Concubine Shu turned around and saw Empress Dowager Jiang's displeased expression, and then she realized that she was a little "drifting" and hurriedly said: "My concubines are just as beautiful as a willow tree, how can they compare with the Empress Dowager's countless phoenixes and unparalleled glory.

"

Empress Dowager Jiang then had the opportunity to express her humility and said calmly: "Okay, I'm not honest in front of the Ai family. The late emperor had so many concubines, but you are the one who looks the best and has the most love from the late emperor - all in the past

It's a matter of fact, how can the Ai family care about this?"

As people age, the light goes out. At least it is Empress Dowager Chiang who lives in Ningshou Palace now, and the rest is just relying on what she has slipped through her fingers. Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Chiang felt relaxed all over.

Concubine Shu was secretly annoyed, thinking that after all these years, Jiang Fengjiao still has the same temper, which is really annoying!

Concubine De was used to being mediocre, so she came out to smooth things over. She smiled softly at Xia Tong and said, "I heard that you endured the hard work a while ago and copied hundreds of Buddhist scriptures for the Queen Mother, and your hands were blistered."

Xia Tong hurriedly said that it was not hard work, it was the right thing to do for the Queen Mother.

Concubine De smiled and said: "That is also your sincerity. If it were anyone else, you would not be able to sit still. How would you have the leisure to copy scriptures?"

The two people Empress Dowager Jiang wanted to invite were really weak. They all cared about He Xini, and their words were not painful. She had to pretend to be the villain herself, so she coughed twice and said: "What do you think?"

The Aijia naturally understands, but is a little puzzled. The words above are particularly generous. One Miaofa Lotus Sutra occupies more than ten pages. The purpose of being brave is to show off in front of the Aijia, so that the Aijia will praise you for your ability.

What?"

When Wang Jingyi brought a thick stack of papers, the Empress Dowager Jiang was startled, thinking that it was not something to be burned to the dead, so why would it be necessary? When she unfolded it and took a look, she found that the words on it were:

It's twice as big as usual, no wonder it takes up so much space.

The Empress Dowager Jiang suspected that she was deliberately making some false moves, specializing in superficial skills to deceive people.

Xia Tong is really more unjust than Dou E, "I just thought that the Queen Mother is old and her eyesight may not be as good as it is..."

Empress Dowager Jiang raised her eyes, "Do you think the Ai family is blind?"

Concubine Shu and Concubine De were both a little speechless. Isn't this just trying to find trouble? You treat someone's good intentions like a fool. I have never seen anyone confuse right and wrong like this.

By chance, Aunt Chang came over with an account book and said, "Your Majesty, this month's boxing gifts have been sent, would you like to take stock of them?"

Empress Dowager Jiang took a hard look at it twice and felt that the words on it were like ants. She said helplessly: "Go and get the Ai family's peepshow."

Xia Tong: "..."

This slap in the face came really unexpectedly.

Empress Dowager Jiang no longer cares about repairing Xia Tong, but is more concerned with cleaning up her small treasury.

Concubine Shu and Concubine De had nothing to do, chatting and waiting for tea to be served.

She was the only junior in the room, so Xia Tong had no choice but to take on the responsibility of serving tea and pouring water. He poured out the remaining tea in the purple clay pot, added more water and simmered it on the stove. He picked up a tea bag next to it and threw it in.

, no matter what kind of tea it is - anyway, the tea at Empress Dowager Jiang's place will not be too bad to drink.

After filling a pot like this, Xia Tong tremblingly held the cup of tea over. Unexpectedly, the wall of the cup was extraordinarily hot. Empress Dowager Jiang was too old to notice it, but her hands immediately turned red.

print.

I wanted to endure the pain, but when I arrived in front of the two of them, there was a pool of slippery wet stains on the ground. Xia Tong staggered and the tray fell to the ground. Although no one was burned, the hem of Princess Shu's skirt was splashed with water.

A lot.

Empress Dowager Jiang was so energetic now that she deliberately didn't ask anyone to mop the floor clean, just to wait for Xia Tong to make a fool of herself.

She immediately scolded: "Mrs. Xia, how did you act so recklessly in front of the concubine?"

Concubine Shu said hurriedly: "It's okay, I'm not hurt."

Empress Dowager Jiang only hated her for not cooperating, "Sister, why are you trying to calm things down? You have trouble in my palace, how can I ignore it?"

"Your Majesty, please don't be so harsh and harsh and scare the child." Concubine Shu said angrily, while smiling, she helped Xia Tong, who was about to plead guilty, "My Lady Xia, come in with me and change some clothes."

Xia Tong meekly agreed.

Empress Dowager Jiang was so angry that she stared at her. Concubine Zhao Baoning did not have such a temper before. The late emperor was always very picky and unforgiving. How could he suddenly show mercy to a young junior? It is simply unbelievable.

After entering the inner hall, Concubine Shu no longer had the embarrassment she had just shown on her face. Instead, she happily picked up the items in Empress Dowager Jiang's closet, as if she were visiting a market.

Xia Tong:...Is this why you entered Ningshou Palace?

Concubine Shu knew that she was watching, but she didn't feel embarrassed. Instead, she explained to her with a smile, "Jiang Fengjiao is the stingiest person. She keeps all the good things for herself. She knows how to deduct our share, and her clothes are even more beautiful."

Needless to say, she has four seasons of the year without the same thing, but Concubine De and I only have two seasons. Thanks to the cup of tea you spilled today, I have to pick a few things back - after all, Mrs. Jiang is responsible for her own losses, no wonder

I."

Xia Tong could only say, "Don't worry, Princess, I won't tell anyone."

Concubine Shu looked relaxed, "I'm not afraid even if you tell me."

Although Empress Dowager Jiang is a high-ranking official, Concubine Shu is not that afraid of her. We are already half dead, so how can we fight? Besides, Concubine Shu's son is still a vassal king even though he is far away in the border area.

, Empress Dowager Jiang still dared not let anything happen to her.

Xia Tong felt that this empress was really a wonderful person.

When Concubine Shu changed her clothes and came out, Empress Dowager Jiang felt a dull pain in her stomach. Zhao Baoning actually picked out her best piece of snow satin! Empress Dowager Jiang herself had never worn it several times!

Concubine Shu still smiled to herself and said, "My Lady, do you think this dress is feasible?"

It really fit the figure of Concubine Shu, and made her pale face blush a little. Empress Dowager Jiang's heart was bleeding, but she could only pretend to be magnanimous, "Very good."

"Then I'll put it back on first and then return it to sister after it's washed." Concubine Shu said.

Of course, Empress Dowager Jiang couldn't act too stingy. Moreover, the clothes that had been worn by others felt uncomfortable, so she had to force a smile and said, "Don't bother, just treat it as a reward from the Ai family."

Concubine Shu gave a light salute and said, "Thank you, sister."

Then he turned around to show off to Concubine De, and gave Xia Tong a proud look - look, you knew Jiang Fengjiao would say this.

Although the Empress Dowager Jiang hated Zhao, she was used to Zhao Baoning's personality. Only Xia Tong made her feel unlucky - if she hadn't accidentally knocked over the cup of tea, Zhao Baoning wouldn't have been able to take advantage.

At this time, Empress Dowager Jiang had completely forgotten that she had come to see Xia Tong make a fool of herself.

Afraid of causing more trouble if she were left here any longer, Empress Dowager Jiang looked tired and said, "The Ai family is tired, you can go back first."

Xia Tong naturally obeyed.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Jiang looked unhappy, Concubine Shu and Concubine De also resigned.

Outside Ningshou Palace, Concubine Shu called Xia Tong, "Don't take today's matter to heart. She is the Queen Mother. She should make things difficult for you. Just don't make any trouble. You just need to remember one thing and hold the emperor's hand."

With my heart, I have mastered the fundamentals of settling down and living in this palace, and the rest are just trivial matters."

This should be Concubine Shu's personal experience.

Xia Tong listened attentively, "Thank you, Madam, for the advice."

After she left, Concubine De looked at Concubine Shu puzzledly, "Why are you helping her? Carefully annoy that person."

Pointing to Ningshou Palace behind him.

Concubine Shu said disdainfully: "Even if you and I help the Queen Mother to trample the Xia family, will the Queen Mother benefit us? She has always been stingy and loves to play tricks. It is not worth it if she offends the emperor. After all, the Ministry of Internal Affairs

It still depends on what the emperor wants."

He smiled sweetly again, "Besides, as the Xia family grows stronger, it will just add more trouble to Jiang Fengjiao. Don't you want to see the excitement?"

Concubine De's words made her feel comfortable, "You are still more resourceful."

Jiang Fengjiao has been domineering for these years, and it's time for her to taste the pain - this is called evil being punished.

When Xia Tong returned to Guanju Palace, he found An Ruhai already waiting in the courtyard, like a bunch of radishes, with a group of palace maids and a group of eunuchs standing behind him.

Xia Tong was a little surprised at An Ruhai's work efficiency, "You picked someone so quickly?"

I thought it would take ten and a half days.

An Ruhai said with a smile: "Your Majesty personally gave the order, how dare I neglect you? Of course I have to work harder."

While leading her to take a closer look at the appearance and clothing of those people, he also introduced their temperaments and conduct.

Xia Tong ordered Chunlan to write them down one by one and prepare them for future use. Although they were all sent by An Ruhai and the chamberlains were directly assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this should be okay. As for the maids, they would inevitably be mixed with people from other palaces.

Xia Tong decided to assign them some rough work first, and wait for a period of observation to make sure there was no abnormality before calling them around to help. She didn't want moles around her - especially those who tried to climb into bed, and they would be strangled in the cradle.

It's not that she has an exclusive desire for the emperor, but once this kind of thing comes out, the reputation of her entire palace will be affected, and the gain outweighs the loss.

The problem now is the lack of a chief eunuch.

Xia Tong was still regretful that the little monkey didn't come, "A Bao is a well-behaved and clever person, but it's a pity that Your Majesty is used to having him serve and can't leave him for a while."

How could An Ruhai dare to say that the emperor thought the boy was born too well and was jealous so he refused to let him go? He just smiled and said, "A Bao would like to serve you, the beauty. But he is young and needs more experience.

It would be bad if it causes trouble for you, Master."

Then he pointed to a place in the crowd and said, "But this slave has chosen another good one and given it to the master for your use. Can you see if you can use it?"

Xia Tong then noticed that the man was among a group of eunuchs. It was strange to say that when An Ruhai didn't introduce him before, he stood there like air. Now that An Ruhai specifically pointed it out, people couldn't ignore his presence.

feel.

This man's name is Chang Qing, and his appearance is ordinary. There are some slight pockmarks on his face, which are said to be the marks left by smallpox when he was a child. But his whole temperament is very unique, no matter how well-trained the servants next to him are.

, it is inevitable to feel a little hunched over, but this man is as straight as a green pine. His clothes are washed white, his eyebrows are lowered, and his eyes are sharp and cannot be ignored.

If he hadn't known in advance that he had lost his roots, Xia Tong would have thought he was a young man from a down-and-out family.
To be continued...