Emperor Chengqing has only six princes and four daughters. Among the six princes, the second and sixth princes died young and early. Now there are only four princes.
The great prince's Zong zhengqinghui came out of the general room when Emperor Chengqing was hiding in his residence. On the 30th of this year, the imperial concubine was the youngest daughter of Zhang Jiang, the chief minister of Qianxi, and gave birth to a daughter for the great prince. In addition to the imperial concubine, there were two side concubines and several concubines in the great prince's house. The emperor's eldest grandson came from one of the side concubines.
The biological mother of Zong zhengqinghui, the eldest son of the emperor, was born humble. Because of the credit for giving birth to the eldest son of the emperor, he was canonized as a noble man after emperor Chengqing ascended the throne. Since then, he has not been canonized again, because he fell out of favor with emperor Chengqing in his early years, and Zong zhengqinghui, the eldest son of the emperor, has little weight in the eyes of emperor Chengqing.
The third prince Zong zhengqingguang, whose biological mother was the side imperial concubine at the time of emperor Chengqing's hidden residence, was granted the title of virtuous imperial concubine after emperor Chengqing ascended the throne. Zong zhengqingguang is 20 and 3 years old. Foreigners have great prestige among scholars, and his uncle and officer worship the second-class cabinet bachelor. Therefore, when the crown prince's position is uncertain, with the power of his mother's family, the third prince has the highest voice among scholars.
After the third prince, all the princesses in the palace were princesses. This impasse was not broken until the birth of Zongzheng Qingqi, the fourth prince.
The biological mother of the fourth prince, wanjilan, is an autonomous minority in the northwest of Dashang. Wanjiyi keeps in the mountains all year round. There is a natural miasma as a protective barrier for wanjiyi. Even if the population of the family is only 40000 or 50000, the emperor of Dashang dare not do anything about them.
In order to stabilize the situation in the northwest, no matter how the dynasties changed, each emperor mostly wooed the Wanqi family. As the little princess of Wanqi generation, Wanqi LAN volunteered to enter the imperial palace of big business and married emperor Cheng Qing, who was over 40 at that time, which also caused a lot of waves at that time.
In order to express the importance of the Wanqi family, Wanqi LAN overtook the old people who had hidden in the residence when she first entered the palace and was granted the title of LAN Guiren. After giving birth to the emperor's offspring, she was also granted the title of LAN bin. Because emperor Cheng Qing pitied her for being far away from her hometown, her treatment in the palace was all based on the rules of the concubine.
Zong zhengqingqi is only ten years old this year. Compared with his older brother who has grown up and started a family, he can only be regarded as a child. In addition, his mother LAN bin was born in a minority tribe. She has alien blood, and the possibility of inheriting the throne is almost zero. The first two brothers set their eyes on Zong zhengqingzuo, the younger fifth prince.
Speaking of the biological mother of the fifth prince, she is indeed a figure that can not be underestimated.
Emperor Cheng Qing was stingy in granting the harem wives. Otherwise, as the biological mother of the great prince, even if she was no longer favored, she would not be just a noble man. LAN bin, as a princess of the Wanqi family, gave birth to an heir. Even if she was granted the title of concubine, it would not be too much.
In the imperial palace of emperor Cheng Qing, in addition to the queen who died early, there are only two first-class concubines, Princess de and Princess Hui. After Princess Hui died of illness three years ago, Princess De is the only one.
It is precisely because of emperor Cheng Qing's stingy treatment of the harem women that highlights the unusual of the biological mother of the fifth prince.
Concubine Jiang Guifei, a palace maid, was born and was favored after emperor Cheng Qing was drunk. She was honored at the beginning. After giving birth to the five princes, she was awarded concubine Jiang. Although there was no official title, people with a clear eye could see that her favor was above all the concubines in the harem.
The six princes who died early were also born by concubine Jiang, because they pity the concubine Jiang at that time. Emperor Cheng Qing, regardless of the opposition of the courtiers, canonized him as the first of the five concubines, and forced him to be born with a noble birth. When he hid in the residence, he followed emperor Cheng Qing's virtuous concubine with a phoenix seal on her palm. From the most humble maid in the original back palace, she jumped to the branches and became the most noble woman in the back palace.
Now, Emperor Cheng Qing is addicted to pills and pursues longevity. She is almost out of luck in the harem. However, concubine Jiang still has the ability to let emperor Cheng Qing go to her Fengqi palace in her spare time.
Now there are two groups of forces in the harem, one is the concubines born of noble women led by Princess De, and the other is the poor concubines born led by Princess Jiang.
Of course, in addition to these two groups of forces, there are also LAN concubines who don't rely on each other and concentrate on their own small life. However, there are not many such concubines. After all, not every concubine is like LAN concubines, relying on the Wanqi family. Even if they don't help each other, they won't attract hostility from either side.
In this harem, it's always hard to be a wallflower.
Because of his addiction to alchemy, Emperor Cheng Qing's body is getting worse and worse. Now not only the former dynasty, but also the women's families in the harem are waiting for emperor Cheng Qing to make a decision on which prince to make.
As the most favored and trusted eunuch of emperor Cheng Qing, Xiao Chu may not want the great prince and the third prince to ascend the throne.
In this way, the two slightly younger princes, the fourth Prince and the fifth prince, naturally became his best puppets.
Many people think that concubine Jiang has a better chance of winning. Compared with the noble and lonely LAN bin who was born into the Wanqi family, concubine Jiang and the great eunuch Xiao Chu, who were born in the same palace, obviously have the same experience, and there is a Wanqi family behind the LAN bin. What concubine Jiang can rely on is the love of emperor Cheng Qing, without the help of her mother's family and without the protection of the emperor. Concubine Jiang is in this deep palace, If Xiao Chu wanted to support a puppet, it would be more appropriate for concubine Jiang's mother and son.
These words only spread on a small scale, but many palace maids and eunuchs thought that even if Cheng Qingdi's health became worse and worse, and the days of driving xingfengqi palace became less and less, the people in the palace not only didn't dare to deduct the separate cases of Fengqi palace, but whenever anything good came into the outside, they always sent it to Fengqi palace as much as when Jiang Guifei was spoiled, and waited until Jiang Guifei selected it, To other palaces.
Other concubines dared to be angry at the way the eunuch did. Who would let the eunuch obey Xiao Chu's orders? It's up to the master to beat the dog. What's more, in most people's opinion, the way the eunuch maidens did was ordered by Xiao Chu in private.
Xiao Chu, the governor of the East Hall, accepted their actions and convinced them of their speculation. Now, before emperor Cheng Qing died, some people in the harem respected concubine Jiang and the five princes.
The eldest prince and the third prince saw it in their eyes and were anxious in their hearts. It was a pity that Xiao Chu had many followers in the former dynasty and the harem. In addition, the fierce reputation of the royal guards he controlled was a knife hanging on everyone's head. Without full confidence, who dared to fight him.
I didn't see that Li Yushi just participated in his book in the court, so he falsely accused him of contempt for imperial power and went to prison. Others thought they didn't have the power of Li Yushi and dared not challenge the authority of Xiao Chu.
The old and fatuous emperor Cheng Qingdi blindly followed Xiao Chu's words. I'm afraid now he said he wanted to make a prince, and Emperor Cheng Qingdi could promise without even thinking about it.
Now, those who have a little backbone will go back to their hometown, or they will be the echo of governor Xiao. They also want to insist that emperor Cheng Qing personally manage the government in the court hall. In the end, they can only keep up with Li Jinzhong.
Treacherous and crafty people are in power, and heaven perishes the great merchants. All their courtiers can do is to drift with the tide and protect themselves. It's sad, sad.
At this time, some old ministers can't help but fantasize that if Yan Zhaonan, the general of the town, is still alive and the Yan family has children, with their loyalty to the big business, will there be no chance for such a sycophant minister as Xiao Chu to come to power at all.
But that's just a fantasy. The Yan family died miserably and didn't even leave the whole body. There are such bloody examples in front of us. How dare big businessmen have such loyal officials.
*****
"Your Majesty, Grandpa Xiao is here."
Cheng Qingdi is 50 and 50 years old this year, but he looks no different from the old man in his 70s. He has white hair, thin body, and his face is full of abnormal flushing. He looks crazy and has no imperial demeanor.
After listening to the little eunuch waiting beside him say that Xiao Chu came, he got excited. He hurried down from the Dragon chair, took the brocade box in his hand, and climbed down the steps like a treasure. Before Yan Chu saluted him, he helped him up.
"Look, Aiqing, this is the latest pill refined by Taoist priest Qingyun. I took one and felt very happy. As Taoist priest said, I felt like I wanted to go by the wind. I wanted to insist on taking this pill. It soared day by day. It's not illusory."
The brocade box in emperor Cheng Qingdi's hand was opened. There were dozens of golden pills in it. I don't know whether this color was naturally formed during alchemy or dyed with any pigment in the later stage. I have to say that the other party's technology is still superb. The pills are full and round, and the gold on the outer layer is faint and fluorescent. It really doesn't look like an ordinary vulgar thing.
No wonder Cheng Qingdi was so excited this time. Obviously, he really took this box of pills as a good thing.
"Such a sacred thing must be shared with Aiqing."
At this time, Yan Chu, who appeared in front of emperor Cheng Qing, had changed his clothes. Before, his red clothes were stained with blood, and he was too aggressive. Now he was wearing a moon white Royal dress with Python patterns embroidered on it. It was no different from dragon patterns.
He restrained his demonic spirit. At this time, Yan Chu looked more special than Junmei. He shook people's eyes beautifully, but people didn't consciously connect him with the demon and charm at the first sight.
Emperor Cheng Qing appreciated his love, looked at the pills in the brocade box, picked them out, chose a pill that was a little smaller, and painfully handed it to Yan Chu.
"Thank you for your medicine."
Without hesitation, Yan Chu took the pill and took it with gratitude.
"As your majesty said, if you take this pill, you will feel warm in your abdomen. I think this is its wonder."
Yan Chu's words made emperor Cheng Qing very happy. He carefully hid the remaining pills and watched Yan Chu laugh.
Taoist priest Qingyun is right. Xiao Chu is indeed his lucky star. The other party was born to help him, an emperor through the ages.
He had doubts about Taoist priest Qingyun's words before, but several things happened one by one, which verified Taoist priest Qingyun's original prediction. In particular, he thought that the remaining evils of the previous dynasty actually ambushed on the sacrificial platform. If Xiao Chu hadn't been loyal and sacrificed his life to save him, I'm afraid he would have died on the sacrificial platform that time.
Xiao Chu also suffered from palpitation because he blocked an arrow for him that time and hurt his heart pulse.
In order to pursue the way of longevity, Xiao Chu was loyal to run the government for him and recruited all the capable people and different scholars in the world for him. When everyone thought that his attempt to live forever was a daydream, only Xiao Chu still supported his every decision. In the view of emperor Cheng Qing, Xiao Chu was not only a loyal minister, but also his confidant.
Otherwise, he would not give him such a precious pill.
Emperor Cheng Qingdi had thought that when he ascended, he must bring Xiao Chu, a loyal servant, to the heaven and make him a little God.
The emperor of the world, there is no immortal to be carefree.
"How's the old slave trial in Li Jinzhong?"
Emperor Cheng Qing had not gone to the court to deal with the government affairs for a long time. Anything important in the court was presented in the form of memorials, which were reviewed by Xiao Chu on his behalf.
Yesterday, on a whim, he suddenly wanted to listen to the government. Li Jinzhong's rebellious minister and thief who relied on the old and sold the old tried to threaten him with a column, asking him to behead a loyal minister such as Xiao Chu, and then re manage the government.
Ridiculous, I don't know!
In the eyes of the already crazy emperor Chengqing, what Li Jinzhong did was just to prevent him from flying up. Therefore, after Xiao Chu sued Li Jinzhong for fear of disobedience, Emperor Chengqing asked Xiao Chu to catch him without thinking.
"Lord li..." Yan Chu's face wandered.
"But it doesn't matter. I forgive you for your innocence."
Looking at Xiao Chu's attitude, Emperor Cheng Qing frowned. Why, is it difficult for Li Jinzhong to disagree with his emperor's decision?
"Lord li..."
Yan Chu concealed his role in it and only repeated Li Jinzhong's words of cursing him for being a crafty man in power and cursing him into being dazzled by Emperor Qing.
In the increasingly ugly face of emperor Cheng Qing, his words changed: "Lord Li also said that 23 years ago, if it were not for him, his Majesty would have easily removed more than 30 people of the Yan family, as well as more than 200 servants and hundreds of guards from the Yan house."
He has been silently observing the face of emperor Cheng Qingdi. In the sudden change of the other party's face, Yan Chu said thoughtfully: "At that time, the minister angrily denounced Lord Li. No one knows. At the beginning, the Yan family was slaughtered by mountain bandits. In addition, Yan Zhaonan colluded with small foreign countries to hide the Dragon Robe in the government with the intention of rebellion. Such an unfaithful minister was punished by everyone and had something to do with his majesty. However, Lord Li rejected his words and said that his majesty knew everything at the beginning. He dared not make decisions without authorization and was afraid of Li Da People's nonsense has hurt his Majesty's reputation. They can only let their men block Lord Li's mouth and torture him. They want to know who encouraged him to say these words and slander his majesty. "
"Yes, Li Jinzhong's nonsense. I also want to know who encouraged him behind his back."
Emperor Cheng Qing's ugly face returned to normal slightly. He looked at Xiao Chu with satisfaction.
People all over the world say that he favors the eunuchs, but they don't think about what future this kind of rootless slave can have in addition to his favor. Compared with those courtiers, Xiao Chu, who are doomed to be the last eunuchs and have no other involvement outside the palace, he is more relieved to be favored. Anyway, even if they control more power, they are doomed to be unable to stir up trouble.
Others said he was stupid, but Cheng Qingdi thought he was very smart.
Xiao Chu was his habitual knife. He hit wherever he meant, but he took all the blame for him.
Today, the other party mentioned that he had been buried in his heart for many years, but he didn't want to make him unhappy in the Yan family, but it was just unhappy. More anger in his heart was directed at Li Jinzhong.
The rebellious minister and thief threatened him with the Yan family. He really thought of the old love and didn't dare to attack him.
"You don't need to intervene in Li Jinzhong's affairs. The solitary society sends first-class bodyguard Zhang Xuan to interrogate."
Emperor Cheng Qing waved. He didn't want Xiao Chu to touch those things.
As an emperor, a once successful emperor, even if the theory of longevity eroded his mind, the most basic imperial learning was still infiltrated in his blood. Therefore, although he trusted Xiao Chu, a rootless man, he was also afraid of him and suppressed him in other aspects.
Zhang Yu?
Yan Chu's eyes flashed slightly. The other party didn't show the mountain and dew. Unexpectedly, it was the confidant of emperor Cheng Qing. When encountering such a thorny Yan family problem, the other party thought of him for the first time. It can be imagined that the other party's position in the mind of Emperor Cheng Qing.
In the past, he used to exclude dissidents in and out of the palace, but he ignored Zhang Xuan, a silent first-class bodyguard in the past. If it weren't for this temptation, he wouldn't know that Zhang Xuan was the man of emperor Cheng Qing.
In the face of emperor Cheng Qing, Yan Chu naturally had a peaceful expression and should be good again and again, but in his heart, Yan Chu made other decisions.
*****
"Empress, do you think Xiao Changgong will really support our five princes as princes?"
In the Fengqi palace, a gorgeous and striking woman lay obliquely on the beauty couch, holding the palace man's peeled grapes with her white slender fingers. There was no strong joy or anger between her eyebrows and eyes.
"What? You want to know? Why don't you go to Xiao Changgong's place for the palace and ask him."
The beautiful woman leaned slightly, and the loose skirt opened with her movements, revealing most of the white and delicate milk meat and a deep gully.
Because of her reclining action, it seemed that the gully was more unfathomable and mysterious. Even if she was a woman, the palace man who served beside her couldn't help sucking her nose, and her heart was hot and dry.
Jiang Fengjiao put the glittering grapes into her mouth. The tip of her red tongue licked her glittering lips. She couldn't help laughing at the shy sight of the Shanggong people. The proud twin peaks in front of her chest were even more upright.
Born as a palace man, Jiang Fengjiao has always understood better than others how to use her born capital. Those noble, reserved and pretentious women in the harem are also the existence she despises and envies.
In order to climb to this position, she gave up her self-esteem. Now she's only one step away from the door. Naturally, she won't let the good situation go away.
Gong Ren only thought that she was joking, but Jiang Fengjiao herself knew that she was serious.
Most of the castrated eunuchs in the palace were psychologically distorted. They had worked with them. Jiang Fengjiao had long been accustomed to the bad habits and abnormal behaviors of those eunuchs.
It's also the inhumane rules in the palace. A bunch of men have no roots. You let him stay with a group of charming maids who are also dissatisfied. Over time, there can be no problems. Although the eunuchs are physically exhausted, it's not necessary for the eunuchs to meet a woman physically.
Jiang Fengjiao has a beautiful face. As early as she was a little maid in waiting, she was coveted by many eunuchs, big and small. Those abnormal people who have lost their children and grandchildren have some means of torture on their beds. Perhaps because of psychological distortion, some of their behaviors are worse than normal men, especially some eunuchs who have climbed to high positions, Jiang Fengjiao has seen her roommate limp back several times and take off her clothes without a piece of intact skin and flesh.
Also because of that experience, Jiang Fengjiao vowed that she must be a man in order not to be influenced by those perverts.
But she never thought that she had climbed to the position of the imperial concubine. For a higher position, she still had to be like a eunuch.
Xiao Chu has a good reputation among palace maids because he is powerful enough and handsome enough. Compared with other ugly and old eunuchs, he is obviously a better destination for palace maids.
I just stayed in the palace for so long, and I didn't hear that he was willing to eat with the palace maids. Everyone said that he had a high vision and didn't eat right now. I'm afraid it was just because he didn't see any of the palace maids who were courteous to him.
They are all eunuchs who have been clean since childhood. After gaining power, the first thing those eunuchs do is to buy land and buy a house outside the palace, then marry an innocent woman and inherit several children. This is almost the obsession of all eunuchs and the life that all eunuchs yearn for most.
Xiao Chu had no reason to be different from other eunuchs. At most, he had greater authority and higher vision than other eunuchs.
Jiang Fengjiao gently brushed her white skin. She and Xiao Chu were the same kind of people. She could see each other's wolf ambition.
For a eunuch like him, is there anything more exciting than pressing a beautiful woman like her under her? Moreover, she has another identity, that is, the most beloved woman of emperor Cheng Qing and the highest concubine in the harem.
Can Xiao Chu resist the temptation of playing with the emperor's women under his body?
Jiang Fengjiao has great confidence in her body. She firmly believes that the position of the crown prince is ultimately her emperor's son, and the position of the Empress Dowager will eventually be hers.
No matter how much she pays for it, she will enjoy it.
*****
"Madam, the fourth Prince has returned to the palace."
Yanyun Xuan was jubilant because Zong Zhengqing Qi, the fourth prince, came back.
The prince who has reached the age of six will be sent to live in the prince in the front hall. Every month, there is only five days to get together with his biological mother. Therefore, every time the fourth Prince returns to the palace, it is a festival for the palace people in yanyunxuan.
"Qi'er is thin."
Wan Jilan looked at the young emperor's son and couldn't help softening his cold face in the past.
"Mother imperial concubine."
Zong Zhengqing Qi is not big, but she has a little adult style.
He drank the tonic soup that wanqilan had been cooking early in the morning. Seeing that there were only loyal servants in the palace who were served by the mother imperial concubine, he couldn't help but express his anger at his study in the palace.
"My father is really dazzled. He actually trusts the sycophant Minister of Xiao Chu. If I and his brother ascend the throne and take power, the first thing to get rid of is the sycophant."
Zong zhengqingqi's face was full of discontent, and he didn't know what kind of anger Xiao Chu had suffered in the palace school.
"Bang -"
Wan Jilan looked a little unnatural and stiff. The spoon holding the soup in his hand fell to the ground. Fortunately, there was a thick blanket on the ground and didn't break the spoon. However, in this way, the blanket was stained with soup and I'm afraid it can't be used.
There was a contradiction between his beloved young son and his former lover. For a moment, Wan Jilan didn't know how to adjust.