Chapter 74
When Nanny Zhen came, Chu Xiuming was painting a portrait of Shen Jin. Shen Jin was wearing a water red high-waisted skirt made of Yuehua brocade. She had a bulging belly and was leaning on the chaise longue with soft cushions on both sides. Her hair was loosely tied up with more of it scattered around her. There were a few plum blossoms in the vase next to her, which made Shen Jin look more beautiful than the flowers. After lying down for a while, Shen Jin felt a little sleepy. When she was half asleep and half awake, she even looked a little lazy and charming.
Nanny Zhao came in and told Chu Xiuming about Nanny Zhen. Chu Xiuming asked, "Since it's a private matter, I think the Queen Mother doesn't want too many people to know about it. Please just invite Nanny Zhen in."
Shen Jin barely opened his eyes and said, "What's wrong?"
"Madame Zhen from the Empress Dowager's side is here." Chu Xiuming put down his pen, walked over to Shen Jin's Shen Bin, helped her up, asked her to sit down and explained.
Shen Jin said "oh", then asked, "Is the painting finished?"
"Not yet." Chu Xiuming was looking at Shen Jin's smile at the time, and suddenly wanted to draw her, so the scene just now happened.
Shen Jin nodded, and Chu Xiuming helped Shen Jin walk to the living room. An Ning poured warm water and wanted to give it to Shen Jin, but Chu Xiuming took it and put it to Shen Jin's lips and let Shen Jin drink a glass. Shen Jin touched his stomach, waved to An Ning and said, "I want to change clothes."
Chu Xiuming understood what Shen Jin was doing. Anping and Anning helped Shen Jin walk to the inner room. They said they were changing clothes, but they were actually going to urinate. As the baby got older, Shen Jin went to urinate more often. When Shen Jin came out after urinating and changing clothes, he saw Nanny Zhen. Shen Jin nodded to her, and after Nanny Zhen bowed, he said, "Get up, Nanny Zhen, sit down."
Shen Jin sat next to Chu Xiuming. An Ping took a cushion and placed it around her waist. Nanny Zhen thanked her before sitting down. Shen Jin asked, "How is the Royal Grandmother?"
"In reply to Madam Bo's words, the Queen Mother is in good health. She thought of Madam Bo today and asked this old servant to come and visit her." Nanny Zhen said with a kind smile.
Shen Jin nodded, "It's time for me, the granddaughter, to visit the royal grandmother."
Nanny Zhen said, "The Queen Mother also knows that Madam Bo is not feeling well, so she told Madam Bo to take good care of the child and bring him back to the palace later."
Shen Jin agreed with a smile, and then said with some doubt, "Then we will have to wait for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhen became more certain that the Lady of Yongning was not a scheming person. "The Lady's health is the most important thing."
"The Royal Grandmother is so nice." Shen Jin sighed.
Nanny Zhen smiled and said nothing. She asked a few more questions, such as whether the food tasted good or whether she slept well. Shen Jin held her stomach and said, "I didn't eat well."
"..." Nanny Zhen was actually just asking out of courtesy to show the Queen Mother's care for Shen Jin, but she didn't expect Shen Jin to respond with such a question.
Shen Jin complained with a distressed look on her face, "I think the food here..." The mutton is too smelly, the beef is too tough, and there is not enough fish. None of them satisfied her taste.
Nanny Zhen's eyes twitched as she listened to Shen Jin complaining about the lack of variety in the pastries and the lack of the sesame cakes from Old Man Qiao's shop... Chu Xiuming sat aside and listened to Shen Jin's complaints without any dissatisfaction. He also poured a glass of water and placed it in Shen Jin's hand. Shen Jin took a sip and continued, "Even the vegetables are not to my taste. Last time I ate the golden silk roll pastry in the Queen's Palace, it tasted pretty good, but it's a pity that no one knows how to make it..."
At the same time, in the Queen Mother's palace, the Queen, who had lost a lot of weight, was sitting in her seat. She had been here for half an hour, but she had not said a word and had not even seen the Queen Mother. She was inevitably feeling uneasy. The Queen had been sitting on the bench for an hour, and then a maid came out from the inner room. The Queen recognized her as someone who worked for the Queen Mother. The maid bowed respectfully and said, "The Queen Mother said that she didn't have time to see the Queen today, so she asked the Queen to go back to the palace first."
The Queen's expression changed before she said, "I wonder if the Queen Mother..."
The palace maid smiled and said, "In reply to the Queen, the Queen Mother asked me to bring a message to the Queen. The little eunuch has been dealt with. She just hopes that the Queen understands what a queen is." After saying that, the palace maid lowered her head and stood aside.
The queen tightened her grip on the handkerchief and forced a smile, "I don't quite understand. May I ask to see the queen mother?"
The maid said respectfully, "The Queen Mother has gone to bed."
No wonder the Queen Mother suddenly summoned her today and let her sit on the bench for so long. The Queen felt her heart tighten. It was impossible. Everything was arranged properly, so why would she be suspected?
The queen was in a panic. When she left, her face turned pale and her steps were inevitably a little unsteady.
In the Yongning Marquis's mansion, at the end, Nanny Zhen even seemed to be fleeing in panic. She left behind the reward from the Queen Mother and took the eunuch away. When she returned to the Queen Mother's palace, the eunuch was nowhere to be seen. The Queen Mother seemed to have no idea that this person existed and asked directly, "What do you think?"
"The Earl of Yongning dotes on the Third Princess very much." Nanny Zhen thought of the little tricks between the Earl of Yongning and his wife. Every time, the Earl of Yongning would pour water for Shen Jin just right, allowing Shen Jin to moisten his throat before continuing to speak, without any impatience.
The Queen Mother twisted her Buddhist beads and said, "The fate between people..."
Nanny Zhen knew that the Queen Mother was thinking about the past again. She lowered her head and dared not say anything more until she heard the Queen Mother ask, "Where is that person?"
"The Third Princess is very lively." Nanny Zhen said, "She likes to talk and is obsessed with the golden scroll in the Queen's palace."
The Queen Mother asked, "Didn't she ask about the young eunuch?"
"No." Nanny Zhen said.
The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes and asked, "Where is Earl Yongning?"
"The Earl of Yongning did not speak." Nanny Zhen said respectfully.
The Queen Mother nodded and said, “He is also a sensible child.
Nanny Zhen had served the Queen Mother for a long time and was a little braver than others. She smiled and said, "I think the Third Princess may not know that the young eunuch was taken away."
The Queen Mother was stunned when she heard this, and after a long time she said, "Yes." She took a sip of the tea and said nothing more.
In the Yongning Marquis's mansion, Shen Jin was a little tired of talking, and looked at Chu Xiuming expectantly, "Husband, is there anything you need to do?"
"Not really." Chu Xiuming looked at Shen Jin's expression and pinched her earlobe with his fingers.
Shen Jin held An Ning's hand and stood up, saying, "Then I'll go change my clothes."
"Okay." Chu Xiuming agreed, "I'll wait for you in the study."
Shen Jin nodded with a smile, and said to Madam Zhao who had just come out, "Madam, please pack up the things given by the Queen Mother."
Nanny Zhao agreed. After Shen Jin changed back into the Yuehuajin dress, she returned to the position where she had just been lying. She lay down comfortably, resting her head on the cushion and watching Chu Xiuming, who was painting seriously. The look of the man was enough to intoxicate her. Shen Jin watched for a while, touched her stomach, yawned a little, and fell asleep again in a daze.
I was half asleep and half awake when I heard the sound of Nanny Zhao coming in.
Madam Zhao held a magnolia hairpin in both hands and said, "This old servant found it among the Shu satin when I was packing my things."
Chu Xiuming took the white jade hairpin. It was a very simple hairpin, but one could tell that the jade used was of very good quality. It looked as if it had been played with often. It was smooth and beautiful. Chu Xiuming looked at Aunt Zhao.
Aunt Zhao whispered, "This belongs to the Crown Princess."
Chu Xiuming frowned and took it, and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes." said Nanny Zhao.
Chu Xiuming took it and looked at it for a long time before saying, "Is there anyone in the Queen Mother's palace?"
"I don't know." Nanny Zhao said respectfully.
Chu Xiuming suddenly saw Shen Jin on the chaise longue. She had already woken up and was hugging the cushion, looking at them curiously. Chu Xiuming put down the magnolia hairpin and walked over. He stretched out his hand to tidy up the hair on Shen Jin's face and said, "Why don't you speak now that you're awake?"
Nanny Zhao also brought some water over, and Chu Xiuming helped Shen Jin sit up.
Shen Jin took a few sips of water from the cup and said, "I'm a little hungry. Has my husband finished painting?"
"It's roughly done." Chu Xiuming knelt on one knee on the ground, put on Shen Jin's shoes, then took her hand to the desk and let her look at the picture of a sleeping beauty on it.
Shen Jin's face was full of surprise, "My husband is really amazing."
"Not half as pretty as the lady." Chu Xiuming said.
Shen Jin smiled and narrowed her eyes, "My husband is so nice."
Chu Xiuming smiled. Seeing his wife happy, he was also happy. Shen Jin naturally saw the magnolia hairpin on the table, "Whose is this?"
Nanny Zhao glanced at Chu Xiuming, and after Chu Xiuming nodded, she told him the story again. Shen Jin said "oh", glanced at him again and didn't care. Nanny Zhao said, "What do you think, Madam?"
"It's very beautiful." Shen Jin was talking about his own portrait.
Aunt Zhao smiled and said, "Not as good as Madam."
Shen Jin laughed happily, and Chu Xiuming asked, "Madam, what do you think we should do with this hairpin?"
"Do you know who stuffed it in?" Shen Jin asked back.
Aunt Zhao said respectfully, "I don't know."
Shen Jin didn't take his eyes off the portrait and said naturally, "Is it on the list?"
"Not here." replied Nanny Zhao.
Shen Jin said, "Then just put it away."
Chu Xiuming narrowed his eyes when he heard that. It was indeed true. They didn't know whether the person who placed the hairpin was a friend or an enemy, nor did they know what his purpose was. She came from the Empress Dowager's palace. Although the Empress Dowager now eats vegetarian food and chants Buddhist scriptures, she was not a simple person in her early years. Otherwise, how could she have gone from a little palace maid to where she is today? Since someone wants to test them, they will fall into the lower class if they move. It is better to be still and control the movement. No matter what the purpose is, since this person has already made a move, I am afraid there will be follow-up.
And as long as he moves, he will inevitably leave clues.
In fact, Nanny Zhao was just distracted by the jade hairpin. She calmed down and said, "Since Madam is hungry, I will go to the kitchen to urge her."
Shen Jin nodded, Chu Xiuming reached out and picked up the jade hairpin and handed it to Aunt Zhao. Shen Jin frowned and asked, "Can I see it?"
Aunt Zhao smiled and placed the hairpin in Shen Jin's hand. Shen Jin took it and looked at it carefully, then returned it to Aunt Zhao and said, "Okay."
"Anping, you and this old servant go to the kitchen and bring some cakes for Madam to fill her stomach," said Madam Zhao.
An Ping agreed and went out with Madam Zhao. An Ning also left the study and closed the door from the outside. Shen Jin looked at Madam Zhao and the other two, blinked, and asked in a low voice, "How did they know that I had something to say to my husband?"
Chu Xiuming smiled and tapped Shen Jin's nose. Shen Jin's face couldn't hide the truth. Just now her face was full of hesitation, as if to say, "I know something but I'm not sure whether I should tell my husband about it."
Seeing that Chu Xiuming didn't speak, Shen Jin didn't ask any more questions. She just felt that Zhao Ma and the others were in tune with her. She hugged her big belly and said, "I think I've seen it at mother's place... It feels a bit like this."
Chu Xiuming looked at the divine skill, and Shen Jin thought about it carefully before saying, "It's not like this. It seems that the jade quality is worse than this, and it seems that the petals of the magnolia are also slightly curled like this..."
"The Crown Princess loved magnolia flowers very much at the beginning." Chu Xiuming finally spoke, "So many people also became fond of magnolia-style jewelry."
Shen Jin nodded, but these are different from other magnolia jewelry, as expected Chu Xiuming said, "I remember Madam Zhao said that the patterns of the Crown Princess's jewelry were all painted by the Crown Prince himself."
"Oh." Shen Jin suddenly asked, "When will my husband draw for me?"
Chu Xiuming smiled and said, "Okay."
Shen Jin was satisfied and no longer cared about the white magnolia. She took Chu Xiuming's hand and talked about what she liked, for example, she preferred colorful ones, and liked bright and beautiful flowers... Chu Xiuming put his arm around Shen Jin's waist and walked towards the dining room. He already had an idea in his mind, and he also felt that his wife was more suitable for brightly colored ones.
Nanny Zhao's request for Anping to go out and serve the cakes was just an excuse. Soon the food was laid out. Shen Jin washed his hands and sat down. Chu Xiuming sat next to Shen Jin. When they were alone, they didn't eat too much. They ordered dishes that both of them liked, which should be Shen Jin's favorites, red rice porridge and small buns. Shen Jin stopped when he was 80% full, and Chu Xiuming finished the rest. He was also 80% full. Nanny Zhao never prepared too many things.
When she was sleeping at night, Shen Jin suddenly remembered and asked, "Husband, where is that little eunuch?"
Chu Xiuming gently stroked Shen Jin's back and said, "She was taken away by Nanny Zhen who was beside the Queen Mother."
"Oh." Shen Jin closed her eyes, fearing that the little eunuch... might not survive. She placed her hand lightly on her belly. She had no grudge against the little eunuch, but the little eunuch came to harm her out of selfish motives. Neither of them was innocent. After thinking for a while, Shen Jin fell asleep.
At this time, the queen in the palace tossed and turned and couldn't sleep. Yuzhu stood up and asked, "Your Majesty, would you like some water?"
The queen sighed and sat up. Yuzhu quickly took the clothes and put them on her. The maid lit the lamp and the queen said, "Pour me a glass of water."
"Yes." Another palace maid brought water.
The queen took it and took a sip before frowning, "Change."
Yuzhu took it quickly and poured the water herself. When the queen was upset, she drank slightly warm water. Sure enough, after the queen drank a cup, she said, "Yuzhu stay, everyone else leave."
"Yes." The palace maids and nannies in the room quickly retreated and closed the door.
Yuzhu knelt on the footrest and massaged the queen's legs, asking, "Is there anything troubling your majesty?"
"That matter...will no one really find out?" the queen said hesitantly.
Yuzhu said respectfully, "Don't worry, Madam. I have made all the arrangements. We will definitely not find anything here."
The Queen frowned and said, "But the Queen Mother..."
Yuzhu said softly, "Your Majesty, if the Queen Mother really had evidence, how could this be the case?"
"Besides, the young eunuch just went to the Yongning Marquis' Mansion this morning, such a short time." Yuzhu said.
The Queen narrowed her eyes. It was indeed the case. If the Queen Mother had evidence, it would not be like this. It was just a test. If she wavered...
"Yes." The queen agreed and looked at Yuzhu and said, "Then let's proceed according to the plan."
Yuzhu agreed, "What happened next has nothing to do with Your Majesty. You are the one who was framed."
The queen nodded, and Yuzhu said respectfully, "Does your majesty want more water?"
"No need." The queen waved her hand, feeling relieved, "Turn off the lights."
"Yes." Yuzhu helped the queen lie down again, and carefully arranged the bed curtains before turning off the lights. "I'll be right on the footstool. If you have any questions, just call me."
The queen did not speak, thinking in her heart, thinking about what the queen mother had the maid convey, she felt annoyed. If it was possible, would she be willing to do so? If His Majesty had made her son the crown prince earlier, she would not have been unable to sit firmly on the throne of queen. The emperor actually wanted to make a noble concubine. Concubine Lan was favored, Concubine Chang had a son, no matter which one was not easy to deal with, and there were also those younger girls. The queen reached out and touched her face. In this harem, only by sitting on the throne of queen mother could she be truly stable.
Thinking of the Queen Mother, the Queen felt aggrieved. The Queen Mother was the one who supported her, but even though she was a vegetarian and chanted Buddhist scriptures, she was unwilling to give up power. The Queen was both afraid and respectful of the Queen Mother.
At this time, Concubine Chang and Concubine Lan, who were missed by the Queen, were also awake in the palace. Concubine Lan was extremely beautiful, and her temperament was like an orchid in a valley, elegant and cold. Even at this moment, she looked indifferent, as if nothing could move her. The senior palace maid Jingxi beside her said, "Could someone deliberately harm the Queen? Who sent this news?"
Concubine Lan shook her head and said, "I'm afraid this kind of thing can't be false."
Jingxi frowned, her face full of anxiety, "What if Concubine Chang thinks that it was the Queen who did it? This matter also involves the Queen."
Concubine Lan said, "Prepare a gift for me, and I will go to see Concubine Chang tomorrow."
Jingxi said, "Your Majesty, could it be that Concubine Chang deliberately framed you? After all, the position of Imperial Concubine..."
Concubine Lan just glanced at Jingxi but didn't say anything. Jingxi didn't dare to say anything more and said, "Then I will prepare it right away."
The lights in Concubine Chang's palace were on at this time. Cai Xuan gave Concubine Chang a cup of hot tea and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to rest first?"
"Caixuan, who do you think it could be?" Concubine Chang asked with a frown.
Cai Xuan said respectfully, "I don't know."
Chang Fei took a sip from the teacup and said, "Go to bed."
"Yes." Cai Xuan helped Concubine Chang go to bed, while she stayed in the room to serve her.
Lying on the bed, Concubine Chang was not asleep. She felt confused. Anyway, His Majesty had not decided on the candidate for the crown prince yet. Why couldn't she fight for it? Otherwise, would the crown prince really be able to accommodate her two sons? Just relying on the tolerance of the queen's two sons? Concubine Chang sneered in her heart. How did the prince of Rui get injured? He was not even a prince.
Concubine Lan? Concubine Chang thought not. Concubine Lan was not a fool. She had no children. Why would she offend both her and the Queen for the position of a noble concubine? Then who was it?
As she was thinking, Concubine Chang fell asleep in a daze.
Because the Queen Mother worships Buddha all year round, the concubines in the palace are not required to go to greet her in the morning. Therefore, everyone only needs to sit quietly in the Queen's palace for a while, pay respects to the Queen, and then leave. On this day, even the Queen's people were not seen. After Concubine Lan and Concubine Chang came in, they exchanged glances. Both of them sat in their seats and did not speak. The Queen did not see them today. Not long after everyone came, Yuzhu, who was beside the Queen, came out and said, "The Queen is not feeling well today. Please go back to the palace first."
The concubines had no objections and said goodbye. After Concubine Chang returned to the palace, she asked the maid to prepare tea and cakes. Sure enough, not long after, Concubine Lan came with the maid. Concubine Chang was not surprised and just said, "Sister, come and try my tea."
Concubine Lan nodded, and after having the maid bring the prepared gift, she said, "I came here today to talk to you, sister."
Concubine Chang smiled and said, "Then let's go inside and talk."
Concubine Lan agreed. After the two entered the room, she opened the doors and windows and asked the maids to leave. Concubine Lan did not keep the secret and said directly, "Sister, do you know that a young eunuch took the imperial palace badge to invite the wife of the Yongning Earl to enter the palace yesterday?"
Concubine Chang said, "I know. I also know that it was the eunuch who was found by someone in my palace."
Lan Fei said, "What do you think, sister?"
Concubine Chang asked back, "What do you think, sister?"
Lan Fei lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Sister, you know that I will never be pregnant in this lifetime."
Chang Fei was stunned for a moment, with surprise flashing in her eyes. She really didn't know this. Chang Fei said, "I remember my sister once..."
"Well, it was because of that child that I got hurt. The Queen Mother and His Majesty both know about this." Even the usually calm Concubine Lan showed some melancholy and hatred when she talked about this. "At that time... let's not talk about the past." Concubine Lan looked at Concubine Chang and said, "However, my sister and I are probably facing the same enemy."
Concubine Chang immediately understood what Concubine Lan meant. She was afraid that the child was aborted by the Queen. However, this was also possible. Concubine Lan had no children and no background, but she was able to hold on to the position of concubine because of the Emperor's favor. If she had a child, she would have been promoted to noble concubine long ago. The Queen had caused a woman to never be a mother again. Even if it was her, she would not be forgiven.
At this time, Concubine Chang was certain that this matter was probably done by the Queen, who was just trying to make the Emperor abandon his intention of enthroning a noble concubine by making the thief cry thief.
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