If not abolished

Chapter 100 Leaving Beijing

After a while, Cao and Chu heard the news that the concubines were going to marry into other countries.

"I didn't expect this to happen?" Chu Xuanying was also very surprised after hearing the news.

"I thought that even if the palace didn't let us leave, at most we could serve in the palace as maids. If we were lucky, we might even have a chance to become a female official." Cao Wanyi murmured to herself.

"Sister, luckily we didn't go to the banquet by chance. Aunt said that she would only choose from the beauties who went to the banquet." Chu Xuanying said thankfully.

"I'm afraid Chuxiu Palace won't be peaceful these days. You must remember not to make a fuss about what you do these days. No matter what happens, don't get angry."

"Why?" Chu Xuanying didn't understand.

"I'm afraid everyone in the Chuxiu Palace now regards us as enemies," said Cao Wanyi.

"But the marriage to another country was not decided by us. What's the point of hating us?" Chu Xuanying found it unreasonable.

"My silly sister, if everyone is a candidate, then there is nothing to hate. The most you can do is pray that you are not chosen. But you and I escaped. Every time they see and think about this, they can't blame Your Majesty and the envoys of other countries. So, implicating others is their way of venting. If everyone is the same about something, then there will not be any big conflicts. But the most taboo thing in all things is that there are few and uneven things." Cao Wanyi explained to her.

"I understand." After hearing Cao Wanyi's explanation, Chu Xuanying finally understood and knew why those people spoke to her and bumped into her like that.

"We try to keep a low profile until the results come out."

Cao Wanyi's guess turned out to be correct. In the next few days, many concubines suffered from sudden illnesses or were injured in accidents.

So many things happened suddenly, and anyone with a discerning eye could tell that most of them were staged. Moreover, these concubines did not dare to really hurt themselves, so they often pretended to fall and acted like something had happened to them. When the imperial physician came over to take a look, he found that nothing was wrong.

Secondly, I didn't dare to let myself get hurt. If I accidentally got a scar, that would be terrible. So this series of operations had no practical effect, and I was severely punished by the two aunts.

However, such incidents happened frequently and the two aunts were exhausted from dealing with them. Finally, they went to the West Garden to ask Concubine Wang for advice.

When Concubine Wang heard about this, she looked as if she understood, "Did all the concubines cause trouble?"

"Not really. There are only one or two who always cause trouble. Although the other concubines are not very willing, they are still relatively obedient."

"You left in a hurry last time, and I forgot to tell you something. Agui and Zhanhe will also select people from the concubines at that time."

"Your Highnesses, are you going to choose a concubine?"

"Yes, but let's wait a day or two before informing the concubines to see if there are still any who are restless." Concubine Wang said.

"The servant understands."

After the two aunts left, Yunqi came over to hand Concubine Wang a handkerchief and asked, "Why did Her Majesty ask Aunt Ru and the others to tell Xiu Nu later that the two princes were going to choose concubines?"

"I want to see which of these people are restless. Whether they are going to marry in another country or becoming your highness' concubine in the future, the most taboo thing is to be restless."

"I see."

The two aunts were discussing this matter on their way back.

"Your Highness, this is a really clever move."

"how do I say this?"

"You don't really think that the Imperial Concubine forgot to tell us that the two princes were going to choose concubines last time. I guess the Imperial Concubine deliberately didn't tell us at the beginning, waiting for the concubines to be confused by the marriage, and then released the news."

"But why is this? What difference does it make if you tell me earlier or later?"

"Most of the concubines don't want to marry into another country, so there will definitely be people who can't help but stir up trouble. Especially since there was a concubine named Cao who escaped because she was injured, the concubines will definitely follow suit. Whether it's marrying into another country or marrying into the backyard of Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine will definitely not want such a restless person. It will be bad if it affects the diplomatic relations between the two countries in the future."

"Then why do you let us tell you a day or two later? Since the restless people have been lured out, can't we just tell you now?"

"Right now, the concubines are just making a small fuss, just pretending, no one has really done anything serious to me yet, but if it's one or two days in the evening, it's not certain."

"Are you saying that something will really happen to the showgirls?"

"Well, so we have to be extremely alert these two days to stop them, otherwise if something really happens, we will be in big trouble."

"That's true."

This incident happened in a side hall of Chuxiu Palace.

"Sister Liu, are you really going to do this?" another concubine said fearfully.

"The aunts have already seen through the tricks of the past few days. If I don't take ruthless action this time, I will really be chosen for marriage."

"But what if something happens?"

"I just use a little bit. I've been allergic to almonds since I was a kid. I use a little bit. I'll get some red spots on my body and I'll just have to hide for a few days. It's okay."

Second day

"Auntie, something's wrong. Sister Liu has a rash all over her body. Auntie, help me."

"What happened?"

"Aunt, I don't know either. As soon as Sister Liu got up in the morning, she had a lot of rashes all over her body."

"Come on, take me over there to have a look."

After taking a look, it was found that he really had a rash and was not pretending. My aunt immediately went to ask the imperial physician to come.

After the imperial physician came to see her, Aunt Yan asked, "Doctor Zhang, I wonder if this concubine's disease is contagious?"

The imperial physician replied, "This looks like an allergy, but it is not ruled out that it could be contagious. It is best to put the person in a separate room. No one except the palace maids who are taking care of him should get close to him."

"understood."

The two aunts called all the concubines outside, and even Cao Wanyi was helped out by Chu Xuanying.

"Just now, Liu Xiunv had an emergency. I don't want anyone else to get into trouble in the next period of time. Also, I have good news for you today. The Imperial Concubine told me that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness He of the Han family will also select concubines, and the candidates are still among you. Since Liu Xiunv unfortunately got into trouble, she naturally has no chance." Aunt Ru continued, "I know you are a little reluctant about marrying to another country, but now there is still a chance to stay, so you should be good to me. If you are still like before, then when His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine investigate, you and your family will not be able to bear it. Do you understand?"

"Ming... I understand." The concubines all understood. The previous minor quarrels could be ignored, but what happened to Liu Xiu Nu was either an accident or intentional. If this happened again, her family would be implicated. Even if she married to another country, it would be a matter of honor for the family, but if her family was implicated, wouldn't it be a loss? What's more, she still had the opportunity to stay in the capital and marry His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or His Royal Highness He, so she couldn't do anything bad.

"By the way, because we are afraid that Liu Xiuniu's disease may be contagious, the people who live with her will be reassigned to other rooms."

"Yes."

The two concubines who lived with Liu Xiunu breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they were not as cruel to them as Liu Xiunu.

When Liu Xiunü woke up, she felt like crying but had no tears. How could it be her turn to be so unlucky?

On the other hand, Zhu Zhanji stayed alone in Qingyun Palace these days. Except for necessary greetings, he never went out.

"Big brother." Our little cutie from Jiaxing came to see him.

"Why are you here?" It goes without saying that the Crown Princess must have asked her to come and talk to her.

These days, the Crown Princess sighed when she saw her son, thinking that Zhu Zhanji must be worried and sad about his cousin Sun. Even if he had let it go, suddenly becoming her brother-in-law was another matter.

"My mother said that my eldest brother is in a bad mood, so she asked me to come and talk to you. It would be best if she could get you out." Jiaxing immediately explained his purpose.

"How can anyone say things so bluntly?" Zhu Zhanji couldn't keep a straight face in front of his sister, so he smiled and teased her.

"You adults are so annoying. You always beat around the bush when saying everything. You clearly want something, but you say you don't want it. It's not fun at all."

"It will be the same when Jiaxing grows up."

"No, I wouldn't want to. I'd rather not grow up." Jiaxing said childishly.

"There is no one who won't grow up. Besides, didn't you say last time that you wanted to go out of the palace to play? How can you go out if you don't grow up?"

"Yeah, then even if I grow up, I won't be an adult who beats around the bush."

"Okay, our Jiaxing will always be so happy, and big brother will protect you all your life." Zhu Zhanji lived a new life and looked at Jiaxing like his own daughter. To be honest, in the previous life, Shanxiang and his two children were two little princesses, but he couldn't remember what his little princesses looked like. But he thought they must be very cute. This time, he must spoil them into the happiest princesses.

"I can protect you when I grow up, so why are you unhappy?"

"Brother wants to go out and see this beautiful land, but Grandpa Huang and the others may not agree."

"Can't my brother go out of the palace to play?" To Jiaxing's little head, there was a whole new world outside the palace.

"Not outside the palace, but somewhere further away."

"Ah, will Big Brother come back?"

"Of course, the palace is Big Brother's home, of course I will come back."

Two days later, Zhu Di called Zhu Zhanji over and agreed to his idea of ​​leaving the palace to relax, but he still asked him to finish the selection of a concubine before leaving.

Zhu Zhanji didn't expect that the emperor would really agree, and he was very happy. Zhu Di saw the long-lost smile on his beloved grandson's face, and his heart also became happy.

Zhu Di asked him where he wanted to go.

Zhu Zhanji said that he wanted to go to Lu to pay homage to the Confucius Temple, and if he liked it, he would stay there for a while.

Zhu Di later went to ask Yao Guangxiao, who said yes, and that it would be helpful for His Royal Highness's marriage if he went to Lu. After hearing this, Zhu Di immediately asked Zhu Zhanji to prepare to go there quickly.