Chapter 358 You Shouldn't Come Here
Although the Queen Mother allowed it, Zhang Yunniang did not dare to stay until the palace gates were locked after dark.
But when she left the palace, she felt heavy in her heart. Once she entered the palace, it was like a deep sea. Did she really have to wait until the emperor's child was born before Niu Niu could go home?
What if the emperor could not give birth to a child?
In the carriage at the palace gate, Gu Mingda looked at his absent-minded wife and couldn't help but worry. He asked: "What happened? Someone made things difficult for you? Or Niu Niu?"
Zhang Yunniang shook her head, leaned gently into her husband's arms, and said: "I don't know when Niu Niu can leave the palace."
When Gu Mingda heard that his wife was worried about this, he couldn't help but sigh and said: "In the past, other children also entered the palace to have children. The longest time was the child of the Li family. One of them stayed in the palace for three years, and the shortest time was three months. "
Zhang Yunniang couldn't help but worry. Three years is so long, and there are many people's calculations in the palace. I don't know if Niu Niu can escape.
Gu Mingda said: "The former dynasty and the harem are closely related. I will do a few more good things. If I can be reused by His Majesty, then even if Niuniu really makes any mistakes in the future, His Majesty will give her a lighter sentence."
Zhang Yunniang knew that it was easy to say, but it was not that easy to make meritorious deeds in reality.
Before Gu Mingda had time to make meritorious deeds, someone else made great merits within two days.
The emperor went hunting in the West Mountain and encountered an assassin. Fortunately, the accompanying Right Guard Li Ziqin blocked the knife with his body, and he was safe and sound.
Li Ziqin was carried home with blood all over his body.
The emperor was furious and sent several imperial doctors to treat him together. Three days later, Li Ziqin opened his eyes.
Rewards were sent to the Li family like water. The emperor directly conferred Li Ziqin the title of mighty general and conferred his eldest son the title of imperial guard.
Even in the palace, after several days of indifference, the emperor personally visited Concubine Li on her sickbed. Although he did not restore her right to assist in the management of the harem, everyone could see that the concubine had regained her favor.
The only flaw was that Concubine Li had not yet recovered and was still sick.
"Madam, will we still have eggs and longans for lunch?" Xingzhi asked softly.
Concubine Li was bedridden because of a cold. It was hard to say whether it was because she was not full all day and was worried that it was so difficult to recover.
Now that the Li family is better, Concubine Li feels that the time when the emperor wanted to kill her the most has passed, and said: "Just supply it like before."
Xingzhi asked again: "Madam, do you want to resume the incense?"
Concubine Li hurriedly said: "Let's wait for the incense."
At lunch, looking at the rich dishes on the table, Concubine Li, who had been eating plain food for a long time, felt like she was alive again.
After eating eggs and longans for several days, she obviously felt like vomiting when she smelled the fishy smell of eggs.
But even though she was already hungry, Concubine Li still waited patiently for the maid who tasted the food to taste it before she started to eat.
In Shoukang Palace, the Queen Mother was kneeling in the small Buddhist hall, tapping the wooden fish gently.
It was unknown how long it took before she stopped. After being supported by Nanny Sun and leaving the small Buddhist hall, Nanny Sun spoke:
"Queen Mother, your Majesty was assassinated this time. The assassins' way of doing things seemed... seemed to be the remnants of the Li King, and it seemed that they had nothing to do with the Li family."
The Li King was the younger brother of the previous emperor and the uncle of the current emperor. Not long after the emperor ascended the throne, the Pingxi King rebelled and was suppressed by the emperor. Because the impact of this incident was too bad, the emperor directly gave him the posthumous title of "Li".
When the Queen Mother heard the name, her lips trembled slightly, and she said, "Pingxi Wang...Li Wang he...he won't hurt the emperor...he has been dead for many years, it's just too coincidental..."
Madame Sun also thought so. Concubine Li had just lost power in the palace, and Li Ziqin outside the palace had the merit of saving the emperor, which made people suspicious.
"Queen Mother, do you want me to send more people to continue the investigation? You know, His Majesty has never loved our people, and what is the connection with Li Wang." Madame Sun asked.
The Queen Mother hesitated for a moment and said, "Since they did it cleanly, it is estimated that nothing will be found if they investigate further. The emperor's people are also watching and will not miss any clues. We still need to send people to investigate the Guanglin Mansion."
Madame Sun understood that the Queen Mother was focusing on the concubine's footsteps. Even if she couldn't find out the old relationship between Concubine Li and Doctor Li, it would be good to find more evidence of the Li family's crimes.
"Empress Dowager, our people have found out another thing: the Imperial Master seems to be seriously ill." Nanny Sun said.
The Empress Dowager does not like this so-called Imperial Master. This person was supported by Concubine Li. He seems to be superstitious. Concubine Li seems to rely on this person very much.
The Empress Dowager now suspects that Concubine Li is plotting against her. Seeing her people being hit, she also thinks it is good news.
"It's a pity that my natal family has no one, otherwise I wouldn't have to be so restrained in doing things." The Empress Dowager sighed.
The Empress Dowager's natal brother died early, and her nephew's talent is mediocre. He is neither ambitious nor troublesome. There are not many talents in the family. Even with the support of the Empress Dowager, they are just a middle-class family in the capital.
Nanny Sun hurried to comfort her master: "The Queen Mother is worried about His Majesty and doesn't want to interfere in politics and make things difficult for His Majesty. Is there only a few talented people in the Li family? Aren't they still high-ranking officials and generous salaries now?"
Another reason why the Queen Mother disliked Concubine Li was that Concubine Li was obsessed with her family and tried to interfere in politics several times to seek benefits for her family. She was hardly virtuous.
"Grandma Queen Mother!"
Niuniu's voice interrupted the Queen Mother's contemplation.
As soon as she saw Niuniu, the Queen Mother couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth.
"Grandma Queen Mother, just now a maid took me to a small room and saw a guqin inside. The maid said that no one wanted it and asked me to take it to play with." Niu Niu said.
When Madam Sun behind her heard this, her face changed slightly.
The Queen Mother still had a smile on her face and asked lovingly: "Did you take it?"
Niu Niu shook her head and said: "Everything in Shoukang Palace belongs to Grandma Queen Mother. I can't take it without Grandma's inquiry."
After the Queen Mother praised her for being well-behaved, she asked: "Which room is it, dear, can you lead the way?"
Niu Niu didn't think much about it and took the Queen Mother around to the back of the hall and entered a small room.
This small room is actually connected to the small Buddhist hall with a secret door, but outsiders don't know that it is also part of the small Buddhist hall. The small room is clean and tidy, and it is obvious that someone cleans it regularly.
The room is very empty. At a glance, the first thing you see is the guqin, and then the layers of heavy curtains. There is a faint flickering fire behind the curtains, as if candles are lit.
But Nanny Sun couldn't help looking behind the curtain and said, "Niuniu, you shouldn't come in here."
She looked at Niuniu with reproach in her eyes.