Chapter 123

The winter in the capital was extremely cold. The water in the old well in Changshou Palace was frozen.

The eunuch who was fetching water threw the wooden bucket tied to the rope into the well several times before breaking the ice on the well surface and drawing water.

The old eunuch beside her put her hands in her sleeves, glanced in the direction of the Empress Dowager's bedroom, and shook her head secretly: "This well has not frozen for decades. It is not a good sign that it is frozen this year. I am afraid that the Empress Dowager will not be able to make it."

The young eunuch was so terrified that he dared not answer. The

Empress Dowager had been ill for some time. The imperial doctors from the Imperial Hospital came in waves every day, and were scolded away by Empress Gao in anger after a while.

Empress Gao was already pregnant. She was the niece of the Empress Dowager and would come to visit the Empress Dowager every morning and evening.

On the contrary, the new emperor was busy suppressing the rebellion and comforting the concubine, so he rarely had time to come. Even if he came, he would leave within a quarter of an hour. The mother and son never had a happy time.

In the Empress Dowager's bedroom, the windows and doors were hung with thick curtains to block the wind. The room was filled with an unpleasant smell of medicine. The maids who served stood on both sides of the bed with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe.

Empress Gao sat in front of the couch and fed the Queen Mother medicine herself. After a few spoonfuls of medicine, the Queen Mother gulped a few times in her throat. She tilted her head and vomited the medicine she had just drunk. The palace maid beside her hurriedly took a spittoon to catch it.

Seeing this, Empress Gao's tears fell like beads: "Aunt..."

She hurriedly took a handkerchief to wipe the medicine stains on the Queen Mother's lips, but the Queen Mother still twitched all over from gulping.

"The Grand Princess is here--" the eunuch's voice came from outside the palace.

The heavy windproof curtain was opened, and a ray of light appeared in the dark bedroom. The eldest princess walked into the hall against the light. She was wearing a palace dress embroidered with golden peony flowers. Her long sleeves dragged behind her. The golden hairpins on her bun swayed gently as she walked. Her face was decorated with delicate makeup, and she looked elegant and noble.

Seeing the crying Queen Gao, the eldest princess frowned and scolded: "Why are you crying on the New Year's Day?"

Queen Gao was scolded by the eldest princess so that she dared not sob anymore, but her tears still flowed down.

The Grand Princess walked to the bed, looked at the gloomy face of the Queen Mother, sat down and held the Queen Mother's slightly cold hand, "You are a bunch of people who don't know how to serve people. You have been lying down for so long just because of a cold."

The Queen Mother's hair was much whiter. She was a few years older than the Grand Princess, but at this moment, she seemed to be a generation younger.

The Queen Mother had difficulty speaking, and panted and said, "Ayu, you are here."

Feng Yu was the name of the most noble and noble Grand Princess in the world. The

Grand Princess said, "Shi Yan is making a fuss. During the days when he was not in the capital, I had to calm the civil and military officials in the court for him, so I didn't have time to come to see you."

Although the Grand Princess had no real power in the court, the three dukes and nine ministers had to bow their heads to her.

The Queen Mother grabbed the Grand Princess's hand with some force and said with difficulty: "Ayu, you have to help him. You are his aunt, he can only count on you..."

The Grand Princess said: "Of course." The Queen Mother

then let go of her hand. She seemed to be dying. There was no more shallow ambition and desire in her eyes. Only the last gasp for life remained: "I have been dreaming about your brother these days. I know that my time is coming soon."

The Grand Princess said: "You just like to have wild thoughts. It's just a cold. Take some medicine and it will be fine." The Queen Mother

shook her head: "I know my own destiny. The only thing I am worried about is this child..."

She turned her head to look at Queen Gao.

Queen Gao covered her face and cried out. The Queen

Mother looked at her and said slowly, "You have been corrupted by me. You have not suffered much injustice in this life, but in the future, you have to learn to endure and endure grievances."

Empress Gao was sad, and there was a trace of confusion on her face.

The eldest princess said, "She is the Queen of Daxuan. If she gives birth to a prince this time, she will be the mother of the future prince. No one dares to touch her, not even the emperor."

The Queen Mother nodded, looked at her niece again, and said earnestly, "There is no woman in the harem who has not survived. The emperor is now bewitched by a ghost. You should wait until the child is born. The man has his own flesh and blood, and his mind will be calm."

Empress Gao nodded with tears in her eyes.

After saying these words, the Queen Mother was already exhausted. Her eyes were about to close, like a candle in the wind, about to go out.

The Grand Princess gave Empress Gao a look, then turned and left the bedroom.

Empress Gao glanced at the Queen Mother, then wiped her tears and went out with the Grand Princess.

When they arrived at the outer hall, the Grand Princess asked Empress Gao: "Has the Emperor come to see the Queen Mother?"

Empress Gao shook her head in embarrassment: "He came once half a month ago, and had an argument with my mother, and he has never come again since then."

The Grand Princess's eyes were so sharp that no one dared to look at her: "Since you are sitting in the position of Empress, don't think of yourself as just a wife who is not loved by your husband. How can you cry all day long?"

Empress Gao's face turned red and white at the words of the Grand Princess.

The eldest princess continued, "In the past two years since the emperor ascended the throne, the Gao family has relied on your and the empress dowager's power, and has repeatedly used their former merits in following the emperor to prove their loyalty

. They have hindered the emperor in every way in the court. How could the emperor not have resentment towards you?" Empress Gao's eyes were red with tears: "I... I will advise father later."

The eldest princess frowned, and the lotus flower that she had carefully painted on her forehead also frowned: "Tutor Gao's current posture seems to be trying to sideline the emperor and take power himself." Empress

Gao's face turned pale in an instant: "Aunt, my father's loyalty to Your Majesty is witnessed by the heavens and the earth, and the sun and the moon can show it!"

The eldest princess said coldly: "It's useless for you to say these to me. Your Majesty has to see it."

After saying this, she left Changshou Palace, leaving Empress Gao standing there stiffly.

After a while, Empress Gao touched her bulging belly, and the panic on her face disappeared. A sneer formed on the corner of her mouth: "A virtual emperor?"

Before Feng Shiyan ascended the throne, the Gao family had always been low-key. She was sent to the palace, not because she was really ignorant.

It was just that Feng Shiyan liked idiots like Xipin, so she imitated Xipin's words and deeds, trying to make Feng Shiyan fall in love with her.

After the death of Empress Dowager Gao, it was inevitable that Feng Shiyan would intensify his suppression of the Gao family.

Rather than prolonging her life in the palace when her family was weak, it would be better for her to replace Feng Shiyan's throne with the child in her belly!

When the Grand Princess walked out of the palace gate, a dead leaf that had been hanging on a branch for a whole autumn and winter swirled and fell at her feet. She looked at the gray sky, and the cold face that kept strangers away showed a little loss: "Those people in the old days left or died. Sometimes I look at this imperial city and feel it is so strange and deserted."

The maid who followed her advised: "Princess, don't think too much. No one can escape the cycle of life and death."

The cold raindrops fell on the Grand Princess's face, and it was raining and snowing.

The maid was busy holding an umbrella. The Grand Princess looked at the solemn and cold corridor and the vermilion palace walls on both sides, and I don't know what she was thinking.

A patrolling imperial guard came towards them. The leading imperial guard was nine feet tall, with a resolute face and a majestic bearing.

The eldest princess was in a trance for a moment. As she watched the imperial guard approach, she seemed to see the scene many years ago when Chu Changping left the palace with his colleagues after the court session.

When the imperial guards arrived in front of the palace gate, the leading imperial guard clasped his fists to the eldest princess and said, "Greetings, the eldest princess."

The eldest princess finally came to her senses, put away the trance on her face, and turned into the noble and unattainable jewel in the palm of the late emperor.

She nodded coldly and asked the imperial guard, "What is your name?"

The imperial guard clasped his fists and said respectfully, "My humble servant Leng Zhen."

The eldest princess nodded and said nothing more. She walked towards the carriage in the distance, escorted by her maid holding an umbrella.

After getting in the car, the maid asked cautiously: "Princess, are you thinking of Mr. Chu Sanye again?"

She has been with the Grand Princess since she was a child, and has a special relationship with the Grand Princess. Naturally, she also knows a little about her master's thoughts.

The Grand Princess held her forehead with one hand and said nothing.

In this life, some people are missed once they are missed. Since seeing them again is to become enemies, it is better not to see them.

Xizhou.

In a blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the first lunar month. This day is the day for the grand opening of shops. Almost all the shops in Xizhou are open.

Ruyi Tower and Noodle Shop also set off firecrackers to celebrate the opening of the new year.

The porcelain kiln has been officially taken over by the government. Jiang Yanyi is one of the first merchants to get the documents for the customs clearance of porcelain. She has lived in the Chu family for so long, and she has to go back to take care of business matters.

After the beginning of spring, the farmland in the suburbs of the city began to be bought and sold. Jiang Yanyi planned to wait until it stopped snowing, and then go to the suburbs to buy a few acres of land suitable for growing peppers.

Chu Chengbai was sent to a farm in the country. He told Mrs. Chu that he was going to study in the farm to live a quieter life. The old lady did not doubt it at all and hoped that he would have a bright future. Mr. Chu made harsh words, but he did not go to the farm with him.

When Jiang Yanyi went to Mrs. Chu's yard to say goodbye to her, he happened to meet a guest.

The Chu family was a new noble in Xizhou, and they rarely took the initiative to make friends on weekdays. Those who came to pay New Year's greetings were Chu Changping's subordinates and colleagues in the army. This was the first time that a female family member came to the house.

"This is Yi, the daughter of the third son." Old Madam Chu introduced her to the old lady sitting next to her with a smile.

The old lady was wearing a half-worn royal blue gown with a ruyi pattern on her forehead, and there were no gemstones. It was estimated that her family was not as well off as the Chu family.

When she saw Jiang Yanyi, she nodded frequently: "No wonder the King of Liaoning values ​​her. I'm afraid there is no other granddaughter in the world who can be more iconic than her."

There was also a young girl sitting next to her, about twenty years old, wearing a pomegranate skirt, but she kept her head down and her face could not be seen clearly.

Jiang Yanyi was complimented and just bowed her head in shame, leaving the words to Old Madam Chu.

Madam Chu and the old lady chatted about family matters. During the conversation, Jiang Yanyi noticed that Madam Chu kept staring at the girl. She guessed that Madam Chu was probably looking for a match for Chu Chengmao. But she felt at first sight that this girl was not the type that Chu Chengmao, a mean-mouthed and venomous man, would like. Moreover,

most girls in this era got married at the age of fifteen or sixteen, and it was rare for a girl to be still a girl at this age. Jiang Yanyi was just sighing at Madam Chu's open-mindedness. When she heard Madam Chu order the maid to invite Chu Changping over, she realized that something was wrong.

The girl in front of her was probably not for Chu Chengmao to see, but was intended to be a continuation of Chu Changping's marriage.

Not long after, the maid who received Madam Chu's order came back and whispered something in Madam Chu's ear. Madam Chu's face changed slightly, and she looked at the old lady with some apology and said, "I'm sorry, old sister, there is something going on in the army, and Sanlang went to the barracks." The old

lady smiled and said it was okay. Madam Chu chatted with her for a few more words. After sending the person away, she said to Jiang Yanyi, "This girl was originally engaged, but she has been in mourning for her mother for three years. , the man couldn't wait any longer, so he broke off the engagement, and she became an old maid at home. Her virtue and appearance were all impeccable, but the third brother refused to remarry! You said that when Mao Ge'er gets married in the future, there will be no mistress in this family, is that reasonable? "

Hearing what the old lady said, Jiang Yanyi knew that Chu Changping did not go to the army, but just refused to come. As for the marriage of the elders, Jiang Yanyi didn't say much, just said: "Father has his own plans, grandma don't worry."

"How can I not be worried? Mao'er's marriage has not been settled yet!"

When it comes to Chu Chengmao, Mrs. Chu's worries become heavier. She looked at Jiang Yanyi and said, "Ayi, tell grandma honestly. I heard that on the night of the first day of the new year, Mao'er went out and brought a girl back, and he hid it from everyone in the family. What is the relationship between him and that girl?"

Mrs. Chu was a decent person. She had some complaints about Chu Chengbai and his maid Yue Niang's incestuous behavior in the early years. She was worried that Chu Chengmao would learn from those people and keep a concubine.

Jiang Yanyi was afraid that if she lied, she would reveal it to Chu Chengmao and Xue, so she just played dumb and said, "Brought a girl back? I didn't hear about it. But my second brother is a man of measure. Grandmother, don't think too much. He will tell you what he thinks he should tell you."