Chapter 170: 170 backer
Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Backing
Shen lowered her eyes while holding the pastel enamel tea cup, and took another sip of the warm soothing and mind-nourishing tea, feeling a little calmer.
Before today, she had never understood this. She didn't understand why Chu Qianhuang was so persistent in reading with the princess, even against her own wishes. This was really not like Chu Qianhuang's character.
Regarding this, Shen has always had some inexplicable and unexplained feelings in her heart. She always felt that Chu Qianhuang was hiding some secret. This became a thorn embedded in Shen's heart and she could not remove it no matter what.
She always felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't figure it out.
However, just when she heard that Chu Qianhuang had escaped again, and then thought of her sudden illness, Shen's heart suddenly became enlightened, and she instantly understood the problem that had been puzzling her before.
Shen said in a voice so low that only the three people present could hear: "She is looking for a backer for herself."
Mrs. Mu Guogong: “…”
Aunt Chen: “…”
Hey, my wife is really suffering!
Nanny Chen also feels sorry for Shen. She is the clearest about Shen's dedication and love for Chu Qianhuang, and she can better understand Shen's disappointment in Chu Qianhuang.
Mrs. Mu Guogong took another sip of tea. She was afraid of irritating her daughter again, so she simply changed the subject: "Azhi, the third princess may be going to Nanhao."
Shen's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and the teacup in her hand paused in mid-air.
She hadn't heard about it yet, so she asked, "Mom, isn't the marriage between the two countries still undecided?"
The marriage between the two countries is not a trivial matter. Now it seems that the prince Gu Nanjin is interested in shaving his head and choosing a son. The eldest prince Nanhao has not responded, and the emperor and Emperor Hao will finally make a formal decision on the marriage.
"It's not decided." Mrs. Mu Guogong nodded and said, "The last time the eldest prince Nan Hao was assassinated in Furong Garden, the prince promised to give Nan Hao an explanation, but the reason has not been found out yet."
"In order to prove that the last assassination was definitely not caused by me, Da Qi, His Highness the Crown Prince proposed that he personally **** Wuhe Jialou back to Nanhao."
Gu Nanjin also took great pains to prove Da Qi's innocence for the sake of peace between the two countries.
This time, he would personally **** Wuhejialou and his party back to Nanhao. If there was another ambush along the way, then Gu Nanjin, the Prince of Qi, would become a hostage in the hands of the Nanhao people.
Shen understood everything at once and moved his eyebrows thoughtfully.
Mrs. Mu Guogong added: "Your father said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has two motives, half of which is for this matter, and the other half is probably for the marriage between the two countries."
"Using this logical excuse, the prince plans to ask the three princesses to go with him as guests to Nan Hao to meet Emperor Hao. When we get to Nan Hao, we can continue to discuss the marriage between the two countries."
Mrs. Mu Guogong sighed sadly.
When the emperor was the crown prince, he had the late emperor watching over him and several other brothers coveting him. Although his conduct in life could not be called amazing, he was quite decent and conscientious.
The late emperor also expressed his feelings to his chief ministers and ministers in private, hoping that the prince would be a dutiful king after he succeeded to the throne.
The late emperor closed his eyes. Today, Gu Lang also swore in front of the dragon bed that he would inherit the late emperor's legacy. However, within a few years of taking the throne, he was obsessed with cultivating Taoism and taking elixirs, ignoring the censor's advice.
It can be said that the prince Gu Nanjin is in a difficult situation. Not only does he have to take charge of state affairs, but he also has to clean up the mess for today.
Da Qi has just solved the problem of Chi Di, and now it seems to be prosperous. In fact, the situation is worrying. Any turmoil may destroy the hard-won peace and stability. Therefore, the prince wants to marry Nan Hao and give Da Qi another chance. It takes a lot of effort to gain some time to recuperate.
Mrs. Shen also felt emotional and echoed: "His Royal Highness is also working hard."
Mrs. Mu Guogong nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "Your father said that the trip to Nanhao for the prince and the third princess is inevitable."
She lowered her eyes and drank the tea, but actually she didn't say a word. The emperor was furious with the prince's idea and scolded the prince in front of the elders of Liubu Pavilion. He felt that the prince was rushing towards Nan Hao and was wrong. The national prestige of Da Qi.
Mrs. Mu Guogong couldn't help but hear the worried voice of Duke Mu: "In the eyes of the emperor, the Wuhe family is probably still a Southern barbarian. Their ability to win Jiangnan was also due to the corruption of the previous dynasty, who took advantage of the situation."
"The Wuhe family can secure this beautiful land in the south, so how can they be mediocre!"
"The people of Nan Hao are very ambitious and have been coveting the fat piece of Da Qi. Many vassal kings have requested orders from the court for the Northern Expedition. If Emperor Hao is persuaded, the other vassal kings will definitely respond!"
"The Hao people are good at martial arts and war-like. With Da Qi's current military strength, if a war really breaks out, I'm afraid it will be in danger. Only King Chen can fight..."
"Daqi looks like blooming flowers, but in fact it is like burning fire cooking oil."
Thinking of Duke Mu's tired and worried look, Mrs. Mu also frowned deeply.
She knew that her daughter was worried about Chu Qianhuang, so she didn't bother her with these important family and national affairs.
Mrs. Mu Guogong sighed and added with emotion: "If the third princess goes to Nanhao, Sister Huang, as the princess's companion, will most likely go with her."
The third princess went to Nanhao for marriage. If the marriage was negotiated, the third princess would not return to Daqi. According to the custom of Daqi, the princess' companion should marry the princess.
Shen: “…”
"Ah Zhi," Mrs. Mu Guogong asked seriously, "do you want me to go into the palace and ask to see the Queen?"
What she meant was to protect Chu Qianhuang and prevent her from accompanying the third princess to Nanhao.
Logically speaking, the companion would return to his homeland after seeing off the princess in marriage, but once in the previous dynasty, the noble daughter who sent the princess in marriage married a local noble and never returned to the Central Plains again in this life.
Mrs. Mu Guogong was also worried that Chu Qianhuang would go to Nanhao. If something went wrong, the prince would use her as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Emperor Hao, and she would never return.
Shen was silent.
Grandma Chen looked at Mrs. Shen nervously, but hesitated to speak.
Silence fell in the room.
The silence lasted so long that when Mrs. Mu Guogong almost thought that Shen wouldn't answer, Shen said, "No need."
"Mom, don't worry about her anymore."
Since Chu Qianhuang had tried so hard to stay with the third princess and had planned it over and over again, why should she stop her!
This time, Mrs. Mu Guogong did not try to persuade her again.
As of now, we can only wait until the Zhike Monk arrives in Beijing to figure everything out.
Fortunately, the prince's trip is a big event, and it definitely won't be a matter of a day or two. With the emperor's nod and the Heavenly Supervisor calculating auspicious dates, I'm afraid he won't be able to set off until the end of the month at the earliest.
Mother and daughter didn't speak for a while, they both drank tea.
At almost noon, Chu Yun rushed over in a hurry, injecting vitality into the silent and dull main courtyard.
"Empress, empress!"
Chu Yunmu, wearing a bright emerald green robe embroidered with cranes, rushed into the East Room with fluttering wings like a green parrot.
He stood obediently in front of the Arhat's bed, first saluted Mrs. Mu Guogong, and then said impatiently: "My cousin said that the entrance exam for the Imperial College will be in three days, and my eldest brother will also take the exam. Can I Going to watch the fun with my second sister? "
After Chu Yunmu moved to Mu Guogong's mansion with the Shen family, he went to the Shen family's clan school to study with his cousins.
The boys always played together. For Chu Yunmu, it was no different from the Chu family... No, it was more lively here than the Chu family!
After a pause, he added: "Last time, the second sister personally promised to take me to the Imperial College to watch the excitement!"
What he meant was that it was not him who was playful, but Chu Qianchen who suggested it.
Mrs. Mu Guogong noticed that her daughter's face clearly smiled when she heard Chu Qianchen's name, and she sighed silently in her heart.
Shen raised her hand and rubbed Chu Yunmu's head.
In order to watch the fun, Chu Yunmu endured it.
"No." Mrs. Shen cruelly rejected Chu Yunmu, "Your second sister just got married..."
"But the second sister said that I can go to Prince Chen's Mansion to play with her!" Chu Yunmu said plausibly, "What's the big deal, can't I just send a greeting card to the second sister?"
Chu Yunmu pestered Ms. Shen, acting coquettishly and arguing with reason, making both Mr. Shen and Mrs. Mu Guogong laugh.
"Then can you write a post?"
"Yes!" Chu Yunmu said firmly.
So, half an hour later, Chu Qianchen, who was in Prince Chen's Mansion, received a message from Chu Yunmu.
She was sitting by the window in an upper room in the main courtyard, holding the cheerful post in one hand and a round fan embroidered with black cats in the other hand, feeling relaxed and at ease.
"See you, Princess!" Aunt Jin from the Ministry of Internal Affairs smiled and blessed Chu Qianchen, and calmly looked around at the carved railings and painted buildings, which were luxurious and elegant.
This is the first time that Aunt Jin has stepped into Prince Chen's Mansion.
The day before yesterday, the day before the wedding, Grandma Jin was stopped outside the gate by people from Prince Chen's Mansion.
Awed by King Chen's majesty, she did not dare to say a word, so she could only return to the Ministry of Internal Affairs dejectedly to report.
Today, Grandma Jin was specifically ordered to come and see someone off.
According to regulations, the prince is qualified to use chamberlains, and the prince's palace can have up to forty chamberlains.
However, Prince Chen has been absent from the capital for many years, and Prince Chen's mansion is the only prince's mansion without an internal servant.
Aunt Jin specially brought ten chambermaids and six palace maids with her on this trip, making the originally spacious upper room very crowded.
A furnace of incense was lit in the corner of the room, and the green smoke curled up and spread thinly in the air, carrying the fragrance of lotus and orchid, which was refreshing and very pleasant.
Aunt Jin naturally raised her hand and pointed at the people behind her and said: "Princess, I have brought you some useful servants today. These are all carefully selected by the Queen."
"You see, they are all very good. Princess, you can stay and use them."
Although her attitude was quite polite, there was always a hint of self-respect in her attitude.
The maids behind her mostly lowered their eyebrows and stood bowed. Occasionally, two maids in Tsing Yi secretly raised their eyes to look at Chu Qianchen, who was sitting on a mahogany armchair. The girl was about 17 or 18 years old. Fanghua, with willow eyebrows and a beautiful nose, red lips and green teeth, her appearance is extremely beautiful, just like a blooming peony.
Amber frowned slightly in displeasure.
This is not here to send someone off, it's basically here to embed someone.
It's so deceiving!
Chu Qianchen, on the other hand, curled up his lips and smiled lightly, with a clear smile and relaxed brows.
Chu Qianchen waved a round fan with one hand, turned around and asked Hu Hue, "Hu Hui, am I a soft persimmon?"
One word extinguished the anger in Amber's heart.
She was almost amused by Chu Qianchen, so she tried her best to suppress her expression, shook her head, and said seriously: "No."
Aunt Jin: "..." Chu Qianchen looked at Aunt Jin again, gently waved the folding fan, and said directly: "Did you hear that?
"..." Aunt Jin couldn't believe her ears.
She worked as a nanny in the palace, and later was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a servant. Everyone in the palace and outside the palace respected her, and she had never been slapped in the face by anyone.
Hearing this, she was very angry, her face suddenly darkened, and she emphasized with a smile: "Princess, this is the person who was rewarded by the Queen!"
"The Queen loves you and King Chen very much. She was afraid that the manpower in the palace was insufficient and she would neglect King Chen, so she kindly gave it to you."
Aunt Jin talked non-stop, thinking that the Queen specially called her into the palace this morning and told her to do this errand well.
Aunt Jin felt that this task could not be easier. This Princess Chen was just a concubine in the Yongding Marquis Mansion who did not dare to speak loudly. She was dull and introverted. All wedding matters were arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and she never Dare to say the word "no".
Before she left the palace, she boasted in front of the queen that Haikou would do her job beautifully.
Chu Qianchen shook his fan with a smile.
Amber took a few steps forward and said to the maids brought by Grandma Jin, "Let's go."
The chambermaids looked at Grandma Jin questioningly.
Aunt Jin wanted to show Chu Qianchen some kindness and power in private, so she motioned for them all to go out.
So, the chamberlains and maids followed Amber out.
Only Chu Qianchen, Nanny Jin and Lan Ruo were left in the room. It was much emptier and seemed quieter.
Lan Ruo cast a sympathetic look at Nanny Jin and immediately lowered her eyes, standing there like a wooden figure.
Chu Qianchen looked at Nanny Jin and said calmly: "Do you know why I let you in?"
"..." Grandma Jin looked confused.
She is here to run an errand for the Queen, who dares not to let her in?
She also vaguely felt that something was wrong with the atmosphere.
The Chu Qianchen in front of her seemed to be different from the one she had seen before in Yongding Marquis Mansion. It was obvious that she just changed the woman's hair style, but there was a vague majesty of a superior person in her speech.
Chu Qianchen didn't expect her to answer, so he asked again: "Do you feel a stomachache?"
Aunt Jin: “…”
Grandma Jin became more and more confused.
Chu Qianchen said: "Press the Hegu point in your tiger's mouth."
Aunt Jin subconsciously pressed the tab of her left hand.
Chu Qianchen said: "Press the Guanyuan point three inches below your navel again."
Aunt Jin pressed three inches below her navel again, and then her complexion changed drastically.
She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, as if something was raging inside her body, and her face turned pale.
The two acupuncture points she pressed were extremely ordinary. It was not like she had never pressed them before, but she had never felt such a life-threatening pain.
"My stomach..." Nanny Jin was sweating, her face was pale, and her feet were a little weak. She clutched her stomach and stammered, "Princess, what on earth did you do?"
At this time, Amber came in again and returned to Chu Qianchen with a smile.
"Nanny Jin, what are you talking about!" Amber sighed with a somewhat condescending attitude, "What can our princess do to you?! Should I beat you, or give it to Bai Lingsan?" Chi, Heding is red?”
Crane top red? ! Grandma Jin's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes were immediately widened to the extreme, extremely horrified.
Could it be that Chu Qianchen poisoned himself? !
But she didn’t eat anything when she came to the palace today!
etc!
Grandma Jin looked at the incense burner in the corner. Is there something wrong with the incense?
That's not right. The other people she brought just now were also there, and none of them felt any discomfort.
Or maybe she was poisoned chronically. Chu Qianchen had been secretly poisoning her the few times she went to the Yongding Marquis Mansion.
Grandma Jin was thinking in confusion, she was so frightened that she almost collapsed.
The only thing she was sure of now was one thing—she must have been poisoned!
Yes, in the past few years since the emperor ascended the throne, although King Chen was not in the capital, the emperor had spent a lot of effort to send people to the palace. He used the regulations of the prince's palace to let people from the internal affairs office go to the palace several times, but never once could he Entering the door.
When she entered the palace gate this time, she originally thought that the new princess was soft and easy to talk to, but now it seems that it is obviously not the case!
It’s over!
Grandma Jin’s heart was as cold as ice, her limbs were as cold as if she had been soaked in a winter ice lake, and even her lips began to turn slightly purple.
She forced a smile, plopped down on her knees on the hard marble floor, and said with such respect that she was almost humble: "Princess, I have offended you many times in the past. Your Excellency, don't forget the faults of villains. Please forgive me!"
Lan Ruo glanced at Aunt Jin again, feeling like an old drama was reenacting, with a deep look in her eyes.
"Forgive?" Chu Qianchen raised the corners of his mouth with a smile but not a smile, as if he didn't understand, "I have always treated grandma with courtesy, why did she say this?"
Chu Qianchen told the truth, and she didn't poison Grandma Jin. She was always polite.
She just took her pulse when she was in the Marquis Mansion, and found out that she had some serious gastrointestinal problems. Today she was kind enough to use incense to cure her, including what she had just asked her to do. Pressing the two acupoints can also treat abdominal pain.
As for the treatment process being a little painful, there is nothing you can do about it. After all, good medicine tastes bitter.
But Chu Qianchen's words sounded to Aunt Jin's ears like a guillotine on her neck. Her heart sank again and she became more and more desperate.
She knew that even if she died in Prince Chen's palace today, the Queen would not be able to punish Prince Chen for such an insignificant slave like her.
Besides, Princess Chen has never done anything to herself, so she can completely brush it off.
Grandma Jin was even more frightened, her body was trembling slightly, and even she didn't know whether it was because of the severe pain in her abdomen or because of fear.
She felt that the severe pain in her abdomen had worsened. She was covered in sweat, and even the middle coat on her back was soaked through.
Chu Qianchen drank tea calmly and stopped looking at Aunt Jin.
At this moment, when Nanny Jin looked at Chu Qianchen, she felt that he was as scary as a wolf, tiger or leopard.
She knocked her head heavily, fell to the ground, and admitted her mistake sincerely and humbly: "Princess, please give me some guidance."
Chu Qianchen gave Hu Bo a wink, and Hu Bo went to get a blue-covered roster, and started reading to the roster:
"Jin Laidi, a native of Qingzhou, entered the palace at the age of nine and changed her name to Xia Rong. She served in the palace for twenty years and served in the East Palace. She was released from the palace at the age of twenty-eight and betrothed to the second steward of the Enguo Palace. Forty She became a widow at the age of 18, and the Empress took charge and joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs as an errand."
"I have a son named Song Han who is currently studying at Bailu Academy. My husband praises him for his talent in reading."
"Aunt Jin, your son should be a slave..."
“…”
Aunt Jin's heart was beating wildly when she heard this. She was shocked and scared. She was shocked because Chu Qianchen had stripped away all her inner and outer details. She was scared because she didn't know what Chu Qianchen wanted to do. .
She must have been targeted by Chu Qianchen for a long time, but the other party had remained calm, and it was only now that he started to operate on her, stabbing her vitals with one knife.
So, will Chu Qianchen take action against his son? !
Aunt Jin didn't dare to look up at Chu Qianchen at all. She felt like a light on her back, and her throat felt uncomfortable as if someone was pinching her.
No!
She said to herself in her heart that since the other party told her so much, he must ask for something.
She rested her forehead on the ground and waited quietly.
Unexpectedly, after Amber finished reading the roster, he put it aside as if nothing had happened, and chatted with Chu Qianchen with a smile: "Princess, I saw that Chef Wan'er is really good at making snacks. It’s not bad compared to places like Yuntingge and Suji.”
"I just make it over and over again. I'm thinking about buying some well-known snacks from other places next time so Chef Wan Er can learn how to make them."
Amber could also understand that most of the people in the palace were men and they rarely ate snacks. The few snacks Chef Wan Er could make were enough to cope with it, so naturally they were too lazy to strive for perfection.
Chu Qianchen smiled slightly and said, "Next month will be the season for eating lotus roots. Let Chef Wan Er try to make some lotus root snacks." The prince likes to eat lotus roots, and lotus roots can appetize and clear away heat, benefit blood and muscles, and nourish the body. .
Seeing that the master and the servant were talking to themselves and completely ignoring themselves, Grandma Jin felt confused and became more and more uneasy.
She quietly raised her head, looked at Chu Qianchen, and then at Lan Ruo, and then noticed Lan Ruo's eyes, dull, but with a little pity, fleeting.
As if being struck by thunder, Grandma Jin understood it completely.
Lan Ruo has been completely subdued by Chu Qianchen. Yes, Lan Ruo has been serving Chu Qianchen for so long. She must have discovered that Chu Qianchen was pretending. She must have been poisoned by Chu Qianchen and was manipulated by her. The key is to surrender.
Grandma Jin's heart became even colder, as if there were several big holes in her heart, and the cold wind howled by.
Her teeth chattered, she gritted her teeth tightly, and finally asked: "What does the princess want this slave to do?"
As these words came out, she felt weak all over again. She surrendered to Chu Qianchen, which meant betraying the Queen.
"What can you do?" Chu Qianchen threw the question back directly, with a gentle smile hanging on the corners of his lips.
These five simple words made Lan Ruo's eyelids jump again, and she couldn't help but recall the scene where she was pushed to the edge of the cliff by Chu Qianchen while chatting and laughing...
This couple is like a pot with a lid. Having such a princess is even more powerful for King Chen.
And the emperor probably still doesn’t know what kind of princess he pointed out to King Chen!
Every time she thinks about this, Lan Ruo feels that her heart is too complicated to describe in words. Things in this world really cannot be described by simple mistakes and errors.
Grandma Jin, who was kneeling on the ground, blinked. The severe pain in her abdomen made her limbs weak, and the fear in her heart made her brain a little confused.
She subconsciously followed Chu Qianchen's words and asked herself: What can she do?
Seeing Aunt Jin's thoughts being led astray by Chu Qianchen, Lan Ruo knew that Aunt Jin might not be able to do anything.
Also, facing this monster-like Princess Chen, what kind of drama can these slaves and maids who obey others do?
Lan Ruo stood with her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart. After a moment, she heard Grandma Jin say without confidence: "Princess, I have been in the House of Internal Affairs for these years..."
Once she opened her mouth, the next words became easy to say, and the only voice left in the room was Grandma Jin.
She spoke like a bamboo tube pouring beans, fearing that Chu Qianchen would be dissatisfied and say whatever came to mind...
Chu Qianchen was always nonchalant, playing with a round fan, drinking sherbet, and eating snacks. At first glance, she looked like an innocent little girl.
Amber did not dare to slack off at all. She concentrated on it and wrote down every word that Grandma Jin said.
(End of chapter)