after wave like water.
The guests discovered something even more interesting: when Concubine Zhen met the guests, she was not accompanied by her legitimate daughter Lu Xiang, but her illegitimate daughter Lu Mingzhu, and her words and actions revealed her infinite love for her.
As a result, everyone reached a consensus in their hearts that Concubine Zhen Lu Mingzhu attached great importance to it.
My goodness, what kind of abilities does this little concubine have? Concubine Zhen doesn’t even care about the embarrassing things she did in the Qin Mansion before.
Although Magistrate Lu later claimed that he and Xiao Muheng had been engaged, and they were an engaged couple, so there was no affair. However, there were always some people who knew that Lu Youping's statement was just a fig leaf to save face, first there was an affair, then there was an engagement.
However, Zhenpin's behavior instantly changed the views of those who had sarcastic thoughts about Lu Mingzhu. They no longer dared to look down on Lu Mingzhu. Instead, they saw her accompanying Zhenpin and smiling at her.
Lu Mingzhu looked at the smiling faces in front of her and let out a breath of anger in her heart.
In the past, these ladies looked down on her, but now she is the one they try their best to please. How can she not be proud?
Liu took this opportunity to make her presence felt in front of the other noble ladies.
Seeing the old lady feeling frustrated but having to allow Concubine Zhen to bring Mingzhu to meet the guests, he felt relieved.
Haha, even if she is not allowed to become the mistress of the Lu family, her position in the Lu family will be unbreakable from now on.
"Third sister is so relaxed. Lu Mingzhu has been in the spotlight. People outside say that the Lu family's legitimate daughter is incompetent. Otherwise, how could Concubine Zhen prefer to support a concubine's daughter rather than bring the legitimate daughter to meet guests? Even I can't stand it, but Third sister is still as steady as a rock."
Lu Xiang was being dragged by Qiao Jingru to play chess when suddenly an angry shout was heard, breaking the tranquility and beauty of the yard.
"We are all sisters, there is no need to worry about it."
Qiao Jingru almost couldn't hold back her laughter. This guy was really good at pretending. He was obviously in a life-and-death battle with Lu Mingzhu, but he insisted on pretending to be magnanimous.
"Third sister, what you said sounded nice. Why do my sisters have to be so perfunctory to me?" Lu Qiao was so jealous to see Lu Mingzhu in such a limelight. She thought Lu Xiang would be angry, but she didn't expect that this girl not only did not actively try to please the queen, but stayed in Qixia Courtyard all day long and would never show up unless she was absolutely necessary.
This made Lu Qiao very anxious, and she finally couldn't help but try to sow discord.
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