Concubine like a house

Chapter 164: Long-term hatred is worse than water (1)
Cheng Wangfu.

After Empress Dowager Ye came back, she immediately summoned the imperial physician to inquire about Nie Peixiao's condition, and she got the same reply—it is better to rest, not to catch cold, and heart disease is difficult to cure.Empress Dowager Ye thought about it carefully and entered Nie Peixiao's room.

"Mother's Queen." Nie Peixiao leaned on the couch, her spirits were much better than before, a trace of expectation faintly flashed across his face, and he forced a smile, "I thought you would stay in Yunfu for dinner. "

Seeing Nie Peixiao's expression, Empress Dowager Ye felt distressed for a while, and suddenly couldn't bear to tell the truth.She hesitated for a moment, then smiled back: "I have asked all that should be asked, and have said all that should be said. Xie Badan and I got tired of seeing each other, so we simply came back."

Nie Peixiao gave an "um" and asked cautiously, "You... saw her?"

"See you." Queen Mother Ye paused, but still gritted her teeth, and persuaded cruelly, "Xiao'er, let go."

In an instant, Nie Peixiao had a look of disappointment on his face, as if an old vine surrounded him, making him gradually depressed and suffocated.Finally, he shook his head with a wry smile, and laughed at himself: "Now I have to let go."

Empress Dowager Ye sighed, and raised her hand to signal Eunuch Zhang, who quickly presented the brocade box.Empress Dowager Ye opened the brocade box and placed it in front of Nie Peixiao: "This is given to you by Mrs. Chuxiu, you can see for yourself."

From Chuxiu?Nie Peixiao looked down into the brocade box, and the slightly yellowed paper immediately caught his attention.He struggled to raise his right hand, but after trying twice it was in vain, so he could only hold the paper with his left hand and unfold it.

With a sweep of his handsome eyes, all kinds of feelings rushed into his heart: "How could this piece of paper... be in her hands?" Nie Peixiao was most familiar with the content on this paper, it was his own handwriting and his own poems.

Nie Peixiao still clearly remembers the scene in Zuihualou that day, when he got drunk and heard the news of Hanchu's death, he wrote this song "Zhu Xiandu" impromptu.On that day, Shen Yu was also present.

Now that things have happened, it is meaningless to pursue the origin of this piece of paper. What he cares more about is Chuxiu's intentions.It has been nine years, nine years since he wrote this poem. At that time, he never thought that this poem would fall into Han Chu's own hands, and she would cherish it for several years.

"She really cherishes this bosom friend." Nie Peixiao's left hand began to tremble unconsciously.His lips are pale, how can he still look suave and suave?At this moment, he was just an ordinary man who was tortured by love.

"I let her down." Nie Peixiao felt more and more heartbroken and regretted, "If I knew that she had always cherished this poem, I would never listen to Yun Xiangrong's one-sided words and ruin her love for me. trust……"

"Who said she was disappointed in you?" The Queen Mother Ye couldn't bear to see Aiko in such pain, and quickly explained, "She gave you this poem because she cherishes the friendship between you and hopes that you can understand that you are just It's just a bosom friend."

Nie Peixiao's lips trembled, and then she looked at the strings in the brocade box: "Chuxiu..." He stared at the broken string, and could only say the name imprinted in his heart.

"She said that in order to repay your bosom friend, she will never play the piano again." The Empress Dowager Ye spoke on behalf of Chuxiu with tears in her eyes.

"Never play the piano again..." Nie Peixiao murmured, guilt, regret, emotion, emotion, sadness... In the end, his thoughts turned into one sentence, with a slightly hoarse voice, but an extremely firm attitude, " Since she doesn't play the piano anymore, I don't play the flute anymore either."

The yellowed paper was tightly held by Nie Peixiao, but what he didn't want to let go of was actually the yellowing years.

One is to never play the piano again, and the other is to never play the flute again... The Empress Dowager Ye was filled with emotions, and she didn't know how to comfort her: "What evil is this all made of! Xiao'er, is it worth it?"

Nie Peixiao didn't answer, and clenched his left hand tightly, the knuckles of his fingers turned slightly white due to excessive force, but he didn't realize it, as if he was going to squeeze the paper in his hand with all his strength.

Empress Dowager Ye felt even more distressed when she saw this, and tried to break away Nie Peixiao's tightly clenched left hand: "Let go, what's the use of not caring about your body now? It's impossible for you all."

It's impossible...Nie Peixiao turned her head in a daze, and after a moment of reaction, she said, "That's not what you said before you went to Yunfu today."

Empress Dowager Ye lowered her head, feeling guilty towards Aizi: "She convinced me... I don't agree with you marrying her, not even the concubine and the main room."

"Okay." Nie Peixiao's thin lips were like sharp blades, and he smiled slightly, which immediately stabbed the eyes of Queen Mother Ye.But she also knows that Mrs. Chuxiu seems tender and tender, but in fact she has a strong temper, and threats and temptations are useless to her.What's more, Tangtang Yun's head of the house had a sad and beautiful love story with Yunci. If it were someone else, it would be "the sea was too difficult to be water".

As Empress Dowager Ye herself, after learning that Chuxiu is Han Chu, she did not want Nie Peixiao to marry her, and the three clans of Yun, Helian, and Ming would laugh at her and lose the dignity and face of the royal family. .

"There is no fragrant grass anywhere in the world." The Empress Dowager Ye could only persuade her softly, "Although Mrs. Chuxiu is beautiful, she is a woman in her twenties. .What kind of girl do you want? Everyone is a lady, Xiaojiabiyu, you can choose from the north and the south."

yes!Thinking of him as a majestic and honest king, his status in this world is second only to his elder brother Tianshou Dadi.There are beauties everywhere in him, but this is so, and there are also regrets that cannot be loved...

It's time to give up completely!Chuxiu not only sent this piece of paper and this string, but also declared that he would never play the piano again.He should be extremely satisfied to be forgiven and cherished by her, what more could he wish for?If he continued to stalk him, he would only be despised and spurned by her even more.

Besides, Chuxiu even talked to his queen mother...

Thinking of this, Nie Peixiao finally let go of her left hand, allowing the yellowed paper to flutter and fall from the bed, landing silently.A song "Zhu Xian Duan", a fate that has been entangled for nine years, has finally gone away quietly, as if this thin paper can no longer bear the lightness of life.

Love is like quicksand, the tighter you hold it, the easier it is to lose.He has worked hard and cherished it, and the rest is left to fate.However, fate is so affectionate, yet so ruthless towards him...

Since Empress Dowager Ye came back from Yunfu, Nie Peixiao was no longer decadent, no longer sluggish, and regained her strength.It's just that he has become more and more taciturn, and he is completely different from the former Ninth Prince who is handsome, eats, drinks, plays, and is good at music.

The Empress Dowager Ye didn't know whether her son's change was good or bad, but she knew that there was one thing that could not be delayed - to choose Princess Cheng: "You are now twenty-six, and this marriage cannot be delayed any longer. The Ai family has drawn up a few alternatives." They are all well-known ladies with both talent and beauty, so when I return to Beijing this time, I will discuss it with your imperial brother, and strive to settle the marriage as soon as possible."

Nie Peixiao neither agreed nor objected, she kept a calm face and did not express her opinion.

Empress Dowager Ye was very distressed. In the past, she never urged Nie Peixiao to get married because she felt that her beloved son was picky. After a few years, there would always be younger and more beautiful ladies who would show up one after another, even if they were younger.

But until now, she finally had to make up her mind and finalize the marriage of her beloved son first: "If you don't speak, the queen mother will take it as your acquiescence. Now this is a top priority. Just wait and see, the queen mother will definitely choose a virtuous and virtuous woman for you." De's good wife is a thousand times better than that Mrs. Chuxiu!"

Nie Peixiao couldn't bear to worry the Empress Dowager Ye, and felt that there was no possibility of getting out of Xiuxiu, so she could only agree: "The son is a minister, but the queen mother is the master."

"Okay! That's right!" Empress Dowager Ye was quite relieved, remembering Aizi's shoulder injury, and tentatively asked, "The climate in Yanlan City is warm and humid, with rainy seasons in four seasons, which is not conducive to your recovery. Why don't you ask your emperor brother to replace it?" A feudal city for you? I think Quzhou and Huizhou are good, and they are closer to Jingzhou."

This time, Nie Peixiao refused bluntly: "No, I'm in Fangzhou."

"For Lady Xiu?" Queen Mother Ye asked.

"This is just one of them." Nie Peixiao's handsome eyes were rippling, and his misty eyes suddenly cleared up, "Quzhou is your natal home, and Huizhou is a land and water area. Although these two places are not as rich as Fangzhou, the emperor's brother won't let me go."

As soon as these words came out, Empress Dowager Ye's face turned pale instantly, and she scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Whether the minister is talking nonsense or not, the queen mother knows best." Nie Peixiao's words were flat, just stating the facts, "When the emperor gave me Fangzhou, it was because I asked for it; It shows that I am very close to him and share the fertile soil; but the most important reason is that you and I know well - Fangzhou is the place where the emperor's brother rose to power, and he has many confidants here, so I am not afraid of my rebellion .”

Nie Peixiao said while looking at Queen Mother Ye: "The emperor's brother was not born to you, and his biological mother came from a humble background. This has always been a knot in his heart. He is most worried that you will take advantage of your natal family to help your son and minister to the top. If you want to let the emperor's brother Don't worry, it's better for my son to stay here...it can also be closer to Chuxiu."

Empress Dowager Ye never expected that Nie Peixiao seemed to be ignorant of political affairs, but she was so clear in her heart that she had already figured out all these twists and turns.And she had nothing to say, only silence.

"Mother's Queen..." Speaking of this, Nie Peixiao also wanted to ask Queen Mother Ye's thoughts, "Have you really thought about this, right?"

"Thinking about what?" Queen Mother Ye pretended to be puzzled.

Nie Peixiao didn't give her a chance to escape, and asked bluntly: "Have you ever thought about joining forces with uncle and others to overthrow the emperor and let me replace him?"

Finally, Empress Dowager Ye's complexion changed slightly. She wanted to evade her words, but after thinking about it, she finally said cryptically: "Your brother is the founding emperor of the Daling Dynasty, and he has great deterrence skills... unless he is fatuous and dishonest in the future. It is tyrannical, otherwise it will not be overthrown within ten years."

"My son advises you not to think about it ten years later." Nie Peixiao said clearly, "You have told my son that you have indeed thought about it."

Empress Dowager Ye did not deny it, she just smiled and said, "You are not in good health now, why are you still thinking about it? The most important thing is to keep healthy."

Nie Peixiao still couldn't let go of her mind: "I have deliberately alienated my uncle and the others in recent years because I was worried that the emperor's brother would be suspicious. You'd better be careful, and don't let the emperor's heart be hurt."

"Is it up to you to teach me?" Queen Mother Ye glanced at him, and quickly changed the subject, "Your spirit is getting better and your shoulders are much sharper, I'd better go back to Jingzhou. Make your marriage an agreement earlier, otherwise I'm always restless."

Nie Peixiao didn't keep her, but asked calmly, "Which daughter do you fancy?"

"The Buddha said, don't say it." Empress Dowager Ye chuckled, "You will know at that time. But no matter who you choose, you must surprise Xie Badan."

When Empress Dowager Ye returned to the palace, Emperor Tianshou happened to get rid of a few serious troubles in his confidants, and he was in a good mood.Empress Dowager Ye saw that the timing was good, so she went straight to the holy study with the name card after the morning court on the second day.

At that time, Emperor Tianshou was standing in front of the desk and practicing calligraphy quickly, Danxin was studying ink carefully at the side, and he also read it with great interest.Empress Dowager Ye signaled the inner guard to keep silent, and looked outside the door for a while before interrupting them with a light cough.

Emperor Tianshou and Danxin raised their eyes together and called out together: "Mother Queen (Empress Dowager)."

Empress Dowager Ye stepped into the holy study room with a smile, and Emperor Tianshou came down from the imperial case and said politely, "I have seen the empress mother."

Danxin also bowed Yingying: "The slave girl Danxin sees the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Ye has met Danxin a few times, and knows the identity of the latter, and when she thinks of Chuxiu and her beloved son Nie Peixiao, she can't help but sigh secretly that the Yun family is more beautiful.The master is, and so is the slave.She glanced at Dan Xin, and said lightly: "The Ai family has an important matter to discuss with Sheng, so you can avoid it for now."

Danxin didn't expect the Empress Dowager Ye's first words to be so blunt, and she was a little stunned for a moment.Seeing the slight signal from the Emperor Tianshou, she came to her senses and hurriedly resigned.

When she was far away, Empress Dowager Ye immediately said: "Your Majesty treats this female official well."

Emperor Tianshou's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, with a smile that was not a smile: "Is the empress dissatisfied with the Yun family, or with my female official?"

Empress Dowager Ye snorted softly, acquiescing to the former.

The Emperor Tianshou opened up the topic: "How is the ninth brother's injury?"

"He is very decadent, and one arm is almost broken. But Mrs. Chuxiu is really capable. She can persuade Ai's family with a few words, and it also makes Xiao'er completely give up." Empress Dowager Ye sighed, "Yun Most of the men in the family are short-lived, but the women are more powerful than the other. There is Xie Badan in the front, and Mrs. Chuxiu in the back. The Ai family sees that you are indifferent, and you are also very clever."

The Emperor Tianshou laughed loudly: "It's fine for the empress to be dissatisfied with the Yun family, so what's the matter with indifference? She has been by my side for the past two years, so she can be regarded as keeping herself safe."

"Sooner or later, she will leave the palace, and she will always have something to do with the Yun family at that time." The Empress Dowager Ye said while observing the expression of Emperor Tianshou, and she saw his eyebrows frowned, as if he was very taboo about this topic.

Empress Dowager Ye saw a bit of subtle meaning from it, and asked again: "This time, the Ai family took the liberty to write a poem on Yun's chastity archway, will the Holy Majesty not mind?"

"How could it be?" The Emperor Tianshou seemed to reply casually, and asked again, "But you and Madam Xie have never been on good terms, why did you write a poem for her for the first time this time?"

These words successfully aroused Queen Mother Ye's anger, she snorted coldly, and said dissatisfiedly: "Didn't she fall into Xie Badan's trick and give her face for nothing!"

Every time she mentioned the kindness and resentment with Mrs. Xie, Queen Mother Ye always talked endlessly.Emperor Tianshou was afraid that she would be like this again, so he quickly stopped the topic and persuaded: "Queen Mother, please relax, don't be upset about this trivial matter."

The Empress Dowager Ye was waiting for this sentence, so she squeezed the post in her hand and smiled: "She has Zhang Liang's plan, and Ai's family also has a wall ladder, how can she win a game for nothing?"

"Oh? What does the empress mother mean by that?" The Emperor Tianshou asked with a smile.

Empress Dowager Ye then handed over the post in her hand, and said with a smile: "There are a few ladies here, and they are Princess Cheng chosen by the Ai family for Xiao'er. Your Majesty may wish to guess, which one is the Ai family's favorite?"

Emperor Tianshou took the invitation card, glanced at it roughly, and suddenly his face darkened, and he replied in a cold voice: "If I guessed correctly, the queen mother has taken a fancy to Xie Peili from the Xie family in Quzhou—the grandniece of Mrs. Xie Tai."

There were seven ladies' names on that post. The Empress Dowager Ye wanted to confuse the public, so she didn't directly mention Xie Peili as the candidate.Unexpectedly, the Emperor Tianshou hit the nail on the head and guessed what she wanted right away.

Therefore, she had to temporarily change her tactics, and put the grievances between herself and Mrs. Xie on the table as a cover to cover up her real intention: "Actually, Xie Peili is not the best candidate, but the Ai family wants to choose her as Xie Badan's grandniece. Let her Xie's family kowtow and serve tea in front of Ai's family, respectfully!"

"Mother doesn't have to be like this." Emperor Tianshou put his hands on his back, and a charming smile floated on his handsome face, "You have been fighting with Madam Xie for many years, in terms of status, status, and heirs. Are you happy to find yourself?"

At this point, he paused for a while, and deliberately reminded Queen Mother Ye: "You are looking for a decent daughter-in-law, do you really want to thank your family at a low price?"

"Is this taking advantage?" Empress Dowager Ye snorted coldly, "The Ai family just wants to show Xie Badan, and the women of her Xie family will be rounded and flattened by the Ai family!"

"Pinch round and pinch flat?" Emperor Tianshou laughed again, "The empress mother made a big mistake this time. The Xie family has a Princess Cheng. Isn't it to give Mrs. Xie a face? But Xie and Ye have long had a grudge. In my opinion, this marriage is not a good one..."

Emperor Tianshou said while looking at Empress Dowager Ye, pondered for a moment and said: "Actually, I have someone in my mind who is the most suitable one."

Empress Dowager Ye immediately gave a "thud" in her heart, and an ominous premonition suddenly emerged, she blurted out and asked, "Who?"

"The first daughter of the Ye family in Quzhou, Ye Lingyu." The Emperor Tianshou deliberately ignored the nervous expression of the Queen Mother Ye, and pretended to smile solemnly, "She is your niece and the cousin of the ninth brother. Wouldn't it be better dear?"

Kissing and kissing... Empress Dowager Ye's complexion turned pale for a moment, and she forced a smile back: "No, I can't be a Lingyao! I know the child's appearance best. She and Xiao'er have different temperaments and are not a good match."

"How can there be a disagreement?" Emperor Tianshou smiled calmly, "I don't want to hide it from my mother. Two years ago, when Zhen Weifu went out to inspect Yanlan City, it happened that Mrs. Xie was proposing marriage to her grandson Yuncheng, and Miss Lingyu was her favorite candidate. "

(End of this chapter)