In the autumn of the 11th year of Longqing, the conflict between Empress Dowager Han and King Su Qinlin almost became fierce. Empress Dowager Han took a heavy hand and investigated several Qin Lin's confidants, and Qin Lin immediately responded. Many civil servants and generals who were close to Empress Dowager Han were either impeached or sued, some lost their official positions, and some even lost their lives.

Smoke of gunpowder rose in the court.

Qin Zhen could not be completely out of this storm. He ran around the court every day, trying to find a balance between Empress Dowager Han and Qin Lin. Qin Zhen handed all the matters of the royal palace to Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang became busy because of this. Every day, in addition to taking care of Xuan'er and taking care of the housework in the inner room, she also had to deal with matters related to the outer courtyard. Although she was busy, she did not feel troublesome. She handled the matters in the outer courtyard very easily. This was due to her past in Qingyuan, and secondly, her authority in the royal palace had long been established.

Whether it is the person who serves in the inner court or the person who is in the outer court, treating Ji Xiaotang as much as Qin Zhen.

This storm started in the harem, exploded in the court, and then affected the harem.

The news in the harem was told to Ji Xiaotang by Qin Zhen that day.

Compared to the turbulent turmoil in the court, the harem has undergone some cleaning and gradually the dust has settled.

The personnel and affairs of the harem have changed a lot. The worse Emperor Longqing's health is, and the worse than Emperor Longqing's situation is Queen Han.

If the child in Ji Xiaolian's belly is a good medicine to cure Queen Han, then the death of this child will almost cost Queen Han's life.

The other one who almost lost half of his life because of this incident was the Concubine Zheng.

Concubine Zheng Zheng Rong was first inscribed into the cold palace by Empress Dowager Han, and later was deposed as a concubine and demoted to a talented person. However, she also came out of the cold palace and did not return to the original palace, but overall she still gained freedom.

"This is Your Majesty's idea." Qin Zhen told Ji Xiaotang.

Concubine Zheng was instigated to the cold palace, the forbidden palace, and the forces of King Su and the Zheng family were working hard to manage. According to the wishes of Empress Dowager Han, she could not move Qin Lin for the time being. She planned to start from Concubine Zheng.

Empress Dowager Han means to take the life of Concubine Zheng.

As the disputes in the court became more and more intense, the forces of King Su and the Zheng family seemed to have planned to give up Concubine Zheng. But at this moment, Emperor Longqing, who had been silent, stood up.

Emperor Longqing saved Concubine Zheng's life.

Ji Xiaotang believed that Concubine Zheng was able to climb to the position of Concubine in the harem controlled by Empress Dowager Han and Empress Han, and she had never given birth to children like Empress Han. In addition to relying on the support of the Zheng family, she must have many outstanding features.

Emperor Longqing had feelings for Concubine Zheng.

Ji Xiaotang once carefully observed the three people, including Emperor Longqing, Empress Han and Concubine Zheng. Although the three people appeared very few times at the same time, based on Ji Xiaotang's observation, the relationship between Emperor Longqing and Empress Han was quite weak.

When the emperor and the empress met, there was almost no conversation, and there was no eye contact after all the etiquette they deserved.

However, there is a difference between Emperor Longqing and Concubine Zheng.

Concubine Zheng can always talk to Emperor Longqing. Emperor Longqing is not very enthusiastic about Concubine Zheng, but it is different from his indifference to Empress Han. Now, Emperor Longqing, who seems to have no attachment to the world, is willing to stand up and speak for Concubine Zheng and protect Concubine Zheng. This is enough to show that Emperor Longqing's feelings for Concubine Zheng.

Ji Xiaotang had more reason to believe that there were so many women in the palace, including Empress Dowager Han, and the only thing Emperor Longqing was concerned about was Concubine Zheng.

Qin Zhen nodded in agreement with Ji Xiaotang's view.

"It is said that His Majesty once asked Zheng Cairen to serve him, but was rejected by the Queen Mother."

"Of course the Empress Dowager won't agree." Ji Xiaotang sneered on the corner of his mouth.

Although Emperor Longqing was a puppet emperor, he was still the leader of the country in name. How could Empress Dowager Han, such a shrewd and controlful woman, give Zheng Rong the opportunity to accompany Emperor Longqing every day?

Today, Zheng Rong no longer represents the interests of the Zheng family, but the interests of King Su Qinlin.

If Zheng Rong blew the wind on Emperor Longqing, then the issue of the heir to the throne would likely be out of Empress Dowager Han's control.

As for the ending of Zheng Cairen's incident, you can see the whole leopard. You can see the struggle between Empress Dowager Han and Qin Lin. Empress Dowager Han failed to take Zheng Rong's life, and Qin Lin failed to preserve Zheng Rong's position as the imperial concubine.

The two forces still seemed to be in between, and in the harem, it was obvious that Empress Dowager Han's power had the upper hand, but Qin Lin's power should not be underestimated.

There is still a fight between these two forces!

After talking about Zheng Rong for a while, Ji Xiaotang suddenly remembered something.

"Did the prince just hear about this?" Ji Xiaotang asked Qin Zhen.

The news she received yesterday was that Zheng Rong was still locked in the cold palace.

"Yes." Qin Zhen nodded, "The Empress Dowager just summoned me to the palace."

Ji Xiaotang immediately became alert. When Empress Dowager Han wanted Qin Zhen to enter the palace, she must not tell him about Zheng Rong, but had another order, and that must not be a good thing.

"What is the Empress Dowager summoning the prince into the palace at this time? Should he ask the prince's mansion to deal with Prince Su? Or is there any secret messenger to tell the prince."

"None are not." Qin Zhen shook his head, and although he was still smiling, his eyebrows slightly frowned. "The Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace and said he missed you and asked you to go into the palace to see her."

"Just want me to enter the palace?" Ji Xiaotang felt something was wrong when he saw Qin Zhen's expression.

"The Empress Dowager also said that she had never seen Xuan'er. The Empress Dowager asked you to take Xuan'er into the palace." Qin Zhen said then.

"The Empress Dowager is not discussing with you, but ordering me to take Xuan'er into the palace to see her, right?" Ji Xiaotang asked at Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen hesitated for a moment and finally nodded.

Ji Xiaotang guessed it well.

Today, the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned him to the palace and told him about Concubine Zheng. Then, he mentioned Ji Xiaotang and Xuan'er. The Empress Dowager wanted to see Xuan'er, but he had already signaled him several times before him, but he had responded to him.

But this time, Empress Dowager Han’s intentions were very firm and she must meet Xuan'er.

"What do you say about the prince?" Ji Xiaotang lowered his eyelids slightly, then raised his eyes again, looking at Qin Zhen.

"What else can I say?" Qin Zhen raised his lips slightly.

Such a smile is rare on Qin Zhen's face. It is a bit evil and extremely unrestrained smile. Ji Xiaotang knew that it was a true inner expression under Qin Zhen's usual persistent appearance.

"The prince angered the queen mother?" Ji Xiaotang said almost immediately.

"Maybe the Empress Dowager is angry." Qin Zhen was obviously unwilling to talk about this in detail, and he also underestimated whether Empress Dowager Han was angry or not. "I once said that I will definitely protect you and Xuan'er."

So, as Ji Xiaotang guessed, Qin Zhen blocked Queen Mother Han for her and Xuan'er.

Moreover, for this matter, Qin Zhen also annoyed Empress Dowager Han.

"The prince's move is inappropriate." Ji Xiaotang's face was not filled with joy. "At this time, we shouldn't annoy the Queen Mother."

Queen Mother Han wanted to see Xuan'er several times, but Qin Zhen blocked her back, and Ji Xiaotang knew that. But Queen Mother Han never gave up. Thanks to her having to concentrate on dealing with Qin Lin, she has always tolerated Qin Zhen's rejection.

However, Empress Dowager Han's patience is always limited.

No matter what happens in the future, now they cannot break up with Empress Dowager Han and cannot really annoy Empress Dowager Han.

It was the rigorous relationship between Prince Su's mansion and Queen Mother Han, and Zheng Gui once took Qin Yu to the palace to meet Queen Mother Han.

Ji Xiaotang thought for a moment and made up his mind. However, she knew that she had made up her mind but she had to convince Qin Zhen. Qin Zhen was not less concerned about Xuan'er than her.

"Since I gave birth to Xuan'er, I have been thinking about this question." Ji Xiaotang's face was gentle and his eyebrows were relaxed. "No matter what, Xuan'er will inevitably go to this palace."

"This won't work." Qin Zhen immediately objected, "Xiaotang, did Princess Su not tell you clearly how dangerous Yu'er was back then?"

"She told me everything. I never forgot what she said. However, our relationship with the Queen Mother is different, and Xuan'er and Yu'er are also different."

"We have a relationship with the Queen Mother in fact!" Qin Zhen said in a deep voice.

"I understand." Ji Xiaotang nodded. Her words were not inconsistent with Qin Zhen's words. They were just talking about different aspects of the matter. "However, Xuan'er is really different from Yu'er. Prince, I'm very sure that the Queen Mother will not harm Xuan'er."

Empress Dowager Han had some intentions for Xuan'er, but she would not harm Xuan'er.

"I know." Qin Zhen was a little anxious, "Xuaner's safety is no problem. What I worry about is you!"

"The prince also thought of it!" Ji Xiaotang smiled.

"Of course. Otherwise, you think I'm worried about something!" Qin Zhen glanced at Ji Xiaotang. Empress Dowager Han asked Ji Xiaotang to take Xuan'er into the palace. According to the example of Prince Su's mansion, he should be worried that Empress Dowager Han would attack Xuan'er, but what he was really worried about was Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang said nothing. Xuan'er and Yu'er are different.

Empress Dowager Han might want Qin Yu to die, but he is different for Qin Xuan. Empress Dowager Han wants Qin Xuan, a living Qin Xuan. Ji Xiaotang is an obstacle.

"It's not the first time that the Empress Dowager has the idea of ​​getting rid of me." Faced with such a life-and-death problem, Ji Xiaotang was very calm. "I was able to pass the test at that time, and it was the same at this time."

"Different." Qin Zhen still disagreed, "At that time, she realized that you had better value in use. But now..."

Ji Xiaotang is just an obstacle for Empress Dowager Han.

"Now I am an obstacle. Without me, she can control Xuan'er more smoothly and naturally. But I am an obstacle that cannot move now." Ji Xiaotang smiled and continued, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? At that time, I was just a daughter of the Ji family. Although she was named the county lord, she had no foundation and had to care about my family. But now, I am Princess An."

Empress Dowager Han should be a little worried about her identity and would not do it too blatantly, but this did not really stop Empress Dowager Han.

Ji Xiaotang just had confidence that she could deal with Empress Dowager Han, as long as Empress Dowager Han’s goal was her, not Qin Xuan.

Xuan'er can't take risks, but she can.

She must go, too.

Ji Xiaotang talked for a long time, but Qin Zhen refused to agree.

In the end, Ji Xiaotang was a little helpless and simply lowered his face.

"Prince, I didn't take risks for no reason. If I don't go this time, there will be another time. If I don't go, the Queen Mother will think of another way. Instead of not knowing whether to deal with or not knowing any secret tricks in the future, it's better to go now."

"The prince doesn't want her to lose hope, so he will have a heart to deal with Xuan'er, right?"

"I have decided. The prince thinks carefully and I will go into the palace tomorrow."

Having said that, the atmosphere became a little stiff.

This is the first time between the couple.

Qin Zhen has always known that Ji Xiaotang's temperament is soft on the outside and strong on the inside, but although Ji Xiaotang has an idea, he has never been so strong in front of her. Qin Zhen couldn't help but be stunned, then his face turned red, and he stood up, as if he was about to do it.

When did anyone turn his face to face him?
To be continued...