Chapter 39 - Concubine

A few days later, the Fifth Dynasty returned to the capital with Gong Shuyang, the head of the current ten sons, and the two went to the study room to meet the Sixth Highness Zong Zhenglin in the afternoon. The three of them talked in secret in the study until the early morning of the second day before they dispersed. During the period, Mu Xiyao ordered Danruoyuan's small kitchen to deliver dinner and supper. On the fifth day, she was full of praise for Mu Xiyao's well-prepared meals, and the Sixth Highness felt that the little woman was very considerate.

The return of the Fifth Dynasty and the joining of Gong Shuyang are considered by later generations to be the beginning of the prototype of the confidential cabinet that Emperor Jian'an Zong Zhenglin relied on most during his reign.

Emperor Yuancheng in the palace also gradually recovered from the sickness of the crowd, and on the first day he resumed his court, he summoned the prince to the Taimiao to give him a stern reprimand. Prince Zongzhenghui was ordered to kneel at the Taimiao for two days, and he took back his right to patrol the capital.

Emperor Yuan Cheng's move made the eldest prince's faction very happy. The loss of the inspection power of the capital can be imagined to weaken the power of the crown prince Shengjing. However, before the eldest prince and the others got excited for a few days, Emperor Yuan Cheng announced that the forces in the army would be adjusted after the next year, with the frontier garrison in Mobei and the troops of the three states in northern Hebei bearing the brunt. Now the first prince's faction also started to feel gloomy and very annoyed. The generals in the army who had worked so hard to win over before could be deployed by Emperor Yuan Cheng before they had time to use them. This was simply a greater loss than the crown prince.

The crown prince and the eldest prince were dealt with much more honestly by Emperor Yuan Cheng, and they also understood that this was Emperor Yuan Cheng's restraint and balance between the two factions.

Mu Xiyao had been raising her baby peacefully in Danruo Garden for three months, and Zong Zhenglin stood by and waited for the imperial doctor to diagnose her pulse. The result was very gratifying. The imperial doctor said that the imperial concubine was in good health and well maintained, and the fetus was very healthy. As long as you pay more attention in the future and don't use taboo things, this fetal image is very safe.

Zong Zhenglin was overjoyed, and immediately ordered someone to reward the imperial doctor, and after careful questioning, he came back and instructed Mu Xiyao to pay attention to the details, especially keeping her away from other women in the backyard.

Mu Xiyao sent someone to deliver a letter to Qingzhou the next day after her pulse diagnosis. As for Mu Jinzhi, Yu Shi will let him know.

After this incident, the Empress Dowager is approaching. Emperor Yuan Cheng ordered the imperial concubine to do her best to preside over the birthday banquet, and the imperial concubine needed to fully assist. How could the two dare to neglect, and immediately responded.

Since then, all the palaces and prefectures have also made great efforts to collect rare treasures, so as to win the favor of the Queen Mother and Emperor Yuancheng at the birthday banquet.

While discussing congratulatory ceremony with his staff, Zong Zhenglin went to the palace to meet Concubine Shu, and discussed about asking Mu Xiyao to be a side concubine.

Concubine Shu was hesitant when she heard her youngest son mentioning that she wanted to raise Mu's position. After all, only the princes and concubines were promoted to side concubine because of meritorious service in childbearing. Mrs. Mu is only pregnant now, so it's too early to ask for a seal.

But Zong Zhenglin said that if there were not enough female family members from the Sixth Prince's House to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, it would be too deserted, and he would be a little bit less happy. Besides, Mu Shi's pregnancy is also a joyous event, wouldn't it be even better if she could feel the Empress Dowager's happiness again?

Concubine Shu felt that it was reasonable, so she begged Emperor Yuan Cheng to celebrate the festivities and confer the title of Mu family in advance, which would be good for her unborn child, after all, she would be blessed by the queen mother.

Emperor Yuan Cheng already attached great importance to the Queen Mother's birthday, so he paid more attention to the details. Thinking that if Zong Zhenglin was present alone again, the scene... just thinking about it makes me feel uncomfortable. The Empress Dowager's birthday should be more lively, not to mention that the Namu family is also up to the mark, and he personally pointed out that he entered the mansion, which is decent. So he nodded in agreement, and asked the Ministry of Rites to complete the Jinfeng matters as soon as possible.

In the twelfth year of Emperor Zhanghe of Yuancheng, on January 23rd, the sixth prince, Zong Zhenglin, went up and asked to make his concubine Mu Shi a side concubine, with the approval of the emperor.

On the twenty-fifth, the head of the House of Internal Affairs, the eunuch, and his party brought the imperial decree and the seal of the prince's side concubine's dress to the Sixth Prince's Mansion. They also came with a Ruibao plant bestowed by the imperial concubine and the empresses of the palace lords. Jewelry porcelain, imperial colored brocade.

Mu Xiyao didn't know anything about Zong Zhenglin's request for a seal, and was still pruning potted plants in the house when the imperial edict arrived. When he got the news, he hurriedly cleaned his hands and changed his clothes, and led everyone from Danruoyuan to the front yard in a hurry.

Mu Xiyao was puzzled all the way, why did the imperial decree come suddenly, without any warning before, and what happened in the mansion in recent days to make this imperial decree and the backyard be linked?

When she arrived, she saw the leading eunuch talking to Zong Zhenglin very politely. After all the people in the backyard had arrived and stood in order according to their positions, the eunuch opened the imperial decree and began to read it out.

Mu Xiyao, who was kneeling below in a cloud of mist, was shocked to learn that she had been promoted! Emperor Yuan Cheng actually issued a decree to promote himself. From now on, Mu Xiyao will be Zong Zhenglin's side concubine, and her status will be in Zong's dish forever. Of course, she can't make mistakes to the point of being expelled.

Mu Xiyao was overjoyed in her heart, accepted the order very gracefully, and took everyone in the backyard to thank her, then she got up dignifiedly, called Madam Zhao to invite the visitors to have tea and snacks, and gave a big reward.

Mu Xiyao looked at Zong Zhenglin who was chatting with the leading eunuch in front of her, and she felt emotional in her heart, she really is the material for being an emperor, this style of behavior is simply a hard-working style, vigorous and resolute, and very efficient. Even the time to tell yourself is saved.

With such a man protecting her, Mu Xiyao said she was quite satisfied. Although it is not the era of monogamy, it is not bad to have a husband who loves him. However, this is not good news for Zong Zhenglin's concubine, and it is self-evident whether she will be rejected by Mu Xiyao at that time.

After seeing off the people from the palace, Zong Zhenglin only took one look at Mu Xiyao, and then hurried back to do some errands. It was just the hint in those eyes that made Mu Xiyao blush and heartbeat.

The woman in the backyard was so angry that her internal organs were churning, but she wanted to smile and say congratulatory words flatteringly. There is no way, now this Mu family is already recognized by the royal family as a side concubine, it is not what it used to be, even if the main concubine enters the mansion in the future, she will still have a place beside her. What's more, this side concubine was canonized by Emperor Yuan Cheng personally, which is a bit more noble than those bestowed by ordinary empresses.

Tang Yiru looked at the dress of the prince's concubine held by Mo Lan behind Mu Xiyao, feeling extremely jealous. I never expected His Highness to do such a thing for her. Wanting to overwhelm her now is simply a dream. It seems that in the future, he can only compete with her secretly by relying on the power of the concubine.

Several concubines are also uncomfortable inside, and now it seems that they can only think about it in the long run. Maybe she has to rely on this Mu family. If she can really give birth to the eldest son, the situation in the backyard will be even more complicated. But everything depends on the methods of the future concubine, it is better to wait and see what happens now.

During this night's bed, Mu Xiyao had received Zong Zhenglin's hint during the day, she was very tender and affectionate, submissive and happy, and called Your Highness delicately, and her soft and charming eyes were even more beautiful. out of water. Zong Zhenglin got a beautiful woman to throw himself into his arms, how could he be polite, not to mention that now that March has passed, the two of them are very lingering. His Highness the Sixth Highness lifted the restraint, and pestered Mu Xiyao until the third o'clock to rest. This was because she cared about her body, otherwise Mu Xiyao might not be able to get out of bed for a few days.

The two were sticky in the mansion, but there was a commotion outside. The members of countless families in Shengjing all sighed, this Mu family climbed too fast. There are so many women in the backyards of the princes, and I have never seen any woman like her, who changed from a concubine to a side concubine in half a year. What a stroke of good luck.

Jingzhong Yufu was even more beaming, and rushed to send someone to give gifts. Mu Xiting also sent Rui Zhu to come to visit later, presenting a congratulatory gift for her promotion, as well as children's clothes, shoes and socks sewn by herself. Mu Xiyao looked at those soft little clothes, and thought they were very cute, and brought them to Zong Zhenglin to present treasures, and was teased by him a lot.

After the news reached Qingzhou, Yu wept with joy, and then remembered to send a letter to Mu Jinzhi. Mr. Mu sighed a lot, and said that it would be great if the youngest daughter could go on like this forever.

In the Imperial Prince's Mansion in the capital, Zong Zhenglin and the Fifth Dynasty and others are fully preparing for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. Mu Xiyao was alone in Danruo Garden, mysteriously messing with the gift she had prepared a long time ago, she was very proud on her face, but her heart was bleeding. This is simply an exchange of precious beauty sleep!