spend time

Eunuch Zhao's trip has been coming and going for nearly two months. I returned to the palace today and entered Jingyang Palace, feeling happy and eager.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered Jingyang Palace, I was poured cold water on my head.

"Eunuch Zhao, wait a moment," a beautiful palace servant in his twenties stopped Eunuch Zhao with a smile: "The Queen Mother has summoned Eunuch Lan to accompany her."

This beautiful palace lady's name is Sufang. She is the maid in charge of Jingyang Palace and a confidant of Empress Dowager Zheng. Eunuch Zhao was very arrogant outside. When he entered Jingyang Palace, he immediately kept a low profile. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "We will wait here until the queen is free to summon you."

Then, he lowered his voice and said: "Our family went to Nanyang County this time and brought back a lot of local specialties. One of them was a tribute to Aunt Sufang. When it gets dark, our family will have someone send it to Aunt Sufang's residence. "

Sufang was very pleased and responded with a smile: "Thank you very much, Eunuch Zhao. Also, I am a few years younger than Eunuch Zhao. I can't afford to be called an aunt."

Eunuch Zhao blinked and chuckled: "If it weren't for Aunt Sufang's reminder, our family wouldn't even remember that we are thirty years old. He is old and sallow, not as young and handsome as Eunuch Lan."

The last sentence conveyed a strong sourness.

Eunuch Lan is only twenty-two years old this year, eight years younger than Eunuch Zhao. He was born with a strong sense of martial prowess, and if he put on the uniform of a guard, he would look like a normal young man.

Empress Dowager Zheng loved Eunuch Lan very much. In the past two years, Eunuch Zhao's favor has been taken away by Eunuch Lan, and it has become increasingly thin. Because of this, the errand to Nanyang County fell on Eunuch Zhao.

Not many people know the secrets of Jingyang Palace. In the eyes of outsiders, Eunuch Zhao is the most popular person in Jingyang Palace. Only Eunuch Zhao knew in his heart that if he didn't find a way to win back Empress Dowager Zheng's favor, he would be overtaken by the latecomer and overtaken by that blue vixen.

Sufang smiled and said nothing.

When the father-in-law competes for favor, they should not get involved.

Eunuch Zhao waited for an hour before he was summoned by Empress Dowager Zheng.

Eunuch Zhao cheered up and went to see Queen Mother Zheng with a smile. Just as Eunuch Lan came out of the dormitory, they met each other.

Eunuch Lan is half a head taller than Eunuch Zhao, with fair skin and handsome face. There is no trace of the servant's femininity or vulgarity in her movements.

"Eunuch Zhao, it's been a hard journey." Eunuch Lan smiled and held his hands.

Eunuch Zhao twitched the corner of his mouth with a smile: "Why do we have to work so hard for our mother-in-law? In the past two months, our family has not been able to serve your mother-in-law, which has made Eunuch Lan suffer. Now that our family is back, Eunuch Lan You can also take a good rest.”

Eunuch Lan smiled leisurely: "Your Majesty is used to being served by our family, so I'm afraid she won't be happy to summon Eunuch Zhao. Our family won't have a chance even if they want to rest."

Eunuch Zhao smiled and took a sip, then stretched out his hand to pinch Eunuch Lan's face: "Don't chew your tongue."

The force was not light, and Eunuch Lan's handsome face suddenly turned red.

Eunuch Lan was two levels lower than Eunuch Zhao, and he had to accept it no matter how much he refused. When Eunuch Zhao entered the Queen Mother Zheng's bedroom, Eunuch Lan's smile disappeared. He covered the red side of his face with his hand and left quickly. go.

As soon as Eunuch Zhao entered the bedroom, he was like a cat or dog meeting its master. He rushed to kneel down in front of Queen Mother Zheng and kowtowed three times: "I have seen the Queen Mother."

"I haven't seen the Queen Mother for two months. I miss you every day. I finally came back today. From now on, I will never go as a foreigner. I just want to stay with you and serve you day and night."

As he spoke, he took a few steps on his knees and pressed his face against the hem of Queen Mother Zheng's skirt.

Empress Dowager Zheng is fifty-six years old this year, and she is already an old woman at this age. As the supreme queen of the harem, she is pampered and well-maintained, with only a few fine wrinkles on her face. The powder was applied thickly, and the occasional white hair was carefully dyed black. He looked like he was in his forties, elegant and luxurious.

Queen Mother Zheng felt comfortable and in a good mood after being served by Eunuch Lan. She reached out to touch Eunuch Zhao's pretty face and asked with a smile: "Have the errands been done? Has Shaohua entered the palace? Why didn't you bring her to see the Ai family?" "

Eunuch Zhao knelt and took two steps back, kowtowed again and apologized: "Please forgive me, the Queen Mother, for failing to bring back Princess Nanyang."

Empress Dowager Zheng frowned and her smile faded: "What's going on?"

Eunuch Zhao brought out the prepared words: "Back to the Queen Mother, although the princess is young, she is very affectionate. She is reluctant to abandon the people, let alone leave Nanyang Prince's Mansion. He also said that Prince Nanyang asked her in a dream that she would never leave Nanyang County. . The servant tried to persuade her in every possible way, but the princess did not change her mind. There was nothing I could do..."

Empress Dowager Zheng snorted coldly and interrupted Eunuch Zhao: "In other words, you haven't completed the errands assigned by the Ai family at all?"

Eunuch Zhao felt nervous and said hurriedly: "I will gain something else when I go to Nanyang County this time. Please allow me to give you a detailed report."

He quickly told me about the new shaft plow.

Farming and mulberry cultivation are the foundation of the country. The new farming tools really diverted Queen Mother Zheng's anger: "Is this new type of plow really as good as you say?"

"Yes," Eunuch Zhao raised his head and held his chest high, with a proud look on his face: "I personally tried it in the fields. It is light and labor-saving, and the speed is more than 30% faster. I have brought the new plow and blueprints back to the palace."

As he spoke, he took out the warm blueprint from his arms and presented it to him.

Empress Dowager Zheng took the drawing, looked at it carefully, her eyebrows relaxed, and she stood up and said, "The Ai family wants to see it in person."

……

After Empress Dowager Zheng personally tried the new shaft plow, she was very happy. That night, Eunuch Zhao was summoned to serve him.

Eunuch Zhao had a sharp tongue and served him carefully, so there is no need to go into details.

The next day, Empress Dowager Zheng sent people to invite Emperor Taikang.

Emperor Taikang was thirty-eight this year, in his prime. Unfortunately, Emperor Taikang was born prematurely and had some congenital physical deficiencies, making him frail and sickly since he was a child.

The late emperor had three sons in total, and the other two were born from his concubines. Originally, I wanted to choose a healthy second prince or an extremely intelligent third prince as the crown prince. Unexpectedly, the second prince encountered an accident while hunting and his neck was bitten off by a black bear. The third prince was also very miserable. He contracted a cold when he was fifteen and had a high fever for five days and five nights. He barely managed to save his life, but his brain was burned out and he became a fool.

The late emperor had no choice but to make his weak eldest son the crown prince. Four years ago, the late emperor passed away, and the prince succeeded him and sat on the dragon throne, which is now Emperor Taikang.

Emperor Taikang spent half of the year recuperating from illness. Empress Dowager Zheng felt sorry for her son and often accompanied Emperor Taikang to review memorials. She also worried about important affairs of the country.

The ministers in the court had quite a few complaints in private.

The harem is involved in politics, and the hen is in charge!

These gossips slowly spread among the government and the public. Empress Dowager Zheng was very angry. However, rumors spread like the wind, and no matter how powerful she was, she couldn't stop everyone's mouths.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Zheng was particularly happy to get the new shaft plow. This time, she wanted to use the new type of shaft plow to show off the power of the Queen Mother of Liang.