Concubine like a house

Chapter 161 It's hard to tell who wins or loses in the first life (1)
When they heard that Empress Dowager Ye was going to smash Yun's chastity archway, although everyone dared not refuse on the face, they did not dare to do it easily in private, so they hurriedly sent the news to Yingyuan Palace secretly, asking the emperor for instructions.

Here, Empress Dowager Ye was concerned about her son's illness, and immediately went to visit Nie Peixiao as soon as she arrived at Prince Cheng's mansion.When I saw it, I was shocked and even more distressed——

How could this still be the handsome Ninth Prince and the overbearing King Cheng?Thin, pale, weak... Although he is not dying, it can be seen that he is seriously ill.

This situation made Empress Dowager Ye unable to stop crying: "Xiao'er, is it worth it for you for that widow of the Yun family?"

Nie Peixiao stood up with force, her right arm was drooping powerlessly, and she forced a smile and said, "Feng Fei is too ignorant... how could a minor illness alarm you."

"Is this still 'a minor illness'?" Empress Dowager Ye wore a red-gold jasper bracelet on her right hand, and raised her finger tremblingly. The jewels not only dazzled Nie Peixiao's eyes, but she also felt it was very glaring, "Yes Isn't it a 'big deal' to wait for you to die and let the white-haired person of the Ai family send the black-haired person?!"

After finishing speaking, Empress Dowager Ye felt that this was too unlucky, so she quickly spat on the ground and said, "You already have a shoulder injury, how can you go out in the rain again?"

Nie Peixiao rubbed her chest and coughed lightly for a while, before slowly replying: "It's okay, my son can hold on, I'll make you worry."

Empress Dowager Ye saw him like this, felt pity and anger in her heart, finally slapped the table, and said coldly: "When Ai's family just entered the city, the chastity archway was not pleasing to the eye, and has been ordered to be demolished. "

"Tear it down? Not for the empress!" Nie Peixiao became impatient, "Chuxiu loves fame the most, and the chastity archway was given by the emperor... If you tear it down, she will..."

"Now that things have happened, you still speak for her?" The Queen Mother Ye hated iron but steel, "Aijia is so stupid? Do you have to admit that you demolished it yourself? The road was wet and muddy, and there were several heavy rains. Could it be that the chastity archway If it fell, couldn’t it be struck by lightning?”

Nie Peixiao couldn't laugh or cry when she heard the words, but she still persuaded: "Mother, think twice, this matter has nothing to do with going out of Xiuxiu, it is the fault of my son and minister."

When the word "chuxiu" was mentioned again, Empress Dowager Ye became more and more angry: "Xie Badan, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are really good! The old one has fought against the mourning family for a lifetime, and the young one will come to harm the son of the mourning family again!"

As soon as these words came out, Nie Peixiao was startled: "Queen Mother, don't embarrass her." Perhaps because of anxiety, Nie Peixiao coughed a few times, her face flushed, which made Queen Mother Ye feel even more worried.

"Hello, rest, this matter will be handled by the Ai family. Regardless of whether she is Mrs. Chuxiu or 'Mrs. Rusty', let her come and serve you obediently!" Queen Mother Ye narrowed her beautiful eyes, exuding a bit of sharpness shine.And this light is so familiar, it is surprisingly similar to Madam Xie.

"Mother's queen..." Nie Peixiao wanted to stop her, fearing that Queen Mother Ye would become more and more chaotic.But in his heart, he also hoped that Queen Mother Ye would intervene in this matter, maybe he could talk to Chuxiu.

Knowing the son is not like the mother, the Empress Dowager Ye did not ask any more questions, but only comforted: "You take care of your wounds, don't waste your body, and wait for the good news from Ai's family."

After finishing speaking, she ordered the imperial doctor from Jingzhou to diagnose Nie Peixiao's injuries, but she avoided it for the time being, and summoned the housekeeper of Prince Cheng's mansion, and ordered in a cold voice: "Go to Yun Mansion immediately and write a message to Mrs. Xie Tai, Ai's family wants Go meet her for a while!"

"Meet her for a while..." How dare the housekeeper write these four words in the greeting card, so he had to write "I have important matters to discuss" without authorization.After finishing writing the greeting card, the Empress Dowager Ye said that she wanted to read it in person, so the butler didn't dare to neglect, and hurriedly presented the greeting card.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Ye was furious after reading it, and scolded the steward: "Aijia is the founding queen mother of the Daling Dynasty. Going to Yunfu is to show her face! Why are you writing so humbly? No wonder your lord is like this!" It looks like the subordinates are not doing their job well, as the housekeeper of Prince Cheng's residence, you should be the first one to be blamed!"

Empress Dowager Ye jumped up and threw the greeting card on the butler's face: "Just say Ai's 'Phoenix is ​​here in person'! If you can't even write a greeting card, the housekeeper of the palace doesn't have to do it either!"

The butler was so frightened that the three souls left the seven souls, he knelt down to plead guilty, picked up the invitation card and retreated.Then he thought hard and pondered over and over again, and then he suddenly realized that his master is King Cheng, not the Yun family, so it's okay to speak arrogantly, how could he offend the queen mother by praising the Yun family?
Thinking of this, the butler suddenly became enlightened, and he wrote a greeting card eloquently, with an air of arrogance on it, this time Empress Dowager Ye was a little satisfied, pointing to the unfilled date in the blank, and said: "Just write that Aijia will come tomorrow! "

On the next day, the God of Heaven had given enough face, the sun broke through the clouds and swayed the earth, dazzling and sharp just like this empress dowager.She deliberately chose a solemn and majestic dress today, from the hairpins to the earrings and bracelets, they are all complete sets.Not to mention the exquisite makeup, the whole person looks rich and powerful, yet noble and calm, trying to overwhelm Madam Xie in appearance and momentum.

However, after she got off the car outside the gate of Yunfu, she couldn't help but feel lost.Mrs. Xie did not intend to compete with her at all, she was dressed in old-fashioned brown clothes, and there were only a few accessories on her body, but it could be seen that all of them were expensive.

If you really talk about the place that can comfort Queen Mother Ye, it is probably Mrs. Xie's face - she is more than ten years older than her.And out of consideration of status, Mrs. Xie went to greet her in person at the gate of the mansion, but she didn't kneel down.

Empress Dowager Ye looked up at the lintel of Yunfu domineeringly, and said with a deep smile: "If it weren't for the word 'Yunfu' on the door, the Ai family would have thought they had entered the palace." The implication was pointing directly at Yunfu position and attitude.

Mrs. Xie did not show any weakness, she stretched out her hand to greet her, and smiled back: "The Yun family has been established in Kyushu for more than hundreds of years, it's all because of the flattery of the common people."

"That's right! Who can compare with the Yun family?" The Empress Dowager Ye stroked her sleeves, put one hand on the hand of the palace maid, and let her help her into the room. "To put it bluntly, if the Yun family falls immediately, don't If the people of Kyushu are not willing, I am afraid that within three to five years, the country will be out of control, and the money will not be able to turn around."

"I'm afraid it will not last for three or five years." Mrs. Xie said this cryptically, and stopped arguing with each other.

Empress Dowager Ye touched a soft nail, then shifted her gaze to Chuxiu's face again, and praised: "It has been almost five years since the New Year's Eve banquet in Yingyuan Palace. God is really partial. Not only does Madam see no haggardness, but It adds a bit more charm.”

During the last banquet in the Yuan Palace, Emperor Tianshou was still the regent, and the descendant Ming clan never fell. It was also that night that the Yun clan got four memorial archways.Five years have passed in a blink of an eye, and things have changed.

"The empress dowager is absurd." Different from the sharp and cold words of the empress dowager and the words of the empress dowager Ye, Chuxiu's tone is very gentle, "Time treats you preferentially. You have the sage and Cheng Wang Chenghuan at your knees, empress empress Also gentle, courteous and thrifty."

Empress Dowager Ye paused when she heard the words, couldn't help turning her head to look at Xiu, seeing the other side's expression was indifferent, she couldn't tell whether the words were compliments or irony.Empress Dowager Ye thought for a while, only smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for a few years, Madam Chuxiu is even better at talking."

"It's because of your profound blessings, it's just your concubine's grace." Chuxiu smiled back again.

"Great blessings?" The Queen Mother Ye finally heard some deep meaning, and sneered, "Yes, King Cheng is dying of illness, and Aijia is indeed blessed with profound blessings."

The group of people confronted each other with a few words, and finally walked into the living room. The Queen Mother Ye looked at her again, and praised again: "The Yun family is the Yun family, and Yingyuan Palace can't match it."

Mrs. Tai still didn't answer, she resumed the topic and said: "I don't know if the Empress Dowager Feng is here in person, what instructions do you have?"

Empress Dowager Ye glanced at Chuxiu, Chuxiu immediately understood, and seeing that Mrs. Tai did not make a sound to stop her, she took a group of servants to leave, and Empress Dowager Ye's attendants also retreated, leaving only these two in the living room A woman who has fought for half her life.

At this point, Empress Dowager Ye let go of her airs and sighed coldly: "Mrs. Tai gave birth to a good son and taught a good wife!"

"The Empress Dowager is overrated." The Madam Tai replied calmly, "Whether the sons you give birth to are good or bad, they are just a tablet now."

When Mrs. Tai said this, her tone was very flat, without any trace of sadness.But Queen Mother Ye was startled, and immediately remembered Nie Peixiao's sick appearance.If something happens to Aiko...

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Ye became even more resentful, and she couldn't help saying sarcastically: "So what if it's turned into a memorial tablet? I'll still take care of Mrs. Chuxiu properly, and I want to stay in Yunfu to keep my husband chaste."

Madam Tai naturally wouldn't tell the truth about Shen Yu, and seeing no one around, she had no scruples: "I heard what the empress dowager said, she accused Chuxiu of preferring to guard a tablet rather than guarding the big work in Prince Cheng's mansion. people?"

This remark was a little too much, Empress Dowager Ye immediately blushed with anger: "Xie Badaan!"

Mrs. Tai pretended she didn't hear it, and continued: "Besides, there is a chastity archway pressing on her, isn't it the meaning of the Holy Majesty? Isn't the Holy Majesty also a son you raised? After all, whether to remarry or keep chastity after going out of Xiuxiu , isn't it up to you?"

As soon as Mrs. Tai said these words, it was like throwing a stone into a lake, which immediately caused waves in the Queen Mother Ye's heart.indeed!As long as the chastity archway is still standing, Mrs. Chuxiu will be bound!Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Ye suddenly realized something, and couldn't help saying to herself: "It seems that it should be smashed."

She didn't speak loudly, but Mrs. Tai still heard it, so she also raised her eyebrows: "It's smashed? If it's smashed, how will you explain to the Holy One? My Yun family didn't even keep my own archway, what a shame live?"

While talking, she fiddled with the Buddhist beads in her hand, and said bluntly: "If the Empress Dowager smashes this archway, it is equivalent to slapping the face of the Holy Majesty and my Yun family. I will never allow such things to happen!"

As soon as Mrs. Tai said this, Queen Mother Ye had to be cautious.yes!Although the Heavenly Emperor was raised under her knees, he was not her own after all, and the relationship between this son and her was very delicate... She absolutely must not leave any clues at this time.

Empress Dowager Ye's expression fell into Madam Tai's eyes, and the latter was a little more sure, and said with a light smile, "Why is the Empress Dowager so confused? The chastity archway did not say that it must be given to Xiu."

Empress Dowager Ye raised her head suddenly: "What do you mean by that?"

Mrs. Tai laughed again: "At that time, the archway was given to Xiu in the palace, but the real purpose only said to give the four archways to the Yun family, and did not say who the chastity archway was for. It was just because at that time There is also a decree, canonizing Chuxiu as a 'first-class lady protecting the country', so people in the world take it for granted that this archway is erected for Chuxiu."

At the end of Madam Tai's words, Empress Dowager Ye finally understood: "You mean..."

"My old man said that the Yun family is not just a widow from Xiu. The old man has been a widow for nearly 20 years and has supported the Yun family alone. Why, isn't it worth a chastity archway?" Mrs. Tai squinted her eyes and looked at Queen Mother Ye with deep meaning.

"You're right!" Empress Dowager Ye almost wanted to clap her hands in admiration.Why didn't I think of this devious path?On the contrary, it reminded Xie Badan?Empress Dowager Ye was angry again, and she was also faintly happy for her son, she said: "Then there is nothing to worry about now, you go and tell your wife to go to Prince Cheng's mansion to take care of Prince Cheng immediately!"

"The empress dowager's words are wrong. The chastity archway is the chastity archway, and Chuxiu is Chuxiu. Let's talk about the archway in a proper way, why do we need to mention Chuxiu?" Mrs. Tai obviously didn't want to let go.

Empress Dowager Ye's heart sank, and her face was a little annoyed: "Xie Badan, are you playing tricks on Aijia?"

"The empress dowager is worrying too much." Madam Tai was neither humble nor overbearing, "Who is the chastity archway given to? It's just you and I talking here. The world still thinks that the archway was given to Xiu. Then why did she remarry? "

"I've told you everything right and wrong!" The Empress Dowager Ye slapped the table, looking impatient, "What kind of conditions do you want, give me a quick word! You can wait, my son's life can't wait! Fight!" After decades, don't be hypocritical anymore!"

"Don't be impatient." Seeing that the Empress Dowager Ye finally couldn't pretend anymore, Mrs. Tai smiled slowly, "The old man came up with a plan, not only does not need to smash the archway, but also solves the difficulty of getting out of Xiu."

"Don't be impatient, just speak up!" The Empress Dowager Ye wrote all her dissatisfaction on her face, her delicate face sank several times, and her color changed several times.

Mrs. Tai still smiled calmly, and became more and more calm: "What I mean is, since you rarely come to Yanlan City, and Fengjia is here in person, you must write a few words on the chastity archway. Will be beaked."

"What to write?" Queen Mother Ye seemed to understand.

"The old man and the empress dowager have known each other since their boudoirs, and it has been decades. When you come to visit 'old friend', you feel that it is difficult for the old man to be a widow. Wouldn't it be okay to write a few words of emotion?"

Mrs. Tai's words finally made Empress Dowager Ye understand, and she couldn't help screaming: "You are right! The decree does not say who is given to the chastity archway. As long as Ai's family inscribes on it, then sit down." It's true that the archway was erected for you, and has nothing to do with Chuxiu!"

Empress Dowager Ye stood up excitedly and started pacing back and forth in the hall, as if she was deliberating what to inscribe.After thinking for a while, he blurted out impromptuly:
"A wealthy and benevolent merchant, [-] years of women in charge of the hall.

Jie Lie can be regarded as the model of the world, and it will compete for generations. "

"A wealthy and benevolent merchant" refers to Yunfu; "20 years of women in charge of the hall" undoubtedly refers to Mrs. Xie, who has been widowed for [-] years.Just this one word "Twenty" is enough to explain who the object of praise in this poem is, and it also tells the world invisibly that the owner of this archway is not Mrs. Chuxiu, but Mrs. Xie Tai!

This plan is really wonderful!It won't disgrace the face of the emperor granted by heaven, but it can also solve the difficulty of keeping the festival in Chuxiu!The more Empress Dowager Ye thought about it, the more amazed she was.

Mrs. Tai also echoed with a smile: "Thanks to the empress dowager Jinkou for inscribing poems, I am very flattered."

Empress Dowager Ye came back to her senses and glanced at her: "If it wasn't for King Cheng, Ai's family would have written poems for you? It's cheap for you!"

Mrs. Tai didn't say any more, picked up the teacup on the case, and took a sip with her sleeves.It was this action that covered up her thoughts well, so Empress Dowager Ye never saw the smile of success on the back of Mrs. Tai's wide gold silk sleeves.

Empress Dowager Ye was still recalling the poems she impromptuly recited, and hurriedly said: "Hurry up and get someone to come in with a pen and paper! Ai's old man has a bad memory, and he will forget everything in a while."

Only then did Mrs. Tai give an order to the outside, and Yun Feng immediately prepared a pen, ink, paper and inkstone and brought them in.Empress Dowager Ye didn't sit at the desk, so she wrote out the poem silently just now with the tray in Yunfeng's hand.

In a moment, a poem is finally completed.Empress Dowager Ye read it by herself, and reluctantly added a title, "On July [-]th, the first year of Daling Tianshou, reunited with Mrs. Xie in Yunfu, and wrote this poem to praise her integrity."

After finishing writing, he put down his brush and said to Yun Fengming, "Tell Zhang Chunxi to engrave this poem on Yun's chastity arch immediately!"

Yun Feng stood still, glanced at Mrs. Tai quietly, and seeing the latter nodded slightly, he bowed to accept the order, and withdrew respectfully to pass on the message.

Empress Dowager Ye fiddled with her sleeves and snorted coldly: "You are a very loyal housekeeper."

Mrs. Tai smiled and did not speak.

Empress Dowager Ye gritted her teeth again: "It's really cheap for you. For no reason, Aijia wrote a poem for you! Your reputation of integrity is fulfilled!"

Mrs. Tai still smiled and said: "I thank the Queen Mother for your kindness."

Empress Dowager Ye waved her hands impatiently, and sat back on her seat again: "There is no obstacle now, just nod and let Mrs. Chuxiu remarry."

"The old man never stopped her from remarrying." Mrs. Tai smiled back, "It is she who is willing to guard the Yun family."

"It does have a bit of a temper." The Empress Dowager Ye nodded, "Since you don't stop, then let her tidy up and go back to the Cheng Palace with the Ai family today."

"Today?" Mrs. Tai pretended to be surprised.

"Do we have to wait 18 years?" Queen Mother Ye sullenly said, "Yunfu can let her wear gold and silver, and Chengwangfu will naturally not neglect her. Although it is not as rich and powerful as yours, it is more than enough to support her as a concubine. "

"Concubine?" Mrs. Tai pretended to frown.

Empress Dowager Ye smiled: "What? She is a widow, and she still expects to be the princess of Cheng Wang? Maybe she should be satisfied with the position of side concubine?"

(End of this chapter)