The next day, the eldest lady got up early, had breakfast, put on makeup, and went back to see the old lady first. Then she took Mother Wu with her, took a bamboo sedan carried by two people, went around to Xihua Gate, and handed out the sign according to the rules. Please see the Queen Mother.

After a while, a young eunuch came to lead the way and entered the Forbidden City through Xihua Gate. In the Forbidden City, the civil servants got off their sedans and the military generals dismounted their horses. The eldest lady couldn't sit in the sedan anymore, so she walked along with the young eunuch all the way to the palace. There are numerous buildings, dragon towers and phoenix pavilions, and the atmosphere of heaven is magnificent.

The eldest wife always enters the Forbidden City several times a month, but she is still shocked by its majesty every time. Not to mention Mother Wu, she lowers her eyebrows and doesn't even dare to raise her eyelids.

After passing the three main halls of Taihe, Baohe and Zhonghe, enter the Qianqing Gate and walk further in to the inner court. The rules in the Forbidden City are strict. Although the eldest wife is the niece of the Empress Dowager, she still behaves in a disciplined manner and does not take a single step. Dare to make a mistake. Finally arriving at Cining Palace, the young eunuch led her into Xinuang Pavilion.

The legitimate mother-in-law of the legitimate emperor, the Empress Dowager Cixiao, was half-lying on the big pillow. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her face was pale and white. She hadn't seen her for a few days, and the Empress Dowager's illness seemed to be a little worse. The eldest wife's heart was filled with confusion I couldn't help but sink in. She was really concerned about her aunt's condition.

The Empress Dowager Cixiao was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changxing. She was highly virtuous and highly influential among the government and the public. She was smart and alert since she was a child, and was well-read in classics and history. She married Emperor Taizong at the age of fourteen and won the throne when Emperor Taizong won the throne. He played an extremely crucial role in the process, and it is not an exaggeration to call him a hero among women. It is a pity that he never gave birth to a son or a half in his life.

Emperor Taizong died violently seven years ago, without even having time to leave a posthumous edict. There was chaos inside and outside the court. Taizong's eldest son died early, and his second son, who was raised at the knees of the Empress Dowager Cixiao, suffered from severe mental illness. A few treacherous villains who engaged in political speculation and wanted to gain the throne wrote a letter asking the emperor's second son to ascend the throne, and the Empress Dowager Cixiao would oversee the affairs behind the curtain and handle the military and state affairs.

However, Empress Dowager Cixiao understood the righteousness well and adopted the advice of several mature and prudent ministers in the cabinet, supporting the third son of the emperor to ascend the throne, who is now the orthodox emperor. Empress Dowager Cixiao's actions won praise from both the government and the public, and also won the legitimacy of the orthodox emperor. The emperor showed sincere respect and gratitude. From then on, the emperor treated her like his biological mother and obeyed her words.

It was through her strong initiative that the eldest son of the current emperor could be appointed as crown prince.

The eldest lady did not dare to look any further, so she knelt down and said, "I wish the Queen Mother good fortune and peace!"

"Are you here? Don't be too polite and get up quickly." The Queen Mother opened her eyes tiredly, smiled kindly, and said weakly: "Come here and sit next to my aunt!" The Queen Mother never gave birth to children in her life. , she was particularly kind to her niece, and the eldest wife’s filial piety towards the Queen Mother was also sincere.

The eldest lady agreed and sat on the gold-painted phoenix couch as she was told, but she only dared to sit with half of her buttocks firmly. The queen mother held her hand and said in a kind voice: "My body is getting worse day by day. I’m afraid I don’t have a few days left to live! I asked you to come in today because I have something to tell you! I have been thinking about this matter for a long time.”

The eldest lady's eyes were sore, and her eyes were covered with tears: "The Queen Mother's illness is not serious. As long as you relax and rest for a while, you will be fine soon. If you have any words, just give me your instructions. No matter how difficult it is, I will give you your instructions." No matter how messed up you are, I will definitely do it for you!"

The Queen Mother smiled casually and said nonchalantly: "Life and death are determined by destiny, wealth and honor are in heaven, and I know my illness well. I have lived to this age, from the Queen to the Queen Mother, there is no wealth and glory that I have not enjoyed, and there is nothing I can't bear to see.

But even now, there is still someone who makes me worried, so I can’t just let go and go see the late emperor!"

Who else makes the Empress Dowager worried? The eldest lady couldn't help but look puzzled: "Yes..."

The Queen Mother waved her hand, and the eunuchs and maids who were waiting in the Xinuan Pavilion with their breaths down and their eyebrows downturned quietly walked out one by one. For a while, only the Queen Mother and the eldest lady were left in the Nuan Pavilion.

"Help me up! I'm really tired lying down like this!" the Queen Mother said weakly.

The eldest lady carefully helped the queen mother up and leaned against the head of the bed. The eldest lady put a big pillow behind her back. After just a little effort, the queen mother was panting for a long time. Seeing this scene, the eldest lady felt sad.

Like sinking into a bottomless abyss.

The Queen Mother breathed for a while, and finally gathered some strength, and then asked weakly: "I usually see you bringing two of your biological daughters here to say hello. The eldest sister has been married a long time ago, and she even came to the palace to say hello a few days ago.

, please come here to serve me, I refuted it. I am also about to die, and I don’t want to burden the younger generations. I won’t talk about the eldest sister. Sister Xin is twelve years old this year, right? Apart from the two of them, you

There are three concubines under my knees, but I have never met one. How old are they? Are they old enough to marry?"

"You have a good memory! There are not many other things in my wife's room, but there are many daughters!" The eldest lady accompanied Xiao Yi'er and replied: "Sister Xin is twelve this year, Sister Sifei is fifteen, and Sister Wuxia is fourteen.

, Sister Qilan is thirteen." The queen mother suddenly became concerned about her daughters, and the eldest wife felt a little strange.

The Queen Mother carefully said every word: "Is there anyone here who has a good temperament and can be promoted? Someone who is more dignified and steady is best! Sister Xin, you are still young! Her temper is also real..."

The eldest lady was very surprised: "Queen Mother, which yellow belt do you want to marry?"

The Queen Mother shook her head: "I am not a descendant of the royal family, but a prince!"

The Queen Mother's words were so calm that they sounded like thunder in the eldest lady's ears. "Prince? Crown Princess?" The eldest lady's voice trembled a little, "Is it the concubine?" It didn't seem right, the prince still didn't know what he was talking about.

If there is no principal concubine, taking a concubine first is a bit like taking a concubine first if there is no principal wife. It is always a bit against the rules.

The Queen Mother shook her head: "The prince is already seventeen this year. If I give up and go to see the Buddha, with his filial temperament, he will definitely stay for me for one year. I can't delay my grandson anymore. After thinking about it, I will talk to you.

It’s best for the Yang family to get married! If you don’t have a suitable daughter-in-law in this house, what about the second house?”

The eldest lady hurriedly said: "Sister Jia'er from the second room has already betrothed to the eldest son of the Ding family, the Minister of Rites, and the two parties have set a date in May this year. The remaining ninth girl is only nine years old this year, younger than Sister Xin.

Well, the second bedroom is definitely not possible. The fourth bedroom has a sixth girl, who is also a concubine, and she is far away in Shandong. It is not possible either!"

The Queen Mother frowned frequently and sighed: "How can such a big prime minister's office find a suitable girl? How can I close my old eyes if I can't see the prince's wedding! Fourth sister, fifth sister

, among the seventh sisters, you pick out one, write it in your name first, and have the title of direct descendant, I will ask Princess He Jing to adopt her as a foster daughter, and her status is almost enough to be the crown prince.

." Princess Hexiao is the emperor's sister and has a respected status among the royal family members. This dignity is not insignificant.

The eldest lady was dumbfounded and understood. The Queen Mother was bent on getting married to the Yang family! Marrying a concubine to the Crown Prince as a concubine? What on earth was she thinking?

The descriptions of Yu Fei, Yu Xia and Yu Lan went through the eldest lady's head like a revolving door. Yu Xia was the daughter of an enemy and was the first to be eliminated. Although Yu Fei was obedient, she had to have good looks and talent.

If she has no talent, why should she enjoy such overwhelming wealth? As for Yulan, although she is gradually becoming less annoying, how can the eldest wife be willing to let the eldest wife give her such a hot wealth?

It's just that although the Queen Mother's voice was soft, her tone was commanding. After all, she was the emperor's legitimate mother, and her words were a decree that could not be disobeyed. The eldest lady's face showed stubbornness, and she took a step back and threw herself down.

On the ground, she kowtowed repeatedly: "Auntie!" She changed her title, "Sister Xin is only one year younger than Sister Lan, why can't we consider her? She is a serious legitimate daughter! You are so proud of these concubines.

My niece really can't bear to be the crown princess, and would rather not join the Tian family!"

"You're confused!" The Queen Mother coughed angrily, "You think I don't feel sorry for my niece and nephew? The palace is full of dangers, and it's so easy to be a princess or queen? You only see this wealth, but you don't know the palace's

How deep is the water! Let me tell you, the Crown Princess must be a daughter of the Yang family. Without the support of Yang Yuanfu, how could the Crown Prince..." Thinking of the complicated struggles in the outer court, the eldest wife couldn't even play in the small Yang Mansion.

Then, there was another burst of hatred, and even if I told her, she might not understand, so I stopped talking.

The eldest lady kept kowtowing and sobbing: "Over the years, I have been squeezed and suppressed by my concubines. I have suffered a lot internally and externally. Auntie, you know! Now let me send the daughters of these cheap maids into the palace and make them successful.

It’s really hard for me to be the Crown Princess who is inferior to one person and surpasses ten thousand people, aunt! What’s more, I don’t have a good relationship with the concubines. In the future, when they become Crown Princess or Queen, they will definitely turn their guns.

By dealing with me, wouldn't I have established a formidable enemy for myself? Auntie, you have to think about me!"

"Hey..." Seeing that her niece was crying sadly, the Queen Mother softened her tone. "You, you, you just can't change your petty temperament. I told you to be nicer to the concubines, but you just didn't listen... The prince chooses

The age of the show girls who participate in the concubine election must be controlled between 13 and 16 years old. This is the rule of our ancestors and is customized! Can I wait another year for Sister Xin to grow up to 13 years old? "

The eldest lady asked anxiously: "Is there no other way?"

"Come on!" The Queen Mother pondered for a long time, and finally came up with a solution that was not a solution: "... In the previous dynasty, Emperor Wu of Liang got married, and the queen was the eldest daughter of the Qin family in Longyou. She was only twelve years old at the time... Since this is the case

This makes me feel better. Tomorrow I will instruct the Ministry of Internal Affairs to relax the age for the draft! You should think about it carefully. Although Sister Xin is young, she will have a baby immediately after she is brought into the East Palace.

Can you afford this risk?"

In ancient times, medical conditions were poor. A woman who gave birth to a child was like wandering around the gates of hell. The risk of giving birth to a child at the age of twelve was of course even greater. The eldest lady muttered: "Can't we wait two years to have another baby?"

The Queen Mother said angrily: "How important are the heirs of the Tian family? The birth of the emperor's grandson involves the stability of the court, and we must not wait any longer." Whether the emperor's grandson is born will directly affect the stability of the prince's status. "You

If you want, you can let your concubine and concubine give birth to the child first, but if your concubine is born before your legitimate son, the consequences will be even more endless!"

Of course the eldest lady understands these truths. No matter who gives birth to a son, he will be the eldest grandson of the emperor. The Tian family is different from the ordinary families of public ministers. Throughout the ages, how many people have been emperors as legitimate sons?

The road of becoming a princess has high returns but also high risks!

The eldest wife weighed it again and again, but finally couldn't part with this wealth, and finally said: "Being able to serve the prince is a blessing that Sister Xin has earned over several lifetimes! It's worth taking some risks!"
Chapter completed!