Now in the entire harem, there are two places, the food and clothing are still the same, but they have become places that make people frown when they mention it, these two places, it can be said that the Bi Leng Palace is even colder, one is the queen's Kunning Palace, and the other is my Lianyi Palace. The two of us, one is the main lord of the middle palace, and the other is the most favored concubine of the emperor in the past, but they have both become wasted concubine-like characters who have not been seen by the emperor for several years. It's just that the two of us, one is drawn in a cage, and the other is imprisoned by himself.

Although Lu Yunyi's grace is better than a day, but I have never heard her pampered and arrogant voice, on the contrary, I heard that she will go to the Kunning Palace of the old queen from time to time to visit the queen, in front of the queen, she never considers herself a concubine, and still thinks that she is a little palace maid, and she dresses and serves without complaints.

I sometimes sit in the courtyard of the Lotus Palace with a chair and think about what has happened in the past ten years. Those things that I once cared about and thought would be remembered for a lifetime, sometimes I can't even remember the images, and some small things that I don't care about will be vivid.

Just like at this time, I tried hard to remember the little face of the crescent moon, but I couldn't piece together the fragments in my mind, but Lu Yunyi's pale face became clearer and clearer. I can't imagine how this submissive face changed from cold to prosperous, and how Zhu Di's disgust for that face turned into endless love? Could it be that the former disgust was feigned? Now that I'm not with him, he can be free to like whoever he likes. Thinking of this, I don't know whether to be happy or sad, happy Zhu Di's love for me in the past is deep after all, deep enough to be xenophobic, sad that a man's feelings are nothing but Erer, and he is nothing if he leaves.

"Niangniang, the weather is cold, you have been sitting here for a long time, be careful of catching a cold, go in." Bao'er came over with a cane and sent a cloak, not forgetting to ask.

"The sun is still warm today, I'll sit down for a while."

Looking at Bao'er's biased figure, I felt a wave of guilt in my heart, I had promised to protect them, and I promised to help them get justice, but I couldn't do any of them. And they never blamed me, they just wanted to make me good.

As time passed, the more out of place I became. Zhu Di in my heart, has slowly become an unreachable, untouchable dream, many nights, as long as I dream of those past, I will wake up crying, holding the soaked pillow and opening my eyes until dawn.

In the past, I thought he was the most important bond in my time, but now I understand that the bond is connected to the bones and muscles, and if it is cut off, it will hurt the muscles and bones and hurt the heart. If you don't have the courage to endure pain, don't easily leave yourself in the way.

When I first closed my door, I also felt lonely and lonely, and gradually those loneliness and loneliness were all numb with the pain, and time passed from my fingers like flowing water day by day, regardless of speed or slowness, morning and evening, black and white.

Until one day, Li Xing came to Lianyi Palace again in person and brought the news that Xu Huizu was critically ill.

"Niangniang, Uncle Guo is critically ill and is dying, and he sent a message to the palace, saying that he would see Niangniang for the last time." The years seem to flow more and more slowly in their eunuchs, and Li Xing did not have any disrespect because I fell out of favor for three years, but was still very humble and polite, and stood with his head bowed.

I was stunned, "Country, Uncle Country?" ”

"Yes, Uncle Guo didn't even want to see his sister Queen Mother, but he said that he must see the concubine Niangniang, the emperor has already been gracious, if it is convenient, you can clean it up now, and the sedan chair is outside. Uncle Guo, I can't wait. Li Xing's expression was not shocked, and he couldn't say what he thought, he just did his part obediently.

I thought about it, and finally decided to see Xu Huizu, when I was most helpless with Crescent Moon, only he helped me regardless of his previous suspicions, and he, if it weren't for the fact that he and Xu Yunhua were sisters and brothers, I was afraid that his friendship with me would not end abruptly. Now that he is dying, he must not go against his will to see me.

Stepping out of the palace gate again, I suddenly felt like I had seen the light of day---- everything in the palace had become a constraint for me, and the heavy palace walls were a cage for me.

Xu Huizu's mansion has become more and more mottled and dilapidated over the years, and he has entered the inner courtyard and the upper room. I saw a middle-aged beautiful woman holding a handkerchief and constantly wiping her tears, her black hair was coiled into a simple bun, there was no hairpin ornament on her head, and she was wearing extremely plain clothes, it was Jiu Niang, next to her was a five or six-year-old boy, although he was young, he looked clear and handsome, and he thought it should be their child.

When Jiu Niang saw me, her expression was a little stiff, but she no longer had the hatred she had back then---- maybe she was too sad and couldn't take care of the emotions next to her. She took the child and blessed me, and said to the child, "Say hello to the concubine." The child learned in a childish voice, "Say hello to the concubine." ”

I nodded to her, "Where's Uncle?" ”

"Inside." Jiu Niang replied coldly, "Dai Qin is also inside." ”

I was stunned, I didn't expect Dai Qin to really keep his promise and stay in Xu Mansion to take care of Xu Huizu for three years.

The deeper I got inside, the more I could feel that this was indeed a patient's house, not too cold weather, the curtains had been hung layer upon layer, and the windows were tightly closed, not only did the wind not enter, but even the sunlight could not enter a star, and in broad daylight, two candles were lit. Because the patient recuperates and takes medicine here all the year round, there is a strong smell of medicine in the house.

There were two maids standing in front of the bed, and one with her back, feeding medicine to the patient, and I knew it was Dai Qin. When the two maids saw me coming in, they quickly knelt down, "Concubine Niang Wan'an." ”

When Dai Qin heard this, he also turned around and curtsied, "The concubine is here?" ”

I nodded and asked softly, "How is Hui Zu?" ”

Dai Qin didn't speak, so I walked straight over, stretched out my head to look, and was almost stunned. Xu Huizu was lying on the bed, his whole person was almost out of shape, his cheeks and eye sockets were deeply sunken, the last time I saw him, I had been frightened by his half-white hair, and now I look at it, the hair on his head has almost turned white. The still young face, with such vicissitudes of hair, looks more and more sad.

He closed his eyes tightly, and he didn't forget to lock his brows in his sleep, looking very painful. Next to the bed was a spittoon, and there were two mouthfuls of thick phlegm mixed with blood, which I thought belonged to him.

I frowned, "Coughing up blood? ”

"I've been coughing up blood for more than a year, and his body is good, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to hold it a long time ago." Dai Qin replied, as he spoke, he leaned over, lowered his head and whispered in Xu Huizu's ear, "Uncle, uncle......"

After a few sounds, Xu Huizu slowly opened his eyes and glanced at us weakly, Dai Qin said to him, "Uncle, who are you looking at?" ”

Xu Huizu glanced at me and said with some difficulty, "Niang Niang forgives me, Huizu can't get up and salute." Ahem...... Ahem......"

Before he could finish his two sentences, he was already coughing violently again, and I quickly reached out and patted him on the chest, "Don't speak." ”

Xu Huizu turned over and spit out two mouthfuls of blood at the spittoon, and then gasped and lay flat, his pale face became a little ruddy because of Fang Cai's violent cough, but the ruddy look was also a little shocking. I stepped aside and patted my chest with a handkerchief, thinking to myself, this is really a dying man, and his body smells of death.

Xu Huizu didn't lie down again because of this, he motioned for Dai Qin to help him up, and Dai Qin put two high pillows behind him before he lifted him up. His thin body looked like a skeleton being held by a pair of invisible hands. I was afraid that it would take him more strength to speak loudly if I stood far away, so I stood closer to him, and he barely pulled out a smile, "Niangniang is still here, I'm afraid it's the last time in this life." ”

I whispered comfortingly, "Don't think like that, take care of yourself." ”

Xu Huizu didn't pay attention to my meaningless comfort, and lowered his head slightly, "Huizu invited Niangniang here today to help my sister say sorry to Niangniang, princess...... A few years have passed, and there has been no chance to enter the palace to see Niangniang. ”

I sank my face, "Don't talk about that. ”

Xu Huizu saw that my face was not good, and showed a wry smile, "It seems that Niangniang will never be able to forgive my sister, that Huizu hopes that Niangniang will not hate Huizu even with it, Huizu has always regarded Niangniang as a friend of the opposite sex, but over the years, the situation has changed, and he can no longer drink and talk happily as before." ”

I lowered my head slightly, "I have always regarded you as a confidant and friend, and I have never been angry with you." Don't be careful. ”

Xu Huizu's few smiles were far-fetched, and after listening to my words, he finally laughed heartily, "There is a Niangniang's words, it is not in vain that Huizu has tried his best to ask the emperor to let Niangniang come once." ”

He coughed as he spoke, and I couldn't bear it, so he said, "You need to recuperate now, I won't bother you, and when you get better, I'll come to see you, okay?" ”

Xu Huizu shook his head and disagreed, he turned to the two girls and said, "You guys go out, call the woman in, and let her come in alone." ”

The two girls, one of whom was more clever, had already seen that Xu Huizu was about to leave a last word, and hurriedly agreed to pull the other one out, Jiu Niang soon came in alone, her eyes were even redder than when I saw her just now, it seemed that she was standing outside for a while, and she was also in tears.

After walking in, she couldn't hold it anymore, and fell to Xu Huizu's bedside and cried, Xu Huizu stretched out his thin hand and touched her head, "Don't cry, I have something to explain to you." ”

As soon as Jiu Niang heard this kind of words, where could she stand it, and she cried even more fiercely, "Qin'er is still so young, if you let go, how will we be orphans and widows?" ”

Xu Huizu lowered his head, his eyes were also a little moist, and he rubbed Jiuniang twice harder and harder, "Don't do this." How many times have I told you, between the world and the world of life, if the white horse passes through the gap, suddenly, I am just one step ahead of you, and sooner or later I will meet again, why bother to make such a painful appearance? ”

Jiuniang was reluctant to listen to Xu Huizu's comfort, "You say so many big truths, I don't understand a word, you have cultivated the Tao in the grass for a few years, I don't have it, I just cultivate for ten years and a hundred years, and I can't understand your Tao, I just want you and Qin'er to be well, I will continue to serve you." ”

Although Jiu Niang's words are very simple, they completely express their reluctance, Xu Huizu is not necessarily willing to give up his wife and son, but he is just saying those words to deceive others and deceive himself, hearing Jiu Niang say this, he closed his eyes slightly, calmed down for a while, and then opened his eyes again, "Don't make trouble, be good." ”

Jiu Niang just continued to lie in his arms, suppressing her voice, but her body trembled, obviously extremely sad.

Xu Huizu looked up at me and said, "An Caiwen." ”

I was stunned, he had never called me by his name since I entered the palace, and now, he actually called me by his name when we first met, and recalled his proud and romantic appearance at that time, and then looked at this patient who was so pale that he was about to lose his life, I couldn't help it all of a sudden, so I choked up, "Hey, what's the matter?" ”

Xu Huizu smiled dismally when he saw that I promised him, "When you entered the palace as a concubine, I felt a little sad in my heart, not because you were going to take my sister's favor, but because ...... Ahem...... I know that that place does not belong to you, and you do not belong to that place...... Ahem...... But in the first two years, you had a good life, and although I haven't met you, I'm happy for you here. But...... No one expected the princess...... It's me who didn't help you, ahem...... In the past two years, I heard that you have closed your door and even disappeared from your brother-in-law's face, I think you must be very unhappy...... Ahem......"

Xu Huizu coughed more and more intensely, he took a handkerchief to cover his mouth, and after a while, the white handkerchief was soaked in a faint red with the blood he coughed up. Jiuniang stopped crying, stood up, patted him on the back, and coaxed, "You must be very tired now, let's not talk about it, okay?" Niangniang is waiting for you here, you'll talk about it when you're better, okay? ”

Xu Huizu shook his head, and then said, "In the palace...... Not a good place to go......"

I nodded tearfully, "I know, I know it all." ”

"You are not happy in the palace, my sister is not happy in the palace, she has a child, she will never be able to see it, let alone come out, but you are different now, instead of being a prisoner bird in the palace, it is better to give up that prosperity."

"Huizu, what do you say! When this word gets out, it is a capital offense! Jiuniang covered Xu Huizu's mouth and said anxiously.

Although Jiu Niang covered his mouth, it was just a gesture, and he didn't dare to use force, so Xu Huizu pushed it away, and he smiled a little crazy, "Capital crime? What capital sin are the dying feared for? With that, he turned to me and asked, "Did you hear me?" ”

I had red eyes, "Thank you so much for saying this to me, the palace is indeed sad for me, but so what? Do I still have a chance to leave? ”

Xu Huizu grinned with blood-stained lips and smiled, "If you really want to leave, I can help you." ”

"Hui Zu!" Jiuniang scolded anxiously, but Xu Huizu didn't care, "Today, we are all our own people here, Jiuniang, I know that you have a mustard for the powerful concubine, but she is indeed a rare friend in my life, my sister is sorry for her, I hope to atone for my sister, and also for my own failure to help in the first place, can you put down those mustards and listen to my arrangement?" ”

Jiu Niang's eyes were hazy with tears, she wanted to have a seizure, looking at Xu Huizu's approaching appearance, she finally couldn't bear it, and nodded, "Say it." ”

Xu Huizu smiled with satisfaction, and while holding Jiu Niang's hand, he said to me, "If you really want to leave the bird cage, I'll help you." Dai Qin has been fine all these years, and he has become good friends with me here, we both think that you are too bitter in the palace, and he is willing to take you away. ”

I turned my head to look at Dai Qin, there was no expression on Dai Qin's face, he just lowered his head quietly, as if he was distracted, and seemed to be thinking.

There was a panic in my heart, I understood that Xu Huizu called me at such a time, it was not a whim, although Dai Qin did not speak at this time, the two of them must have decided to say these words to me after careful consideration, in fact, it is true that only the two of them know my situation in the palace, and their hearts are like ashes, like walking on thin ice. But now that I was asked to decide at once whether or not to leave the palace right now, I was still a little hesitant.

Although the palace is a birdcage, and it is also a birdcage that I have lived in for almost five years, and the iron railing has also been warmed by me, there is always some residual heat, which makes people covet that little warmth.

"I ......," I said.

Xu Huizu didn't let me speak again, he gasped and said, "I know it's difficult for you to make a decision now, but I don't have time, I'll explain the matter to them today, you can think about it after you return to the palace, and after thinking about it, you can find Jiu Niang." After speaking, he glanced at Jiu Niang twice, Jiu Niang had no choice but to nod, and he glanced at Dai Qin twice.

Dai Qin sighed slightly and said, "In the past two years in Xufu, I have nothing to do, so I have studied the properties of a lot of drugs, and I accidentally found several medicines together, after people eat them, they can hold their breath for three to five days, and it looks like they are dead, which is the medicine of fake death." ”<